‘SPACE LAW’
Are We Headed for t
Earlier this year, Russia announced it would abandon its missions to the International Space Station in favor of a new, Russia-only station orbiting Earth. At the same time, China has begun working in earnest on its own permanent space installation, raining construction debris down on coastal Africa and other places. With private American interests gaining traction in orbit (and the confidence of our government), things are getting awfully crowded up there — and not by actors that typically play well together.
The general principles were those of cooperation and goodwill, and that made sense in the 20th century, when it was unlikely any power would be able to seriously colonize stations in orbit or the moon itself, never mind other planets. But in the past 20 years, many countries have been unwilling to seriously commit to more specific agreements or laws. When you see the rapidly increasing presence many countries are seeking in orbit, you start to understand why. Nobody wants to hamstring themselves and compromise their interests when the resources of our solar system are made available through technology. Even though this may be a new arena, the problem is an old one. International Law — of which “space law” is a subset — is not typically enforceable and never has been. Private ventures, like those of Elon Musk, may face crackdown by their governments or the international community. But nations themselves will take what they want, when they want it — and right now, that could make peace on the final frontier a long shot in the 21st century.
All of which begs the question: Will the 21st century see the first violent conflict in space?
We have to delve into “space law” (yes, it’s really called that) to understand this question. It started in the 1940s and ‘50s, when the USSR launch of Sputnik signaled a new ground for scientific competition in the Cold War, as well as fears of more direct, armed conflict. The landmark “Outer Space Treaty’’ of 1967 was the response, and nations continued to deal with space concerns until the end of the century.
The first Monday of September often signifies the “unofficial
responding to a strike at McCormick Reaper Works. During the riot, a bomb was thrown at police officers, causing the death of eight people and murder convictions for eight others. However, the most momentous event in the Labor Movement came in 1893, when, in the midst of a recession, George Pullman laid off employees and cut wages by 30%. Yet, Pullman did not lower rent or costs in his stores in Pullman, Illinois, where many of his employees lived. Anger over this situation caused workers to walk out in May 1894, and in June, the American Railway Union and leader Eugene V. Debs declared a similar boycott in support. The result was a complete stop to rail traffic, transportation, and commerce across 27 states. As the federal government stepped in to help, tensions and protests became inflamed. By the end of the demonstrations, dozens of people died. While demonstrations continued, on June 28, 1894, the federal government established the first Monday of every September as Labor Day, a holiday designed to celebrate workers. In addition to creating Labor Day, the Pullman Strike is considered a major turning point in workers’ rights. At Schiller & Hamilton Law Firm, we are privileged to represent workers seeking compensation for workplace injuries and negligence. If you would like to learn more, please visit SchillerHamilton.com. We’ve got your back!
end of summer,” but Labor Day is about
so much more than parades, barbecues, and final summer trips to the cabin. Without the sacrifices made to establish this holiday, working in America may look
The Haymarket Riot, Chicago
very different today.
Labor Day was born out of the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. According to History. com, workers at that time had very few rights; they worked in poor, unsanitary conditions; were expected to work 12-hour days for seven days each week; and made low wages. By the late 1800s, employees were fed up, and tensions among employers and their workers boiled over in a series of protests and deadly riots across the nation. The first notable demonstration came in September 1882, when about 10,000–20,000 people marched through Manhattan in New York City for workers’ rights. It’s considered the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history. Four years later, the Haymarket Riot in Chicago happened as the result of anger over the death of several workers by Chicago police officers
CALL US TODAY.
2
803.366.0333
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software