In just two short weeks we were able to write the resolution and get it passed by the Berkeley City Council.  The first city in the world has passed a resolution banning weapons in the airspace above Berkeley with hopes that other cities around the world will follow the Berkeley model.  Even before the resolution went before the City Council, we received a call from a woman in Philadelphia who wanted to pass the Berkeley Resolution in her own city.

I would like to thank Dr. Edgar Mitchell (Astronaut Apollo-14), Dr. Alan Hale (discovered Comet Hale-Bopp), Dr. Charles Mercieca (International Association of Educators for World Peace NGO), Dr. Carol Rosin (Institute for Cooperation in Space), and Gar Smith (former Editor Earth Island Journal) for their letters endorsing the resolution.  Your letters were powerful testimony from diverse voices to the Berkeley City Council and helped to persuade them to vote in support of this important resolution.  Thanks also to Alfred Webre (the younger) for coming to the Berkeley City Council meeting to support our resolution.

The Berkeley City Council has received a letter of congratulations from Congresswoman Barbara Lee, co-sponsor of the bill.  She was very pleased to have a city in her district be the first to pass a resolution in support of the bill.

Tomorrow evening, Sept. 14, Dennis Kucinich will be speaking about the Space Preservation Act/Treaty and the Berkeley Resolution in Wheeler Auditorium on the UC Berkeley campus.  Councilmember Dona Spring will present him with a copy of the Berkeley Resolution and thank him for sponsoring the Space Preservation Act. 

We will be sending out a press release on Sunday.

Many many thanks for your strong letters of support. We hope to have this resolution adopted by cities all over the world, many who already know about it and have been waiting for Berkeley to take the lead. Cities in Canada, Japan, UK, Russia, and the US are ready to join a global effort to permanently ban weapons in space.

The Berkeley Resolution, Space Preservation Act, Space Preservation Treaty, and letters of support will be posted on the website of the Insitute for Cooperation in Space http://www.peaceinspace.org .

Best wishes for Peace in Space,
Leuren Moret
President, Scientists for Indigenous People
City of Berkeley Environmental Commissioner
Past President, Association for Women Geoscientists
(510) 845-3139  Berkeley, California

CONSENT CALENDAR
Date: 9-10-02

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

From: Councilmember Dona Spring

Subject: ENDORSING THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT  AND COMPANION SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY TO PERMANENTLY BAN THE WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE

RECOMMENDATION:   That the Council pass the attached resolution supporting the Space Preservation Act and the companion Space Preservation Treaty, and request that the City Manager send letters to our federal representatives urging their support of the Space Preservation Act.

BACKGROUND:   On January 23rd 2002, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced the Space Preservation Act, companion to the Space Preservation Treaty, to the US House of Representatives.   In the words of Congressman Kucinich, "We can take this technology for destruction, for war, and, through this proposal, create a technology for peace.  We can create a world where war no longer becomes inevitable.  We first have to look to a practical measure, such a measure to stop the weaponization of space. There are so many opportunities for the evolution of our species.  There is the possibility of space travel, for commerce, for exploration.  That is part of the human spirit.  It always has been.  And so we have the chance today, launching this effort for peace, through saying, 'There shall be no weapons in space.'  But not only that, but to use the legislation as a matrix for a treaty to preserve space which we will ask leaders from all over the world to sign."

Please see attached.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:   NONE

CONTACT PERSON: Councilmember Dona Spring 510 981-7140

NOTE

When Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced the Space Preservation Act, companion to the Space Preservation Treaty, to the US House of Representatives on January 23rd 2002, it was given bill number H.R. 3616 (attached). (This number will change in January of 2003.)

The Space Preservation Treaty is based on the language and intent of the Space Preservation Act of 2002, H.R. 3616.  Seven representatives co-sponsored this historic bill including three members from California:

Congresswoman Barbara Lee,
Congressman Bob Filner, and
Congressman Fortney Pete Stark. 

RESOLUTION NO.    61744

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT AND THE SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY TO PERMANENTLY BAN THE WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE

WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Act and the companion Space Preservation Treaty will establish a permanent ban on all space-based weapons, on the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit; and the permanent termination of research and development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of all space-based weapons; and

WHEREAS, the termination of the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty on June 13, 2002 will permit research, development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of space-based weapons, thereby instigating a dangerous, costly, and destabilizing arms race in space, endangering all residents of Berkeley, the United States of America and all of humankind, and invading outer space, humanity's weapons-free common heritage, with space-based weapons; and

WHEREAS, The Space Preservation Act, companion to the Space Preservation Treaty, introduced by U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), requires the U.S. President to work toward "negotiating, adopting and implementing an international treaty banning space-based weapons and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit;" and

WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Treaty will establish an outer space peacekeeping agency to monitor outer space and enforce the permanent ban of space-based weapons; and

WHEREAS, The Space Preservation Act and the Space Preservation Treaty facilitate future public and private investment in clean and safe technology, products and services, and in sustainable, non-weapons, expanded civil, commercial and military, world cooperative space ventures, and the consequent stimulation of the national and world economy.   The Act and the Treaty do not prohibit activities including space exploration, space research and development, testing, manufacturing or deployment that is not related to space-based weapons or systems, or civil, commercial, or defense activities (including communications, navigation, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, or remote sensing) that are not related to space-based weapons or systems;" and

WHEREAS, the Space Preservation Act and the Space Preservation Treaty preserve the peaceful, cooperative uses of space for all residents of Berkeley and for all humankind; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

1) THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY THAT THE U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENACT AND THE U.S. PRESIDENT SIGN AND ENFORCE THE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT; and

2) THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL THAT THE U.S. PRESIDENT, INDIVIDUALLY OR AT AN EMERGENCY TREATY CONFERENCE, SIGN THE SPACE PRESERVATION TREATY, AND THAT THE U.S. SENATE RATIFY IT TO PERMANENTLY BAN ALL SPACE-BASED WEAPONS TO PRESERVE THE COOPERATIVE, PEACEFUL USES OF SPACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF BERKELEY AND FOR ALL HUMANKIND; and

3) THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY HEREBY DECLARES THAT THE SPACE 60 KILOMETERS AND ABOVE THE CITY OF BERKELEY IS A SPACE-BASED WEAPONS FREE ZONE;

AND

4) THIS RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED TO BE ADOPTED BY ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WORLDWIDE.