Trump Signs Executive Order to Mine the Moon for Minerals

[babylonsister]

Trump Signs Executive Order to Mine the Moon for Minerals
Jordan Davidson
Apr. 10, 2020 12:14PM EST


In the midst of a global pandemic, President Donald Trump found time earlier this week to sign an executive order for U.S. companies to mine the moon's mineral resources, according to Newsweek.

The executive order makes it clear that the administration does not view space and celestial bodies as global commons, allowing for mining operations without any international treaties, as The Guardian reported.

"Outer space is a legally and physically unique domain of human activity, and the United States does not view space as a global commons," the order, called Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources, states.

According to Mining Technology, the order states that commercial partners participate in an "innovative and sustainable program" headed by the U.S. to "lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations." The document adds that successful long-term exploration of space will require commercial entities to recover and use resources, including certain minerals, in outer space.

While the order specifically noted that a return to the moon would allow the country to explore and exploit lunar minerals, it implied a future commercialization of the solar system would apply to "the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies," as The Palm Springs Desert Sun reported.

The U.S. never signed the 1979 moon treaty, which states that non-scientific use of space resources must be governed by international regulations. Then in 2015, Congress passed a law to allow American companies and citizens to use resources from the moon and asteroids, as Newsweek reported.

As The Guardian points out, the willingness to plunder natural resources is part and parcel with the administration's policies on Earth. The Trump administration has opened up wide swaths of public land to mining and rolled back environmental regulations in an attempt to prop up the coal industry.

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https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-moon-mining-2645687877.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1

[lunatica]

1. Doesn't he know it's made of cheese?

[babylonsister]

3. Haha! If only someone would convince him of that! nt

[Lulu KC]

12. LOVE IT!! n/t

Needing more endorphins every minute.

[SheltieLover]

2. 😱 - Not the Onion?!?

Just when you think he can't sink any lower! 🤬

[Butterflylady]

13. Oh, he can go lower alright.

I use to think that too, but I have learned better.

[SheltieLover]

17. Yes, he proves this daily!

Lovely screen name!

[jls4561]

4. What do you bet ugly Ivanka already has a trademark registered?

[lunatica]

5. I wouldn't bet against a sure winner

We’ll be able to see the ‘Trump” logo on the moon from earth. All lit up like the Batman distress call! It’ll be a marvel!

See what I did there?

[DFW]

6. Is it true that Trump tried to buy the trademark "Moon?"

And that the only reason he wasn't able to get it was due to successful legal challenges from the family of the former drummer of The Who?

[Buns_of_Fire]

16. ...and this is why he's so pissed off at the World Health Organization (WHO).

It hasn't been explained to him yet (or at least not in one-syllable words that he can understand) that these are, in fact, two separate entities.

[patphil]

7. Maybe he wants to put a resort/golf course up there.

Think of the drives you could have on the Moon.

[Iliyah]

8. Is this real? . . .

[Lulu KC]

11. I was hoping not, but afraid it is

Going back to check one more time. I have been fooled by Borowitz. Once. Briefly.

[notdarkyet]

9. Good luck getting there. Have we had any successful moon landings in forty years?

Do we have any operation rockets.? What happened to the last couple shuttles? He’s an idiot.

[Lulu KC]

10. A NEW LOW!!!!!!

He keeps doing it, and doing it, and doing it!

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

14. Build a trump tower there

And put the entire occupancy of the Whitehouse in it.

[Walleye]

15. He's seriously losing it!

[Ilsa]

18. What could possibly go wrong? Let's rename the moon "Praxis."

Crewman:I've confirmed the location of Praxis, but..."
Capt. Sulu: "What is it?"
Crewman: "I cannot confirm the existence of Praxis."

– Dimitri Valtane and Hikaru Sulu, 2293 (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

[Baclava]

19. Not just the moon, asteroid mining! The Belters will survive! Earthers better watch out