This has never before been an issue, as the moon has been well beyond our reach. However when our ingenuity gives us the option of traveling to the moon and our desperation for resourcess (energy in this case) gives us the incentive, it opens up an ethical question. The moon is of great importance to all life on earth, it is important to all cultures and even sacred to some religions. If someone claims legal ownership of the moon, and intend to exploit it to their gain, there will be people who will object to it. This is a very different case of claiming land than what it was in the age of colonisation, when the first superpowers conquered land by sticking their flag onto it irrespective of the natives living there. The moon is deserted of life, but there is no place on earth where it cannot be seen. That makes it, in my eyes, common property to everyone. We should set the rules regarding the moons ownership soon. I suggest leaving it alone and designating it as a world heritage site.
2007-06-10
21:28:29
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15 answers
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asked by
Otavainen
3
in
Other - Society & Culture