CNV Pom Po mm | TO ML | MUTUAL Soviet proposal to UN: ‘Space for peace, not war USSR calls for world space organization The Soviet Union, Aug. 18, has sent a letter to United Nations’ Secretary- General Javier Perez de Cuellar along with a copy of a proposed resolution for inclusion in the agenda of the 40th Ses- sion of the UN General Assembly scheduled to open in mid-September. “In submitting this proposal’ titled “International Cooperation in Peaceful Exploration of Outer Space in the Condi- tions of its Non-Militarization’’, the let- ter says, “the USSR proceeds from the assumption that mankind is now faced with a choice: either space will produce ever more tangible means of improving living conditions for the people of our planet, or it will become a source of a as limitless as space itself. Outlining just — some of the tasks such an international | cooperative approach could undértake, | the USSR says: q “Global peaceful cooperation in space © research would take shape and develop in an ascending line — from exchanges of | scientific and technological information and simple forms of cooperation to poo ing states’ resources for large scale space exploration. ““Mankind would be capable of realiz- ing such a long-term goal as industrializa- tion of near-earth space in the sense of merging space complexes, operation of orbital factories and plants designed to | produce new materials and industrial @PF15 fires 18. ASAT and returns to base. - WHICH WAY IN SPACE? Is it to be the path of international peaceful co- operation as shown in the 1984 joint Soviet-India space flight — or Star Wars new mortal danger to them.”’ The Soviet resolution ‘‘calls on all States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to take effective mea- sures for preventing an arms race in space, thus creating the conditions for wide, international cooperation in the exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes.” This would mean, the USSR argues, renunciation by states of development — including research — of testing and de- strike weapons. It would open up the pos- sibilities for joint efforts and effective use of humankind’s material and intellectual for resources and give new impetus to the development of science and technology ployment of space-based for human progress. The global, cooperative approach ad- vanced is seen in the USSR’s proposal that a World Space Organization be established to deal with questions of international cooperation and peaceful and turning space into a new frontier of death? exploration under conditions. their development. tion. non-military Such an organization would be called on 1.) to ensure, on the basis of mutual benefit and non-discrimination, that all states have access to the results of scien- tific and technological achievements; 2.) to undertake international projects call- ing for joint efforts and the pooling of resources; 3.) to render all-round assis- tance to developing nations, involving them in the exploration and use of space and in the application of practical results economic The World Space Organization, says the USSR, would also have the task of facilitating verification of compliance with agreements concluded, or to be concluded, to prevent space militariza- In accepting this proposal, the United and social Nations would convene, not later than . 1987, an international conference with the participation of states with major space capabilities and other countries concerned to consider the questions of international space cooperation in its totality and to agree upon the main direc- tions of such cooperation. The Confer- ence would also consider the question of setting up a World Space Organization. The Soviet resolution proposes an ““open-ended”’ committee be set up to prepare the conference, and that it pre- sent its report to the 41st UN General Assembly in 1986. It also proposes that all states submit their views and pro- posals to the UN Secretary-General by March 1, 1986 and that the question of space cooperation be placed on the agenda of the 41st session. The ramifications in this proposal are * * * goods in conditions of deep vacuum and weightlessness. The inexhaustible riches of space and the sun’s energy could put at the service of people. _ “The results of space exploration, | experiments and the use of space | technology would develop in many areas: biology, medical science, mate- rials studies, weather forecasting, cli mate research and environmental studies, global satellite communications Data could be gathered for geology, agri culture, ocean exploration and sea and — air rescue work.”’ i “Peaceful exploration of space’’, the | USSR aruges in presenting its proposal | to the UN, “can contribute greatly to furthering human progress and im- provement of life on earth. Space’’, the — Soviet Union believes, ‘tis a common ~ property of mankind and should be — placed at the service not of war, but of — peace and security, economic and social progress of all nations.”’ international Focus Tom Morris Atribute to Samantha The concept that you will die before you have lived offends the human spirit. It runs counter to human logic. It is the antithesis of life itself. ~ And so it might not have been surprising that an 11 year- old American schoolgirl would find the world of the 1980s threatening, confusing and ill- ogical. In 1982 Samantha Smith asked the questions many youngsters ask at that age: ““Why is war necessary? Who wants war? What can be done?’’ But Samantha put her questions in a letter to former Soviet leader, Yuri Andropov — and Andropov replied. He spoke of the USSR’s wish and will for peace, and of its countless proposals and in- itiatives and he _ invited Samantha to visit his country, to talk to the Soviet people, to see for herself. She and her parents did visit the Soviet Union. Upon her re- turn Samantha appeared on countless television shows. On each she spoke with simple eloquence about what she had seen and heard; about Soviet children with fears and dreams like her own. She painted a picture for mil- lions of Americans of a people 8 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 4, 1985 SAMANTHA SMITH and her father on their return from the USSR in 1983 on a child’s quest for peace. which desires peace above all —a picture so very unlike that Reagan portrays. And Samantha was so much more believable. Last week Samantha Smith was killed in an air crash. For her countless friends on both sides of the ocean this, too, runs counter to logic. It offends the human spirit. Any fink can be President? Perhaps you can’t fault ‘‘the Gipper’’ for being a dreadful actor. After all, once known as ““Dutch’’, he was also a mediocre sportscaster before that. Then Ronald Reagan took to the rubber chicken circuit tout- ing wares for General Electric and was spotted as a com- municator. Some of his skills were undoubtedly honed years before when he appeared as a “friendly” witness before the House of Un-American Ac- tivities Committee, adding his voice to others who hounded and informed on their fellow workers. People with talent and prin- ciples were blacklisted and de- stroyed in the Red Scare of the times by Reagan and others — people who stood for the real America, one of democracy and decency. Recall, too, that Reagan was California governor when the dogs were unleashed on Angela Davis in the early 1970s as the right wing embarked on open murder and judicial . frame-up to smash the Black movement. Reagan’s service to his ultra-conservative class today reaches the White House where he plays in the biggest of leagues deciding the fate of humanity. We now learn another fact: Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, former Governor of California, began his career as ‘‘T-10’’, a sleazy little stoolpigeon for the FBI. As president of the Screen Ac- tors Guild of America, his job was to rat on his union’s members. “‘Dutch’’, ‘‘the Gipper’’, “T-10°’, ‘‘Mr. Governor’’, “Mr. President’? — what a U.S. success story. Whales, people and dictators Recently John Denver ap- peared on board the Calypso with Jacques Cousteau to voice his concerns about ocean pollution and the preservation of marine life. In this, Denver wins a ton of support, as he should. But life isn’t all bouquets. Denver gets a resounding “‘Boo’’ for his recent appear- ance at a government- sponsored music festival in Vina del Mar, Chile. Any sup- port whatever to the Pinochet regime isn’t welcomed by the beseiged Chilean people. They’ ve had 12 years of brutal fascism and aren’t about to be conned with bread and circuses. Accordingly, a number of Chilean artists, writers, poets and-actors addressed a letter to Denver. They pointed out that his $140,000 fee is equal to the monthly income of 5,000 Chi- lean families. Finally, they asked Denver if he would do- nate his services and perform at a fund-raising concert for the food banks maintained by the Church. It will be interesting to see if Denver’s concerns for living things on earth includes the Chilean poor. Let’s hope so. KAL 007 pieces coming together Two years ago Korean Air’s KAL 007 was downed over the Soviet Union setting off one of the most virulent binges of anti-Sovietism yet seen. Ef- forts by the USSR explaining the aircraft was spying were dismissed by a more-than-will- ing media despite emerging facts. But now more pieces are fall- ing into place showing an elaborate U.S.-Korea-Japan- ese cover of what really hap- pened and who was responsi- ble for the dreadful con- sequences. We’re therefore looking forward to next week’s Tribune backgrounder t y Fred Weir on the on-going 007 « tor::.