The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 Makes an Awesome Earth Treaty as Well

Feb 21, 2019

How come we have better laws governing outer space than we do our own planet?

The Outer Space Treaty is a treaty that forms the basis of international space law. It was entered in 1967 and signed by most of the plant, including the US, China, Russia, nearly all of the European Union, India, and Brazil.

Here are a few of its principles:

• the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit of all mankind
• outer space is not subject to national appropriation or sovereignty
• states shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space
• the Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes
• states shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.
• states shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects
• astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind
  

Basically: come in peace and share our universe as respectful caretakers.

Here on Earth, our terms are different.  Here we capture as much power as possible and trash our natural resources for short-term economic gains.

How come we strive to be our highest potential in outer space, yet here on Earth we trash our homes like an out-of-control frat party that thinks daylight will never come?

What if we applied principles of the Outer Space Treaty to Earth?

Possible?  Conceivable?