Should it be possible in your opinion for any individual, government or corporation to own land on the moon?

Question

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.

This question was first posted in the law and ethics section a week ago. I am curious on what you lot in society and culture think.

crazymental: Yes. We humans should try and learn something or two about resource management. I think the biggest problem is that we do not realise that there is not a limitless supply of anything on earth.

danielle p: Ownership is always a question when there is resourcess involved. There will always be somebody who will want to exploit them, even if we do not. In the "law and ethics" forum I asked this question and was given back the idea that it could work like the Antartic model. I doubt that if they ever find oil on the continent the countries are not going to be so challant about communal ownership.

Selektap: I do not see how he could legally sell plots on the moon. He would need to own it first. He cannot own it if he has never even been there.

Justbentnotbroken: You are right. It is inevitable. Now that there is incentive to go up there, it is likely to be sooner as well.

noeusuperstate: I disagree. The moon is part of the earth, but in a different way than anything else before. That is why this is going to be a challenging issue in the future. I really do not want to be staring up at criminals, when I look at the moon. Although thats interesting as in folklore the man on the moon was sent there because he broke the rules.

It seems that they have found something of value on the moon. The several people have already been selling property on the moon makes it a legal matter. I believe the game rules should be set before people start killing each other over it.

Now Vote! :)

Answer 1

You have too much spare time on your hands.....

Answer 2

It should be treated the same way as any new territory, those that reside on it for a long period own that land. The idea that it can actually be owned by any one nation is rather ridiculous as is the idea that it belongs to man kind. Basically if you cannot defend a territory then you cannot retain control. Also, no court in the world has any jurisdiction on moon matters so legally its a free for all. Finally, there may well be other beings out there in space who have an eye on it too so it is rather presumptuous to suggest that only mankind has rights to it.

Answer 3

Well i agree with you about keeping it as a heritage site as it is so valueable, however i doubt that will happen.

NASA already seem to claim it as they are selling plots of land on it acre by acre to some poor people. But i think if someone ever really strongly feels they own a bit of it there will be an arms race over it, you never know we may one day have a MWI? As far as other planatery bodies i think it will be a case of first to claim owns unless some one wants to proove them wrong by fighting with them, that is after all how things were solved in the past.

Answer 4

Not a lot of choice on this matter. You know the moon will contain something of value to humans be it minerals, fuel, land or what ever. In there being a want there will be people who will use the moon to monetarily gain from this want. In order to keep these people from killing each other it will have to be policed. In order to police there will have to be law. In order to have law you will need government. The moon is so large and there will be so many disagreements that it will have to be separated into manageable sections. Each section having its own responsible party. Each party in order to fund its effort will have to charge a fee (or tax). In order to decide who gets to tax who you will need boundary's. in order to enforce boundary's you will need to grant ownership and so on and so forth and there you go.

Answer 5

I see what you are driving at but the Moon is not part of Earth nor is it a 'World' so how could it be a world heritage site?

If you are bothered about exploitation think about the advantages of a penal colony on the Moon where we could send paedophiles etc?

Answer 6

Well if we cant go to the moon where do we all go when America screws up the world for good?

I'd say Canada, but you know that's the first place Amercians are going to go hide when they finally have to run.....

We need the moon man. I already bought a plot, in 1986. Research it, it's sold out already.

Answer 7

No, I believe that no one should put a claim on the moon . He said one giant leap for Mankind, not one giant leap for the U.S.... It would be nice to be able to just continue growing and learning about other planets without having to sector off land for ownership. The planets are not to be owned by humans any more than any other spieces. I think we have enough problems here that we don't need to spread them elsewhere .

Answer 8

I am pretty sure that an american in the 80`s managed to legally sell off plots of moon real estate already

Answer 9

i dont think anyone should have the right to claim the moon. the moon has important functions such as controling tides and such. and for man to go and take what he wants from it is terrible. just because you can see it doesnt give anyone the right to claim it. i see things all the time but i cant claim them as mine. it should be left alone and other avenues for resources explored. we are such a wasteful planet and we only have ourselves to blame when valuable resources such as oil runs out.

Answer 10

well, as there are no natives to conquer, we shall have to settle this the old fashioned way. when we feel the threat of THEM claiming it, we'll outfit the shuttles (we'll quickly build some more) with nifty laser guns and try to take out the mir. THEY will be on to us, and have already implimented anit-shuttle counter measures. meanwhile, both sides will have transports trying to sneak to the surface to set up their impenetrable forts. and it goes on and on and on. even in space.

Answer 11

Right or wrong I really feel that it is inevitable and will be very expensive and only for the most wealthy. I do believe that it will most likely be a mistake that will haunt mankind for years to follow.