For Outer Space to remain our common good

Event Date: 29th September 2022
Location: Internet 18:00 BST

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For outer space to remain our common good

We cordially invite you to For outer space to remain our common good: Parliamentary action to protect outer space for the benefit and common security of humanity on Thursday September 29.

This webinar will focus on the role of parliaments and parliamentarians in protecting space for peace and our common heritage. It will draw upon information, recommendations, and examples of effective policy from the Outer Space section of the joint publication Assuring our Common Future: A guide to parliamentary action in support of disarmament for security and sustainable development.

The event is primarily for parliamentarians/legislators, but it is also open to government/UN officials, outer space experts, representatives of industry/organizations engaged in outer space activity, civil society representatives and students/youth interested in outer space issues. It is held in conjunction with the PNND/Youth Fusion podcast series on Outer Space.For Outer Space to remain our Common Good
Program:

Session A: Timed for Asia/Pacific: 
7:00 Central Europe Time / 10:00 Islamabad / 10:30 Delhi / 12:00 Jakarta / 14:00 Tokyo / 15:00 Canberra / 18:00 Wellington
This session in English only.

Speakers:

• Prof. Dato’ Seri Dr Mazlan Othman (Malaysia)
  Founder of the Malaysian Space Agency. Former Director of the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs;
• Hon Phil Twyford MP (New Zealand)
  Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control (Ministerial responsibility for New Zealand’s space launch regulations);
• Dr Setsuko Aoki (Japan)
  Professor of Law (specializing in Space Law) at Keio University Law School and Deputy Director of the International Institute of Space Law;
• Ms Melusine Lebret (France)
  Graduate student, LSE European Institute. Member of the PNND/Youth Fusion team producing the Outer Space for Peace podcast series.

Register for Session ASession B: Timed for the Americas/Europe/Africa: 
11:00 Eastern Time USA / 17:00 Central Europe Time 
Session B has simultaneous translation in English/French/Spanish

Speakers:

• Mr Paul Meyer (Canada)
  Fellow, Outer Space Institute. Adjunct Professor of International Studies and Fellow in International Security at Simon Fraser University.
• Ms Almudena Azcarate Ortega (Spain)
  Associate Researcher in the Space Security and WMD programmes, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
• Hon. Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi (UAE)
  Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict;
• Mr. Saeed Al Mansoori (UAE)
  Head of the Applications Development and Analysis Section at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre;
• Ms Melusine Lebret (France)
  Graduate student, LSE European Institute. Member of the PNND/Youth Fusion team producing the Outer Space for Peace podcast series.

Register for Session BOuter space issues

Outer space is becoming increasingly important in information, communication and control systems that guide and manage our daily lives, scientific research, and international business. Security from space debris is becoming more important. In addition, outer space is being used in military operations on the ground, and is being contemplated as a potential battlefield of the future. A number of countries, for example, are researching, developing, and testing systems for anti-satellite warfare and other applications of force into or from space.

There are several international agreements protecting outer space for peaceful purposes, but they are limited in scope and are not sufficient to address key issues and developments impacting space security.

Parliamentary oversight, national regulations, and a strengthening of international agreements are vital to protecting space for our common good; In an evolving context of international tensions, it is vital to ensure that outer space remains free from weaponization, protected from space debris, and continues to be a realm of scientific breakthroughs, international cooperation, peace, and understanding.PNND / Youth Fusion podcast series on Outer SpacePNND and Youth Fusion have launched a Podcast series on Outer Space in conjunction with the PNND/IPU program on Outer Space as our Common Good.

Young students/activists interview space experts on key issues relating to Outer Space, peace and common security. The interviews are then released as both podcast programs and blog articles.

The first in the series is an interview with Professor Paul Meyer, Fellow of the Outer Space Institute, Adjunct Professor of International Studies and Fellow in International Security at Simon Fraser University and a former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. Prof Meyer is also one of the speakers for the Sep 29 event.Yours sincerely
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