Moon
On May 4th, 2021, CDER presented a webinar on the Moon, plans for human exploration and exploitation along rising concerns with the potential impacts on the lunar environment. The Declaration of the Rights of the Moon was highlighted by four of its drafters, who also presented: CDER's Mari Margil and Dr. Michelle Maloney, Dr. Alice Gorman, and Thomas Gooch. This was an important and vibrant opportunity to learn more about the Moon’s inherent value as a natural being. This recorded webinar is publicly available below.
Declaration of the Rights of the Moon
In 2020, Thomas Gooch, Director of the Office of Other Spaces led a forum where it was considered whether the Moon could be recognized as possessing legal rights as a celestial entity with a dynamic environment and an existence of its own separate from human involvement. This resulted in Thomas joining Michelle Maloney and Mari Margil of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, space archeologist Dr. Alice Gorman and research/author Ceridwen Dovey to collaborate together on the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon. The Declaration of the Rights of the Moon recognizes the fundamental rights of the Moon to “right to be defined as a self-sustaining, intelligent, cohesive, intact lunar ecosystem.”
Over the course of a year, the group met regularly to define and refine the necessary concepts. The draft is now publicly available, and open to respectful feedback on how to honor the rights of the Moon more effectively and completely. We invite you to show your support for this initiative here and to be a part of this movement for change. The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights also has a section available on this exciting new development, available here for your enjoyment.
The Declaration of the Rights of the Moon
We the people of Earth -
Acknowledging the unique, intact, interconnected lunar environments and landscapes which exist on the Moon;
Acknowledging the ancient, primordial relationship between Earth and the Moon;
Mindful of how much is still unknown about the co-origins of Earth and the Moon;
Aware that the Moon is critically important to the healthy functioning of the Earth System, and is a vital sustaining component of all life on Earth;
Aware that the Moon holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning for human beings;
Acknowledging that the cycles of the Moon have enabled life itself to evolve on Earth;
Mindful of the immeasurable value the Moon holds as a repository of deep time and connection among all beings who have ever lived on Earth, since its features have remained almost unchanged since time immemorial;
Conscious that wealthy nations and corporations are developing technologies that may make it possible to return to, live on, mine and otherwise alter the Moon;
Aware of humanity’s impact on the Earth - causing ecosystem collapse, a new era of mass species extinction and global climate change - and seeking to avoid destruction and change to the natural systems and ecosystems of the Moon,
Declare that -
The Moon – which consists of but is not limited to: its surface and subsurface landscapes including mountains and craters, rocks and boulders, regolith, dust, mantle, core, minerals, gases, water, ice, boundary exosphere, surrounding lunar orbits, cislunar space – is a sovereign natural entity in its own right and, in accordance with established international space law, no nation, entity, or individual of Earth may assert ownership or territorial sovereignty of the Moon.
The Moon possesses fundamental rights, which arise from its existence in the universe, including:
(a) the right to exist, persist and continue its vital cycles unaltered, unharmed and unpolluted by human beings;
(b) the right to maintain ecological integrity;
(c) the right to be defined as a self-sustaining, intelligent, cohesive, intact lunar ecosystem, beyond current human comprehension;
(d) the right to independently maintain its own life-sustaining relationship with the Earth’s environments and living creatures; and
(e) the right to remain a forever peaceful celestial entity, unmarred by human conflict or warfare.
On October 26th, 2021 Silvia Peppoloni wrote about the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon, stating:
"We are still very far from a clear and shared vision on space policies, but perhaps the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon could be an important beginning of discussion to arrive at a concrete solution of protection..."
She argues for the vital work being done to protect all natural resources and ecosystems, even those in our solar system. Silvia explored the ethics behind the concept of sovereignty, and the practical implications of protecting a being that has no obligations, and whether inaction can be an assertive form of caretaking, particularly when it comes to lunar ownership and mining. More information can be located in Italian and English.
Sister Mary McDonald writes for the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St. Benedict on the need to protect the Moon and outer space, and the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon. She writes, "Space agencies and private corporations are continuing their explorations and planning to extract lunar resources for profit. This is legitimated by the belief that the Moon is a dead world toward which we have no moral obligation."