The 8th meeting of the Global Network (GN) began on March 3 with a pre-meeting conference entitled Space Use & Ethics: Criteria for the Assessment of Future Space Projects. The pre-conference was organized by IANUS (Interdisciplinary Group on Science, Technology & Security) in cooperation with peace groups from Darmstadt, Mutlangen and the GN.
One of the highlights of the pre-conference was the expected participation of three representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA). At the last minute ESA canceled and informed speculation was that NASA had asked ESA to pull out.
The U.S.A.F. Space Command did send several representatives and on March 4 Lt. Col. Brad Duty (3rd Space Communications Squadron at Ramstein A.F.B., Germany) took part in a panel discussion called "who controls space". The panel began with Karl Grossman, (Professor of Journalism, State University of New York) offering a slide show presentation of U.S. Space Command documents that call for the "control" and military domination of space for "U.S. interests and investments." A representative from the German Ministry of Defense in Bonn also took part in the panel. Concluding the panel presentations, Lt. Col. Duty stated that indeed the U.S. wants to "dominate space" but saw no reason for alarm.
Other major topics of discussion in the pre-conference were:
The pre-conference concluded with remarks by conference organizers Jurgen Scheffran and Regina Hagen who outlined a positive vision for a non-nuclear, non-weapons space program.
Over 60 people attended the pre-meeting event from Germany, England, Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan and the U.S.
Some of the presentations (and other relevant articles) can be found here.
BUSINESS MEETING
The GN general membership business meeting ran from March 5-6. The meeting began with a welcome by our German hosts Regina Hagen (Darmstadt) and Wolfgang Schlupp-Hauck (Mutlangen). Bruce Gagnon (Florida) gave an account of the eight-year history of the GN which was founded in 1992. The 30 persons present then gave reports on local activities that had recently been undertaken in their communities around space issues.
In-depth reports were also given on the following issue areas:
There was much discussion over up-coming international events in Europe and it was decided that GN members would attend the following events and promote the peace in space issue:
There were several GN members who expressed interest in attending the U.N. Space Commission (UNISPACE III) conference and it was decided to set aside $200 of GN funds to cover any expenses involved with setting up a display at the event.
The final section of the business meeting was the Internal Organizational Items
Bruce Gagnon gave a financial report of GN funds. Presently there is $519.74 in the Gainesville, Florida bank account. There was some discussion over the merits of having helped subsidize travel for the Eastern Europeans who came to the meeting. Lotte Rodi (Mutlangen) stated that she had more success raising funds for this purpose than any other effort in the past. Bruce Gagnon also reported that he had raised $875 in the U.S. for the Europeans travel fund (with only $100 of that coming out of the GN bank account). There was consensus that it had been a good thing to do.
The draft By-laws (that had been put together from several different versions submitted by GN members) were discussed, changed and adopted as Dave Webb ably facilitated the process. (See the final version on this site or contact the GN office at globenet@afn.org).
Bruce Gagnon was accepted to continue to serve as the GN Coordinator in 1999-2000. He is currently doing so on a non-paid volunteer basis. He stated that by the spring of 1999 he will leave his current full time paid job and seek part time work and give half of his time to the coordination of the GN.
A new Board of Directors (BOD) and officers were elected for 1999-2000. They are as follows:
The next general meeting of the GN will be held in mid-April, 2000 in Washington DC. Helen John suggested that we include a street demonstration as a part of the meeting. It was agreed and the Coordinator will begin to work on this along with the BOD.
It was also agreed that Bruce Gagnon would undertake the organizing of a GN demonstration in January, 2000 in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the site of the expected 17th Symposium on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion.
OTHER DECISIONS MADE
The meeting concluded with a dinner party at a local hall in Darmstadt. Thanks to all who came and participated. See you in Washington DC in 2000.
Submitted by:
Bruce K. Gagnon
Secretary/Coordinator