{
"type": "rich",
"version": "1.0",
"provider_name": "Action Network",
"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
"html": "",
"author_name": "World BEYOND War",
"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/world-beyond-war",
"title": "Peaceful Public Protest to 'STOP Militarisation of Space'",
"thumbnail_url": "https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg",
"description": "SPACE FOR PEACE AOTEAROA/NZ Campaign *We call on the New Zealand government to refuse consent for Space Industry activities which support preparation for warfare in Space and on Earth. 1/ The Rocket Lab company launch of 'Gunsmoke-J ' payload March 2021 from NZ is for the US Military Space Missile Defence Command in 'warfare combat targeting purposes' 2/ Rocket Lab, is now a US owned company, with key shareholder Lockheed Martin, who is the major producer of conventional warfare and nuclear weapons in the world. 3/ Future Rocket Lab launches of satellites from NZ soil on Mahia Peninsula are planned as to support infrastructure for warfare in Space and on Earth. This violates Tangata Whenua, local Iwi and Maori values as Kaitiaki. 4/ The US Space Force defence/offence strategy policy involves nuclear weapons and nuclear powered Space platforms. Thus, it is undesirable for the NZ government to be supportive because it is contrary to the NZ Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act (1987) and to the Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities Act (2017). OSHAA Assessment criteria states that NZ government will not approve: 'payloads with the intended end use of harming, interfering with or destroying other spacecraft or systems on Earth' . Supporting warfare preparation in Space violates OSHAA principles. Government must not assist conventional or nuclear warfare planning in US military launches from NZ. Our role is to be a Nuclear Free New Zealand International Peacemaker for demilitarisation and global security. 5/ Increasing militarisation of Space, violates the spirit of the UN Outer Space Treaty (1967) and the proposed UN Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space Treaty (PAROS). 6/ It is also contrary to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Social and Environmental Well-Being. SDG #16 Peace and Justice -requires redeploying military budgets for Climate Protection, Health, Humanitarian Aid, Clean water, Education, etc. *Therefore, the NZ government should refuse permission for Rocket Lab launches of payloads that assist preparations for warfare in Space and on Earth. *The NZ government declare its commitment to 'Keep Space for Peace' and ensure activities do not support warfare, nor increase threats to health and Well-Being. *The NZ government declares support for the UN PAROS Treaty, to stop militarisation of Space which threatens Humanity and the Earth.",
"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/events/peaceful-public-protest-to-stop-militarisation-of-space"
}