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Re: Your Approval and Announcement of a Space Preservation Treaty Conference

Dear Prime Minister Jean Chretien - and - Foreign Minister Bill Graham,

I request that you direct the Government of Canada to convene a Space Preservation Treaty-signing Conference to ban all space-based weapons (and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects that are in orbit).

With the ABM Treaty unilaterally terminated by the U.S. administration on June 13, 2002, the research, development, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of space-based weapons and weapons systems is rapidly accelerating. The U.S. Administration intends to deploy a destabilizing and unnecessary National Missile Defense System by 2004, in Alaska by Canada’s border. Other nations, including Russia and China, are being tempted to participate in a momentum building intention to weaponize space. But China, Russia, and most country leaders have repeatedly stated that they want to ban space-based weapons. Given the opportunity, they will sign the Space Preservation Treaty. Canada and the world need an effective, feasible, international, multi-lateral approach to stop this arms race in space before the momentum of funding and vested interests is put into place that would make it impossible to stop. Deployment would take place under the guise of calling it "research" or "testing," so I urge you to take immediate action.

Motions and Public Petitions calling for Canada to lead a world initiative to ban space-based weapons have already been introduced in the Canadian House of Commons and Senate. Canada proposed a multi-lateral agreement to ban space-based weapons in 1982, over 20 years ago. Canada is uniquely qualified to hold a Treaty Conference to ban space-based weapons. Canada successfully held a similar Treaty Conference in 1997, when 122 U.N. Member Nations signed the Ottawa Land Mines Treaty. The U.N. Conference on Disarmament is deadlocked, and, therefore, an international Treaty Conference is urgently needed if the imminent weaponization of space is to be successfully banned. Deputy Prime John Manley of Canada on July 26, 2001 stated, "Canada would be very happy…to launch an initiative to see an international convention preventing the weaponization of space."

The Space Preservation Treaty is companion to the Space Preservation Act that U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich will reintroduce in the House of Representatives in the next session of Congress, 2003. The Space Preservation Treaty Conference is vitally important to the process of facilitating the signing of this Treaty by world leaders and to support this important Space Preservation Act in the U.S. Congress. This milestone Treaty Conference will be the most meaningful, cost-effective legacy for the children of Canada and the world that the Government of Canada could undertake – as it will preserve outer space as a space-based weapons-free zone - for the benefit of all human kind. When the first 20 countries sign and ratify this Treaty, a world cooperative outer space peacekeeping agency will be established to monitor outer space and enforce the ban. Please respond to my letter and please take this once-in-a-lifetime, positive, courageous step. Please approve and announce that Canada will host this Space Preservation Treaty Conference to ban all space-based weapons (and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects that are in orbit). Time is of the essence. Thank you.

Signed:__________________________________ Date:________________________________

Name: __________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________

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