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Everyone is planning to return to the moon. At least 10 missions by half a dozen nations are scheduled before the end of 2021, and that's only the beginning.
Even though there are international treaties governing outer space, ambiguity remains about how individuals, nations and corporations can use lunar resources.
In all of this, the moon is seen as an inert object with no value in its own right.
But should we treat this celestial object, which has been part of the culture of every hominin for millions of years, as just another resource?
[...] As a thought experiment in how we might regulate lunar exploitation, some have asked whether the moon should be granted legal personhood, which would give it the right to enter into contracts, own property, and sue other persons.
Legal personhood is already extended to many non-human entities: certain rivers, deities in some parts of India, and corporations worldwide. Environmental features can't speak for themselves, so trustees are appointed to act on their behalf, as is the case for the Whanganui River in New Zealand. One proposal is to apply the New Zealand model to the moon.
[...] Can we support the legal concept of personhood for the moon with actual features of personhood?
Journal Reference:
Eytan Tepper, Christopher Whitehead. Moon, Inc.: The New Zealand Model of Granting Legal Personality to Natural Resources Applied to Space, New Space (DOI: 10.1089/space.2018.0025)
(Score: 3, Touché) by Mojibake Tengu on Wednesday September 02 2020, @03:18PM (6 children)
In my Universe of Nature paradigm, an entity is a person if it exhibits consciousness and will.
Your Universe of Legal paradigm is badly broken. Can you ask the Moon what's her opinion on this issue?
Respect Authorities. Know your social status. Woke responsibly.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2020, @04:24PM
Her opinion waxes and wanes, depending on the day of her cycle.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2020, @05:08PM (1 child)
You can ask.
But if you get an answer, get in touch with your psychiatrist. Your prescriptions need adjusting.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday September 02 2020, @09:11PM
...or back off on the self-medication.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2020, @05:31PM (2 children)
Did you just assume Luna's gender? What are Luna's preferred pronouns?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2020, @08:10PM
Nanna, please. You lost that fight quite a while ago.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Wednesday September 02 2020, @08:22PM
It depends on culture: The ancient Greeks considered the moon female, the Vikings considered the moon male, most modern Americans consider the moon non-binary, and there are lots of other variations.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.