ABC Updates
14 February 2020
1/ Media Coverage
Of ABC's January 2020 Waihopai Spy Base Protest https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119016424/waihopai-spy-base-does-nothing-to-prevent-terrorism-protesters-say
2/ Rocket Lab Update - the cover story of the latest (November 2019)
Peace
Researcher is about Rocket Lab. The issue can be read
here: http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/pr/pr-backissues/PR58.pdf
Rocket Lab's most recent
launch (within the past few weeks) was for the US National
Reconnaissance Office, the US military's super-secret spy satellite
agency
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12302036
Rocket Lab is attracting
international media attention
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/25/aiming-for-the-stars-how-new-zealands-space-industry-is-causing-turbulence?CMP=share_btn_link
And here is the latest that
I have written about Rocket Lab:
Rocket Lab is expanding
rapidly. In December 2019 it announced that it has started
constructing a second launch pad on the Mahia Peninsula, as it works
towards its goal of wanting to launch rockets on a weekly basis. The
Government is being very obliging. That same month it released updated
rules on what can be sent into space from NZ.
Payloads that contribute to nuclear weapons
programmes or capabilities are banned. Rocket Lab has never been
involved with nuclear weapons, so that won’t affect it. The rules also
prohibit “payloads with the intended end use of supporting or enabling
specific defence, security or intelligence operations that are
contrary to Government policy”.
But as NZ is an active defence, security and
intelligence partner of the US, and Rocket Lab is an American company,
this is meaningless. Rocket Lab is working for US defence and
intelligence agencies, which is in line with Government policy. Phil
Twyford, the Economic Development Minister, said that Rocket Lab’s
earlier launches of US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) payloads would have been fine under these “beefed-up” rules.
So, business as usual.
Moon Mining & Cosmic Light
Shows For Mega-Rich
In addition to the work for the US military and
spy agencies, other opportunities could present themselves for Rocket
Lab. The Press (27/12/19) ran a fascinating article with the
alarming headline “Moon Mining: The New ‘Wild West’”. It detailed the
drive by various states and private companies to work towards mining
the Moon and asteroids for minerals. It quoted Dr Anna Marie Brennan,
a Waikato University senior law lecturer.
“Brennan said there were also opportunities for
New Zealand, which was an attractive place for a launch pad because
its geographical location meant there was less air traffic for rockets
to contend with. ‘It would be a lot easier to launch missions from New
Zealand, so I think New Zealand has, in the future, a great
opportunity here on capitalise on this. But, again, there needs to be
an open discussion and debate about the extent to which New Zealand
wants to engage in the space race’”.
Rocket Lab is already working for the one
percenters who, literally, have money to burn. In its most recent
launch window (late 2019) it launched one satellite whose sole purpose
is to rain down artificial “shooting stars” into the night sky. “The
satellite is owned by Japanese company ALE, whose goal was described
by the (UK) Sun in January (2019) as being to ‘wow the world’s
mega-rich with dazzling light displays’” (Press, 7/11/19,
“‘Shooting Star’ Shows Get Space Agency Approval”, Tom
Pullar-Strecker). After all, why should the “mega-rich” have to wait
for the universe to supply them with shootings stars, when they can
buy their own cosmic light show? Rocket Lab is happy to play its
profitable part in pandering to their whims.
3/ New Zealand Is Getting Involved In America's War In Space
https://thespinoff.co.nz/members/14-01-2020/revealed-new-zealands-role-in-the-new-american-war-fighting-frontier-space/
4/ New Zealand's Hidden Presence At Key US Middle East Warfighting
Base In Qatar
https://www.mintpressnews.com/new-zealand-hidden-role-al-udeid-airbase-middle-east/264380/
5/ Lid Lifted On GCSB in Afghanistan War
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118233964/snot-those-guys-secret-gcsb-emails-reveal-operation-burnham-chatter
6/ ABC's Submission On Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders)
Bill
http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/sub_tsco.html
Secretary/Organiser
Anti-Bases Campaign
Box 2258, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
abc@chch.planet.org.nz
www.converge.org.nz/abc
www.facebook.com/AotearoaABC