Topic: Peaceful Use of Outer Space
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Evie Atwater
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United States position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
As technology expands into unheard of reaches, the inherent value in the use of outer space cannot be underestimated. In this age of information, satellites play a crucial role in communication, private enterprise, and information pathways. What was once science fiction is gradually becoming a reality as space explorations push deeper and collect more information. With so much progress in this field, it is the duty of the United Nations to ensure that Space can continue to be a peaceful and usable frontier.
The United States would like to take this time to point out some significant changes in our policies on outer space. The space policy of the Bush administration advocated national security and sovereignty over agreements to international law. With the election of President Obama, an entirely new space policy was released on June 28, 2010. We are pleased to announce that our new policies engage the United States in international discussion and law, promote the development of Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures (TCBMs), and above all aim to prevent an arms race in space. We firmly believe that nuclear materials have no place in outer space, and it is our utmost desire to see all nations can commit to a nuke-free outer space.
The United States continues to maintain the all provisions of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and encourages all nations to do so, but it is clear that more space legislation is necessary in this modern day. Cooperation between governments will be essential in ensuring the success of our combined endeavors, as will utmost transparency and consideration. We have a very unique opportunity to prevent conflict from ever reaching space; let us work to make this hope a reality.
