Subject: Initial Thoughts on Global Network Meeting From: Loring Wirbel Citizens for Peace in Space/Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commisssion Fri, 10 Apr 1998 The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space just completed a successful and energized annual meeting at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, timed to coincide with the National Space Symposium. More complete reports will be following from Bill Sulzman of CPIS, Byron Plumley of AFSC, and particularly GNAWNPS coordinator Louise Mills (once she gets back from a llong drive back to Florida), but here are some initial observations: Attendance was broader and more diverse than ever. Helen John and four other women from the WoMenwith Hill Women's Peace Camp in England came to update us on campaigns against the National Security Agency in England, and Dave Webb from Yorkshire CND gave us a report on Fylingdales and other U.S. bases in the Yorkshire region. Regina Hagen and Wolfgang Schlupp came from Germany, representing groups in Stuttgart and Muttlangen. Many present and former members of the Florida Coalition were present, including Bruce Gagnon and Mary Beth Sullivan. Tina Bell came to represent WILPF, and Merav Datan represented Lawyers Committe on Nuclear Policy. Ved Nanda of University of Denver Law School analyzed international law and the implications of the Outer Space Treaty. In addition to many fine workshops, we were treated to keynote speeches from Helen John, Michio Kaku, and a Cassini flyby overview from Karl Grossman and Bruce Gagnon. Extracurricular activities included visits to Falcon and Peterson Air Force Bases (with plenty of heavily-armed MP presence), a protest at the National Space Symposium at the Broadmoor, and participation by Helen and Byron on a panel in Boulder with Harvey Wasserman. Because we were dealing with space policy and intelligence-agency abuse, it was no great surprise that the meeting had several attempts at infiltration by police agents, including ones that obviously represented out-of-town agencies. No great problem, just a matter for humorous interlude. The urgency of the space militarization problem was made evident by the presentations at the Space Symposium. The U.S. Space Command has finished a large document, Long-Range Plan for Implmentation of Vision 2020, in which the command calls for sole U.S. ownership of space, and total control of all space surrounding the planet, using the help of multinational corporate space assets where appropriate. TRW and Boeing announced work on the Space-Based Laser Demonstration Platform, and Bob Bell, Assistant National Security Adviser, said that $100 million will be allocated in FY99 to the Space Based Laser. Fielding of an operational laser will virtually require abrogation of the ABM and Outer Space Treaties. Keith Hall, director of the National Reconnaissance Office, talked about making use of private satellites to augment the NRO's own spy satellites. Many sessions at the Space Symposium focused on how space-based assets of the NRO and NSA will be used, not for stabilization and verification of arms treaties, but clearly for global dominance, "force multiplication through intelligence fusion", and "prividing real-time intelligence to the warfighter." Luckily, members of the Global Network were on hand at the symposium during Hall's speech to banner and leaflet. At the concluding meeting April 9, the Global Network opted for a decentralized approach to information distribution, though a Web site should be up soon. Further educational and information projects for 1998 and 1999 will depend on an examination of grants and other funding resources. The network also plans protests for Aug. 18, a year prior to the date of the Cassini flyby. Everyone left the conference feeling invigorated to know the scope of actions worldwide, but motivated to act quickly, given the scope of near-term plans of the NRO and Space Command.
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