Space: The Final Frontier of Privatisation
New report from Common Wealth warns that billionaires and corporate interests are trying to privatise space resources long owned by humanity.
Our new report Star Wars: Why the Left Should Protect Space as Humanity's Commons, by Carla Ibled, warns that international treaties protecting the neutrality of space — and its protection from private appropriation — are in jeopardy from countries including the United States under Donald Trump.
Recent years have seen the growth of a “New Space” lobby, which argues for extending private ownership structures on Earth into space, transferring common resources into the hands of a few wealthy individuals and corporations. The British and Scottish governments are eager to attract space investors, with ambitions from the Scottish government to make Scotland the “home of New Space.“
The report states:
If corporate efforts succeed, space resources will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis, favouring rich nations and wealthy individuals.
In place of space expropriation, we propose the defence of space as humanity’s “common heritage”. Calling for the creation of a system that can captures the value generated from space resource use and distribute it equitably, for the benefit of communities, workers and Earth’s environment.
Visit our website to read the full report.