[Site Fwd]: Comment on Basic Plan on Space

* Makiko Sato informed the site.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　Contributed comments from
the Global Network aganst Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
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　　　　　　　　　 Comment on Basic Plan on Space
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Bruce Gagnon　　　　Main, USA 　　May 11, 2009

I am writing to give the comments from the Global Network Against 　　　Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space　on Japan's “Basic Plan on Space.” 　　　It has come to our attention that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 　 　(JAXA) and Lockheed Martin are collaborating on a two-stage rocket 　　　launch　system called GX. 　　　　　 　　　The proposal is to use these rockets at Vandenberg Air Force Base 　　　in California.　 　　　We have much experience at Vandenberg AFB which is a key military 　　　launch center for nuclear weapons, missile defense, and military　satellites. 　　　We know that today the US Air Force has problems finding enough reliable 　　　launch vehicles　for their growing demand for military launches. 　　　Thus, we view the GX rocket as an attempt to get Japan　to help 　　　develop a rocket system to assist the Pentagon in launching military 　　　space missions. 　　　We are aware that the Japanese people are being told that the GX would 　　　be　for “commercial launches” at Vandenberg. 　　　The people of Kodiak Island,　Alaska were told　a similar thing about 10 　　　years ago when a rocket launch center was established on their 　　　environmentally pristine island. 　　　But in fact, since the opening of the Kodiak rocket launch center, 　　　only US military space weapons technology missions have been launched 　　　 from their island. 　　　The military industrial complex in the US　has for many years been saying 　　　that an arms race in space will be the largest industrial project in the 　　　history　of the planet Earth. Thus, the US alone cannot afford to pay for 　　　 this expensive　and dangerously destabilizing program all by itself. 　　　The US　weapons industry　has determined that it must recruit allies to 　　　help pay for this program. We see it as no coincidence that Japan is now 　　　 being brought into the space weapons　arms race program. 　　　The fact that the GX rocket is presently at least five years late in 　　 production, and three-times over budget, indicates clearly that this 　　　space weapons arms race indeed will be the most expensive program in 　　　Earth history. This fact will necessitate cut backs in social spending in 　　　the US and in Japan in order to pay for the insatiable appetite of 　　　space technology programs. 　　　Do the people of Japan know this fact? 　　　Are the people of Japan allowed to discuss this fundamental question of 　　　priorities or has it already been determined that Japan will participate in 　　　this new arms race　without serious and vigorous national debate? 　　　The GX rocket is just the start. 　　 　　　Next will come requests for funding in Japan to pay for expensive 　　　military satellite systems and then for“defensive” space weapons 　　　technologies to protect the “investments in space” from attack by 　　　“enemies”. 　　 　　　That is how arms races begin. 　　　Now is the time for the people of Japan and people all around the world 　　　to speak out strongly to prevent a new arms race from beginning. 　　　 　　　We have this one brief moment in history to prevent this new space 　　　weapons arms race. My hope is that the Japanese government will 　　　reconsider its basic plan on space and instead move to join those 　　　around the world who are working hard to keep space for peace. 　　　In peace, 　　Bruce K. Gagnon 　　Coordinator 　　Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space 　　PO Box652 　　Brunswick, ME　04011 　　globalnet@mindspring.com