Forty years ago on September 12, at Rice University, US President John F. Kennedy addressed the world:
“I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ on this globe of ours….Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and it’s opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again”
Sept 12th 2002: On the 40th anniversary of US President Kennedy’s speech to place man on the Moon, youth delegates at a UN conference on space have declared their vision for a peaceful future in space.
Assembled in Graz Austria, on the occasion of a United Nations summit on youth and space, 42 delegates from 32 countries signed the Graz Declaration for Peace in Space.
Prompted by recent statements of the US government on space weaponization, the declaration calls on governments to take immediate action to keep space free from weapons, and to keep alive the inspiring vision that Kennedy set out four decades ago.
“Plans are being developed to put weapons in space” states George Whitesides – one of a new breed of young people dedicated to the continued peaceful uses of space. “Weaponised space is not the future that we, the youth of the world, either desire or accept.”
A new group, Frontier of Peace, was also established at the conference.
“Weaponising space will destabilize our world and provoke a new arms race above our heads,” stated William Marshall, UK delegate, “This is a pivotal moment in history.”
Returning with copies of the declaration, delegates are returning to raise this important issue and rally support within their own communities.
Those who share the vision of a future free from weapons in space, can show their support by signing the declaration at the Frontier of Space website:
www.no-weapons-in-space.org.
The declaration will be presented by delegates to the World Space Congress in October.
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The Graz Declaration For Peace in Space
12 September 2002
“I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours… Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again.”
US President John F. Kennedy
12 September 1962
The US government is now planning to put weapons in space. This threatens the precious peace of space, and demands a response from the people of the world.
Forty years ago today this peaceful vision was embraced by the world. It was a hopeful vision, inspired by cooperation, courage and exploration.
Putting weapons in space will provoke an arms race above our heads. It is destabilizing, unnecessary, immoral, and will pollute the space environment.
Space beckons us to a new future, a future that is not dictated by our past. To those who say this vision is unrealistic, we respond that it is a path to a better world.
On this historic anniversary, we rededicate ourselves to this vision, and call upon our governments to take immediate action to keep space free from weapons.
