asteroid mining negative
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Asteroid Mining Negative Asteroid Mining Negative........................................................................................................................................ 1***Advantage Answers***.......................................................................................................................................2Rare-earth Shortage Answers..................................................................................................................................Resour!e "ars Answers.......................................................................................................................................... #$S-%hina "ar Answers...........................................................................................................................................&Mi'itar( Su)eriorit( Answers...................................................................................................................................+errorism Answers................................................................................................................................................1,ro'iferation Answers.............................................................................................................................................11So'ven!( Answers................................................................................................................................................... 12So'ven!( Answers- Robots fai'...............................................................................................................................1&***Disadvantages***..............................................................................................................................................1'atinum DA........................................................................................................................................................... 1'atinum DA $ni/ueness- ri!es high...................................................................................................................10'atinum DA ins................................................................................................................................................2,rivates DA Answers.............................................................................................................................................. 21o'iti!s ins- A+3 'an )o)u'ar............................................................................................................................22S)ending DA ins................................................................................................................................................2***%ounter)'ans***............................................................................................................................................... 2#
A'asan Mining %................................................................................................................................................ 2&
S)a!e %o'oni4ation %...........................................................................................................................................2S)a!e %o'oni4ation %- A+3 5ravit( unfit for humans..........................................................................................26rivates %- So'ven!(............................................................................................................................................ 20Re!(!'ing %..........................................................................................................................................................,Re!(!'ing % So'ven!(- 78tensions.......................................................................................................................1ri4es %................................................................................................................................................................ 29S+ %.................................................................................................................................................................
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
***Advantage Answers***
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Rare-earth Shortage AnswersRare-earth shortage claims are exaggerated- we’re not near the breaking pointThe Washington Times -!!-11 :;$.S. urged to mine <rare earth’ minera's for high-te!h devi!es=>htt)3??www.washingtontimes.!om?news?2,11?a)r?11?us-urged-to-mine-rare-earth-minera's?@)agea''B
Altho"gh #$S$ prod"cers have p"shed %or greater domestic prod"ction& private anal'sts ca"tionthat panic stories regarding shortages are exaggerated= and that sim)'( )ros)e!ting broad'( in ho)es of!om)eting with %hina in the short term isn’t the answer. ;+he s( isn’t fa''ing=> said Robert Caffe= a )h(si!s )rofessor at the
Massa!husetts Institute of +e!hno'og(. ;The world is a big place& and man' o% these elements haven’t beenlooked %or the wa' we have looked %or oil.> Mr. (a%%e said the da' when global rare earths"pplies are exha"sted lies well into the %"t"re. ;Mine= bab(= mine=’ is not the so'ution=> he said.
We have more than eno"gh R)Ms %or over ! 'ears+arthemore ’!! :%hristine= e''ow at the %enter for a New Ameri!an Se!urit(= ;7'ements of Se!urit(3Mitigating the Riss of $.S. De)enden!e on %riti!a' Minera's=>htt)3??www.!nas.org?fi'es?do!uments?)ub'i!ations?%NASEMinera'sEarthemoreE1.)df B
%entra' to this narrative is a !onundrum for )o'i!(maers. Reserve estimates show that global s"pplies o% almost all minerals are ade,"ate tomeet expected global demands over the long term& and %or decades into the %"t"re %or mostminerals. +he $.S. 5eo'ogi!a' Surve( F#SSG indicates= for e8am)'e= that world s"pplies o% rare earths will be
ade,"ate %or more than ! 'ears. 1 +hese estimates= however= !an be meaning'ess in the near term if su))'ies are insuffi!ient= or if su))'iers redu!e e8)orts or
otherwise mani)u'ate trade. or e8am)'e= most e8)erts )roHe!t that g'oba' )rodu!tion of rare earths wi'' 'ie'( be insuffi!ient to meet the wor'd’s demand over the ne8t two to three (ears. +he 'ong-termsuffi!ien!( of su))'ies has no )ra!ti!a' effe!t be!ause it taes (ears and high !a)ita' !osts to start u) new mining and )ro!essing businesses for rare earths. +hus= the riss of ina!tion are high. A range of)o'iti!a'= e!onomi! and geogra)hi! fa!tors !an disru)t su))'ies and !ause )ri!e s)ies that !an !reate rifts in bi'atera' re'ations= trade dis)utes= a!!usations of e!onomi! sabotage and instabi'it( in !ountriesthat )ossess rare reserves of )ri4ed minera's. +he( !an a'so give su))'ier !ountries e8traordinar( 'everage that !an a'ter geo)o'iti!a' !a'!u'ations= es)e!ia''( when sing'e !ountries !ontro' most wor'dsu))'ies.
.hina doesn’t monopoli/e rare-earth elements- the' don’t have m"ch+arthemore ’!! :%hristine= e''ow at the %enter for a New Ameri!an Se!urit(= ;7'ements of Se!urit(3Mitigating the Riss of $.S. De)enden!e on %riti!a' Minera's=>htt)3??www.!nas.org?fi'es?do!uments?)ub'i!ations?%NASEMinera'sEarthemoreE1.)df B
ooing at the minera's e8amined in this re)ort= in the )ast de!ade the most severe !ase of disru)tions with nationa' se!urit( im)'i!ations invo'ved rare earth e'ements= whi!h are not )arti!u'ar'(
!on!entrated geogra)hi!a''(. At least eight co"ntries have known reserves& and "nknown reserves are expectedto be high$ The media o%ten re%ers to .hina as dominating the rare earths market beca"se it
prod"ces and exports almost all o% c"rrent world s"pplies& b"t it possesses onl' abo"t hal% o%known world reserves 0 not a terribl' high concentration. 2 The loss o% a single ma1or s"ppliers"ch as .hina ma( therefore in!rease the !osts of rare earths. owever= it ma' not a%%ect their longterm availabilit'& asevent"all' s"pplies will be developed elsewhere.
Rare-earth elements are plenti%"l and the #S doesn’t have reso"rces to prod"ce moreThe Washington Times -!!-11 :;$.S. urged to mine <rare earth’ minera's for high-te!h devi!es=>htt)3??www.washingtontimes.!om?news?2,11?a)r?11?us-urged-to-mine-rare-earth-minera's?@)agea''B
Des)ite their name= rare earth elements aren’t as hard to come b' as man' might think = said %ind( urst= an ana'(st with the
Arm(’s oreign Mi'itar( Studies 9ffi!e. ;Indeed= rare earth e'ements aren’t rare=> she said. ;The' are %o"nd thro"gho"t the world’s cr"st$2 +he
!hemi!a' )ro!ess of turning rare earth materia's into a )rodu!t to )ut on the maret is where the diffi!u't( 'ies= said Mo'(!or)’s Mr. Davis. 9ne reason %hina dominates the
industr( is be!ause the !ountr( has more than =,,, rare-earth te!hno'ogists !om)ared with a !ou)'e of do4en in the $.S. Mol'corp is woring to ee) the $.S. a
)'a(er in the industr(= with ho)es of riva'ing %hina’s )rodu!tion. +he mining !om)an( re!ent'( a!/uired 0, )er!ent of AS Si'met= a rare earth )ro!essing !om)an( based in
7stonia= whi!h will increase prod"ction signi%icantl' = Mr. Davis said. 3"t the #$S$ %aces ma1or obstacles inchallenging .hina’s pre-eminence& Mr$ 4i%ton said$ 56 don’t think we can prod"ce thesematerials at a lower cost than the' can be prod"ced in .hina&2 he said$ 5We are reall' in a pickleright now$ 7o" cannot re-create a s"ppl' chain in !8 min"tes.>
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Reso"rce Wars AnswersReso"rce wars don’t escalate
Thomason ‘03 :Cames= +7 RAR7S+ %9MM9DI+J IN +7 %9MIN5 R7S9$R%7 "ARS= %enter for Nava' Ana'(sis= htt)3??www.!na.org?do!uments?&&,,,,,,.)dfB
In the land of Oz, the tin woodman sets out to get a heart, the scarecrow a brain, the lion some nerve, and Dorothy a way home. One of the sweetest moments in the story,- at least to me, occurswhen the wizard finally tells them they already have what they so desperately thought only someone else could give. The point is driven home once the good witch shows Dorothy how to get
back to ansas all by herself. The rarest commodity in recent hoopla about the "coming resource wars" may be just that sort
of homespun common sense from the Wizard of Oz — what we can do for ourseles! if need be . !.". consumers are surely better
off with access to foreign goods and markets. en a small price difference ma#es importing worth our while$ %ut our economy is not
doomed nor our national security in jeopardy een if we lose access to a foreign product for a while$ Oil may be
different$ & major! protracted loss of 'ersian (ulf oil would be enormously e)pensie$ We still need better policies
to reduce the chances and costs of such disruptions$ %ut oil is the e)ception. #hen top government officials suggest that without various
e$otic minterals from remote developing countries the *$+$ would suffer economic calamity and be nearly unable to produce ital
defense goods! they foster e)aggerated fears and diert attention from far more pressing national concerns. I applaud the
%resident&s scrutiny of e$cess federal spending' it also ought to be vigorously e$tended to strategic mineral needs.
Reso"rce shortages don’t ca"se war9leadership %ail"res do:
hi'i))e 4e 3illon& Associate +ro%essor at the #niversit' o% 3ritish .ol"mbia& &no datecited= Fhtt)3??www.!ed.uvs/.fr?!dge!orev?fr?)df?)'eniere?eK2,Li''on.)dfG
7a!h of these three dimensions of resour!e wars out'ined above is not= in itse'f= a ne!essar( or suffi!ient !ondition for armed !onf'i!t. Resour!ede)endent !ountries are not the on'( ones affe!ted b( war. Nor are <resour!es’ )er se to be b'amed. 6t doesnot %ollow either= of !ourse= that wars in reso"rce rich or reso"rce dependent co"ntries stemprimaril' %rom reso"rce-related context or ca"ses.& As argued b( a )rominent Ango'an Hourna'ist
Hai'ed for denoun!ing the !orru)tion and war fue''ed b( oi' and diamonds in his !ountr(3 ;It’s fashionab'e to sa(that we are !ursed b( our minera' ri!hes. +hat’s not true. We are c"rsed b' o"r leaders.> FRa)hae'Mar/ues= !ited in FSa'o)e 2,,,G. Attributing governan!e fai'ure so'e'( or )rimari'( to the abundan!e ofresour!es= in other words= is )rofound'( de)o'iti!ising For <e!onomising’G insofar as this obsc"res thepolitical strategies and goals o% belligerents$
Their evidence is overl' deterministic and ignores alternate ca"ses o% wars:
hi'i))e 4e 3illon& Associate +ro%essor at the #niversit' o% 3ritish .ol"mbia& no date
cited= Fhtt)3??www.!ed.uvs/.fr?!dge!orev?fr?)df?)'eniere?eK2,Li''on.)dfGResour!e de)enden!e and the resour!e !urse= and the riss and o))ortunities asso!iated with resour!ee8tra!tion shou'd not= in other words= be understood to deterministi!a''( in!rease the !han!es of !onf'i!ts.
#
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
#S-.hina War Answers,o *+-.hina war oer Taiwan- /T ictories
1es#er 02 ()arry' "ingapore*s +mbassador to Indonesia from / to 0. (12O3 of the Trade Development )oard (4-56663. 7e is currently the 1o-1hair
of the 1ouncil for "ecurity 1ooperation in the +sia %acific (1"1+%, graduated from the !niversity of "ingapore with a )achelor of +rts (8irst 1lass 7onours3 degree
and obtained his 9asters degree from the !niversity of :ondon, ; #hy #ar is !nlikely in +sia< 8acing the 1hallenge from 1hina=, />4>6http<>>www.iiss.org>conferences>global-strategic-challenges-as-played-out-in-asia>asias-strategic-challenges-in-search-of-a-common-agenda>conference-papers>fifth-session-conflict-in-asia>why-war-in-asia-remains-unlikely-barry-desker>, 8+3
#ar in +sia is thinkable but it is unlikely. The +sia-%acific region can, parado$ically, be regarded as a zone both of relative insecurityand of relative strategic stability. On the one hand, the region contains some of the world*s most significant flashpoints ? the orean peninsula, the Taiwan "trait , the "iachen glacier ? where tensions between nations could escalate to the point of resulting in a ma@orwar. The region is replete with border issues , the site of acts of terrorism (the )ali bombings, 9anila superferry bombing, ashmir,etc.3, and it is an area of overlapping maritime claims (the "pratly Islands, Diaoyutai islands, etc3. 8inally, the +sia-%acific is an areaof strategic significance, sitting astride key sea lines of communication (":O1"3 and important chokepoints. Aevertheless, the +sia-%acific region is more stable than one might believe. "eparatism remains a challenge but the break-up of states is unlikely. Terrorism is a nuisance but its impact is contained. The Aorth
orean nuclear issue, while not fully resolved, is at least moving toward a conclusion with the likely denuclearization of the peninsula. Tensions between 1hina and Taiwan, while always @ust beneath the surface, seem unlikely to erupt in open conflict (especially after the 9T victories in Taiwan$
,o *+-.hina war- %eijing is peaceful now
1es#er 02 ()arry' "ingapore*s +mbassador to Indonesia from / to 0. (12O3 of the Trade Development )oard (4-56663. 7e is currently the 1o-1hair
of the 1ouncil for "ecurity 1ooperation in the +sia %acific (1"1+%, graduated from the !niversity of "ingapore with a )achelor of +rts (8irst 1lass 7onours3 degree
and obtained his 9asters degree from the !niversity of :ondon, ; #hy #ar is !nlikely in +sia< 8acing the 1hallenge from 1hina=, />4>6http<>>www.iiss.org>conferences>global-strategic-challenges-as-played-out-in-asia>asias-strategic-challenges-in-search-of-a-common-agenda>conference-papers>fifth-session-conflict-in-asia>why-war-in-asia-remains-unlikely-barry-desker>, 8+3
)ei@ing has greatly lowered the tone and rhetoric of its strategic competition with the ! nited "t ates , actions which have gone a longway toward reassuring the countries of "outheast +sia of 1hina*s sincerity in pursuing a non-confrontational foreign and securitystrategy . )ei@ing*s approach is significant as most "outheast +sian states prefer not to have to choose between alignment with the !"and alignment with 1hina and have adopted Bhedging* strategies in their relationships with the two powers. )ei@ing now adopts amore subtle approach towards the !nited "tates< not directly challenging !" leadership in +sia, partnering with #ashington where thetwo countries have shared interests, and, above all, promoting multilateral security processes that, in turn, constrain !" power,influence and hegemony in the +sia-%acific.
)conomic interdependence g"arantees resilient relations 0 ;bama will go o"t o% his wa' toappease .hinaT"rkish Weekl' <= F9bama Maes irst %hina +our As 7!onomi! Interde)enden!e 5rows.htt)3??www.turishwee'(.net?news?02&,?-obama-maes-first-!hina-tour-as-e!onomi!-interde)enden!e-grows.htm'G
res. Lara! 9bama de)arts "hite ouse South awn in "ashington for tri) to ort ood= +e8as= 1, Nov 2,,0"hen $.S. resident Lara! 9bama
arrives in %hina 'ater this month= he'' head first to its booming !ommer!ia' !a)ita' Shanghai. $.S.-%hinese e!onomi! ties arein!reasing'( im)ortant to the two !ountries overa'' re'ationshi)= so mu!h so= that some be'ieve "ashington)ur)osefu''( avoids raising !ontentious issues with %hina in an effort to !urr( favor with its 'eaders . Most re'iab'e
!ustomer rom sho))ing ma''s in the $nited States= sto!ed with %hinese-made goods= to bus( %hinese fa!tories where the goods are made= its evidentthe two !ountries re'( heavi'( on ea!h other. And des)ite the g'oba' finan!ia' !risis= the $nited States remains %hinas most re'iab'e !ustomer= andLeiHing= the wor'ds biggest bu(er of $.S. government debt. Ni!ho'as ard(= an e!onomist and senior fe''ow at the "ashington-based eterson Institute=
sa(s %hinas unwi''ingness to ado)t derivative 'oans and other high-ris finan!ia' )rodu!ts he')ed to shie'd itfrom the im)a!t of the wor'd e!onomi! downturn. It a'so dramati!a''( !hanged its re'ationshi) with the $nited States. ONow of !oursethe %hinese are beginning to 'e!ture us= about how we need to ba'an!e our budget= and )reserve the va'ue of the do''ar and avoid inf'ation... So= in a sensethe shoe is rea''( on the other foot=O he said. Pe( )'a(er A %hinese (outh !arries soft drins she bought at Ameri!an fast food restaurant M!Dona'ds FRG
in LeiHing Fi'eG+his (ear= %hinas e!onom( is e8)e!ted to grow b( more than eight )er!ent= and its overa'' resi'ien!e to the g'oba'finan!ia' !risis= has brought with it in!reasing !onfiden!e in the internationa' arena. LeiHing is in!reasing'( seenas a e( )'a(er in dea'ing with g'oba' issues= be it he')ing to resurre!t the g'oba' e!onom( or !ombating !'imate!hange. "ith su!h growing !'out= some be'ieve the 9bama administration has gone out of its wa( to avoidoffending LeiHing . %riti!s note that when the Da'ai ama re!ent'( visited the $nited States= resident 9bama de'a(ed his meeting with the Nobe'
)ea!e 'aureate unti' after his u)!oming tri) to %hina. +he( a'so sa( "ashington has avoided the tough ta' of )reviousadministrations about the va'ue of %hinas !urren!(. OI thin that the( are taing a !a'!u'ated ris and it is one
&
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Negthat I wou'd not advo!ate m(se'f=O said Rand( S!hriver= who heads the resear!h grou) roHe!t 2,#0= whi!hfo!uses on issues in the Asian region and the rise of %hina. $S a))roa!h ma( not )a( off e sa(s the 9bamaadministrations a))roa!h ma( not u'timate'( )a( off. OIts a )resum)tion that these are obsta!'es to!oo)eration= whi!h in fa!t I thin %hina has enough of their own interests and e/uities in - for e8am)'e thee!onomi! situation - to !oo)erate irres)e!tive of what we do on some of these other issues=O he said. A touristdis)'a(s %hinese (uan Fi'eG +he va'ue of the %hinese !urren!( has 'ong been a divisive issue= with %hinafre/uent'( a!!used of underva'uing its (uan to mae its e8)orts !hea)er. 9n the !am)aign trai'= Mr. 9bamaa!!used %hina of !urren!( mani)u'ation. After ste))ing into offi!e the +reasur( De)artment has avoided
harsher a!!usations and on'( e8)ressed Oserious !on!ernsO about the Of'e8ibi'it(O of %hinas !urren!(. JetNi!ho'as S4e!hen(i of the %enter for Strategi! and Internationa' Studies sa(s "ashingtons softer a))roa!h isnot a'' soft. OIt !ertain'( seems= that the administration is tr(ing to address issues of human rights a 'itt'e 'ess =to wor more on e!onomi! issues= and other g'oba' issues su!h as !'imate !hange=O he said. O9n the other hand=
(ou do have this strong )ush on tires and )erha)s even stee' on the trade front. So I thin it is a /uestion of ba'an!e. And what (ou !hoose to engage the %hinese on=O he said.
Arms sales to Taiwan decimate #S-.hina relations
1hase ’! >Michael ?eb& @! Selling Weapons to Taiwan Was the Right BecisionB ast rida(= the #$S. De)artment of Defense anno"nced the approval o% a ma1or arms sales package%or Taiwan. +he Q.# bi''ion dea' incl"des !! +atriot advanced capabilit' FA%-G missi'es= ,
L'a!haw he'i!o)ters= and two 9s)re(-!'ass mine-hunting shi)s= among other items. +he 9bamaadministration is sti'' !onsidering +aiwans re/uest for the -1 %?Ds that it wants to re)'a!e some of its agingfighters. As it has in the past& 3ei1ing ,"ickl' expressed its indignation thro"gh m"ltiple channels$?oreign Ministr( offi!ia's denoun!ed the arms sa'es as interferen!e in %hinas interna' affairs and %hinasoffi!ia' media warned that the decision wo"ld Cinevitabl' cast a long shadow on Sino-#$S$relations $C 3ei1ing also retaliated b' s"spending #$S$-.hina militar'-to-militar' relations= amove that was wide'( e8)e!ted sin!e mi'itar( ties were a'so )ut on ho'd for about five months after the 'astmaHor $.S. sa'e of wea)ons to +aiwan in 9!tober 2,,6. This time & however& an increasingl' assertive.hina is warning o% broader conse,"ences %or bilateral relations& incl"ding placing sanctionson #$S$ contractors involved in the deal & some o% whom have civilian contracts in .hina$3ei1ingDs response ma' also incl"de t"rning a cold sho"lder to #$S$ re,"ests %or cooperation onother international problems $
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Militar' S"periorit' Answers#S c'berintelligence solves militar' s"periorit' Rashid E-@F-11 :ahmida= Senior "riter at iff Davis 7nter)rise= ;$.S. Mi'itar( 78)anding Arsena' of %(ber-
"arfare %a)abi'ities=> htt)3??www.ewee.!om?!?a?Se!urit(?$S-Mi'itar(-78)anding-Arsena'-of-%(ber"arfare-%a)abi'ities-606?B The %ederal government is increasingl' "sing c'ber-tactics to de%end its 6T assets againstattackers and to protect its interests. It’s about time= sin!e enemies are a'read( re'(ing on an e8tensive arsena' of !(ber-wea)ons=e8)erts said. resident 9bama has signed e8e!utive orders out'ining how far the $nited States mi'itar( !an go when 'aun!hing !(ber-atta!s and other!(ber-o)erations against enemies and as )art of routine es)ionage a!tivities= the Asso!iated ress re)orted Cune 22. +he orders= whi!h were signed morethan a month ago and !a) a two-(ear entagon effort to draft ru'es for the $.S. mi'itar(= detai' when the mi'itar( needs to see )residentia' a))rova' for as)e!ifi! !(ber-assau't and how the De)artment of Defense wi'' integrate !(ber-!a)abi'ities into mi'itar( strateg(= defense offi!ia's said. +he strateg(do!ument out'ines some of the a))roved a!tivities= su!h as )'anting a !om)uter virus on adversaries !om)uters to 'aun!hing atta!s that bring down a
target e'e!tri!a' grid or defense networ. When "nder attack& the #nited States can de%end itsel% b' blockingc'ber-intr"sions and taking down servers in another co"ntr' . And simi'ar to a missi'e atta!= the mi'itar( !an)ursue atta!ers a!ross nationa' boundaries= the A re)orted. O"e must have the !a)abi'it( to defend against the fu'' range of !(ber-atta!s=O De)ut(Defense Se!retar( "i''iam (nn said. +error grou)s wi'' eventua''( 'earn how to 'aun!h !ri))'ing !(ber-atta!s= so the $nited States needs to be more
aggressive in offensive and defensive !ountermeasures= he said. Man' o% the attacks on American b"sinesses& criticalin%rastr"ct"re and de%ense s'stems are a Cdirect challengeC to o"r militar' s"periorit' = %har'esDodd= a government !onsu'tant for !(ber-defense and an adviser to the ouse of Re)resentatives ome'and Se!urit( Sub!ommittee on 7merging+hreats= %(berse!urit(= S!ien!e and +e!hno'og(= to'd e"77P. State-s)onsored atta!s are going after mi'itar( se!rets without an( fear of reta'iation= hesaid. %(ber-atta!s arent a'wa(s Omone(-maing=O but often a mi'itar( too'= a!!ording to Dodd= noting that %hina bui't its networs with a ta!ti!a'mindset. OIts on'( a matter of time before the atta!ers tae an( of this to the ne8t 'eve'=O Dodd said= noting that !(ber-atta!s are e8)e!ted to es!a'ate
into mu!h more serious threats. The Bepartment o% Be%ense and other %ederal agencies are preparing tomeet the threat$ 6n the C6nternational Strateg' %or .'ber-SpaceC polic' doc"ment released mid-Ma'& the White Go"se said the #nited States wo"ld respond to Chostile acts in c'berspaceC inthe same manner as an' other threat against the co"ntr' .
)xisting militar' spending makes the #S the most power%"l militar' in the world man' timesover:
Mi!hae' +a'ne& @! Fstaff writerG= Mar!h = 2,1,. ;+he wea'thiest nation in the wor'd@ "rong>htt)3??www.o)ednews.!om?arti!'es?+he-wea'thiest-nation-in-t-b(-mi!hae'-)a(ne-1,,,&-6.htm'
So= how e8a!t'( are we going to a!!om)'ish a'' this when we dont have the funding and have ma8ed out ourforeign !redit !ards@ I 'ie Owhat ifO ana'(ses so here is Hust one more. 9ur annua' defense budget= as I ee)har)ing about= is near'( Q1 tri''ion with a'' the various e'ements in!'uded . +hats a fa!t. As I have )revious'(
)ro)osed 'ets as the /uestion= O what if we redu!ed that budget b( one-ha'f= or about Q&,, bi''ion @O "hatmight then ha))en@ irst= the remaining annua' entagon budget of Q&,, bi''ion Fthats Q&,,=,,,=,,,=,,,G
wou'd sti'' be a monumenta' sum that wou'd contin"e to make the #$S$ the most power%"l militar'%orce in the world man( times over . +he safet( of Ameri!ans wou'd not be !om)romised in the 'east if themi'itar( s!a'ed ba! its massive= b'oated em)ire of about &, mi'itar( insta''ations wor'dwide.
#S primac' doesn’t solve warMastand"no <= :Mi!hae'= rofessor of 5overnment at Dartmouth= "or'd o'iti!s 1= No. 1= 7bs!oB
B"ring the cold war the #nited States dictated the terms o% ad1"stment$ 6t derived the necessar'leverage beca"se it provided %or the sec"rit' o% its economic partners and beca"se there wereno viable alter natives to an economic order centered on the #nited States . After the !o'd war the out!ome of
adHustment strugg'es is 'ess !ertain be!ause the $nited States is no 'onger in a )osition to di!tate the terms. The #nited States¬withstanding its preponderant power& no longer en1o's the same t'pe o% sec"rit' leverage itonce possessed& and the ver' s"ccess o% the #$S$-centered world econom' has a%%orded
America’s s"pporters a greater range o% international and domestic economic options. +he !'aim thatthe $nited States is uni)o'ar is a statement about its !umu'ative e!onomi!= mi'itar(= and other !a)abi'ities.1 Lut )re)onderant !a)abi'ities a!ross the
board do not guarantee effe!tive inf'uen!e in an( given arena. #$S$ dominance in the international sec"rit' arena nolonger translates into e%%ective leverage in the international economic arena . And a'though the#nited States remains a dominant internationa' e!onomi! )'a(er in abso'ute terms= after the !o'd war it has %o"nd itsel% more
v"lnerable and constrained than it was d"ring the golden economic era a%ter World War 66$ 6t%aces rising economic challengers with their own agendas and with greater discretion in
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neginternational economic polic' than America’s cold war allies had en1o'ed$ The #nited Statesma' contin"e to act its own wa'& b"t it can no longer co"nt on getting its own wa' .
+rophecies o% the decline o% #S dominance are alwa's wrong9despite decades o% %alse warnings the #S is still the world hegemon
CO"28 O44! 5006 7+enior 4ellow at +tanford8s 4reeman +pogli 9nstitute for 9nternational +tudies! 4oreign &ffairs!
+ept-October 5006! accessed ia &cademic One 4ile:
7T7RJ +7N (ears= it is de!'ine time in the $nited States. In the 'ate 10&,s= it was the S)utni sho!= fo''owed b( the
Omissi'e ga)O trum)eted b( Cohn . Penned( in the 10, )residentia' !am)aign. A de!ade 'ater= Ri!hard Ni8on and enr( Pissinger sounded the dirge over bi)o'arit(= )redi!ting a wor'd of five= rather than two= g'oba' )owers. At the end of the 10,s= Cimm( %arters Oma'aiseO s)ee!h invoed Oa !risis of
!onfiden!eO that stru! Oat the ver( heart and sou' and s)irit of our nationa' wi''.O A de!ade 'ater= a!ademi!s su!h as the Ja'e historian au' Penned( )redi!ted the ruin of the $nited States= driven b( overe8tension abroad and )rof'iga!( at home. +he $nited States was at ris of
Oim)eria' overstret!h=O Penned( wrote in 106= arguing that Othe sum tota' of the $nited States g'oba' interests and ob'igations is nowada(s far 'arger than the!ountr(s )ower to defend them a'' simu'taneous'(.O Lut three (ears 'ater= "ashington dis)at!hed ,,=,,, so'diers to fight the first Ira/ war--without reinstatingthe draft or raising ta8es. +he on'( )ri!e of Ooverstret!hO turned out to be the mi'd re!ession of 1001. De!'inism too a brea in the 100,s. +he $nited States wasenHo(ing a ni!e run after the sui!ide of the Soviet $nion= and Ca)an= the e!onomi! )owerhouse of the 106,s= was stu! in its O'ost de!adeO of stagnation and so no'onger stirred $.S. )aranoia with its taeover of nationa' treasures su!h as ebb'e Lea!h and Ro!efe''er %enter. +he $nited States had moved into the 'ongeste!onomi! e8)ansion in histor(= whi!h= a)art from eight down months in 2,,1= !ontinued unti' 2,,6. O5'oom is the dominant mood in Ca)an these da(s=O one Asian !ommentator re)orted in 100= whereas OAmeri!an !a)ita'ism is resurgent= !onfident and brash.O +hat (ear= the New Jor +imes !o'umnist +homasriedman wrote that Othe defining feature of wor'd affairsO was Og'oba'i4ationO and that if O(ou had to design a !ountr( best suited to !om)ete in su!h a wor'd= :it wou'd beB toda(s Ameri!a.O e !on!'uded on a trium)hant note3 O5'oba'i4ation is us.O In those da(s= an( de!'inist harrum)h sounded /uir( or sim)'( generi!.+he indi!tment de'ivered in 100# b( the 98ford fe''ow Cohn 5ra( !ou'd have !ome from an( time3 O+he $.S. no 'onger )ossesses an( re!ogni4ab'e !ommon!u'ture.O It had degenerated into a me'ee of Owarring !u'tura' and ethni! grou)s=O with Oungovernabi'it(O Hust around the !orner. or 5ra(= it a'' added u) to aOs)e!ta!'e of Ameri!an de!'ine.O Lut b( the end of the Lush administration= de!'inism had returned with a vengean!e. +his (ear= ins)ired b( the g'oba'finan!ia' !risis= au' Penned( revisited the arguments he had 'aid out in his boo +he Rise and a'' of the 5reat owers over 2, (ears ago. O+he biggest'oser is understood to be $n!'e Sam=O he wrote. %hroni! fis!a' defi!its and mi'itar( overstret!h--the twin s!ourge of his 106 boo--were fina''( doing inthe $nited States= he argued= and the Og'oba' te!toni! )ower shift= toward Asia and awa( from the "est= seems hard to reverse.O Roger A'tman= a formerde)ut( se!retar( of the +reasur(= has written in these )ages that the finan!ia' !rash Ohas inf'i!ted )rofound damage on ... :the $nited StatesB standing inthe wor'd.O +he 5erman finan!e minister= eer Steinbru!= has !rowed= O+he $nited States wi'' 'ose its su)er)ower status in the wor'd finan!ia' s(stem=O whi!h Owi'' be!ome more mu'ti)o'ar.O And the historian Nia'' erguson has gone ha'fwa(= warning that a'though Othe ba'an!e of g'oba' )ower is bound toshift=O O!ommentators shou'd a'wa(s hesitate before the( )ro)hes( the de!'ine and fa'' of the $nited States.O No su!h hesitation has befa''en the new!ro) of de!'inists. Some of their 'ore is sim)'( generi!= divor!ed from time and !ir!umstan!e= and thus a!hing'( fami'iar to those who remember &, (earsof simi'ar boi'er)'ate. ast (ear= arag Phanna= a fe''ow at the New Ameri!a oundation= intoned that OAmeri!as standing in the wor'd remains in stead(de!'ine.O +his has a fami'iar ring to it= as does Phannas announ!ement that $.S. )ower is O!om)eting--and 'osing--in a geo)o'iti!a' maret)'a!ea'ongside the wor'ds other su)er)owers.O "ho are these su)er)owers@ rom the 10&,s through the 10,s= it was the Soviet $nion= and in the 106,s=Ca)an. Now= Phanna fingers the 7uro)ean $nion and %hina. or 7uro)e= it is the se!ond time around the b'o!--the o'd !ontinent was touted as themu'ti)o'ar mus!'eman b( the )revious generation of doomsters. ina''(= two foreign voi!es. 9ne is that of Pishore Mahbubani= Singa)ores former $Nambassador= whose bid to su!!eed Pofi Annan as $N se!retar(-genera' was thwarted b( "ashington. As the tit'e of his 2,,6 boo= +he New Asian
emis)here3 +he Irresistib'e Shift of 5'oba' ower to the 7ast= suggests= he !hroni!'es not the degeneration of the $nited States as mu!h as the trium)hof Asia. is tone is avun!u'ar= if not )atroni4ing3 OSad'(= ... "estern inte''e!tua' 'ife !ontinues to be dominated b( those who !ontinue to !e'ebrate thesu)rema!( of the "est.O So the "est= in this !ase the $nited States= is 'osing its gri) not on'( on )ower but a'so on rea'it(--going from %ha)ter 11 straightto the )s(!hiatrists !ou!h. In !ontrast= Othe rest of the wor'd has moved on. A stead( de'egitimi4ation of "estern )ower ... is underwa(.O And who sha''inherit the earth@ Mahbubani suggests %hina= whi!h Oshou'd eventua''( tae over the mant'e of g'oba' 'eadershi) from Ameri!a.O +his is a subt'(!ontem)tuous version of Ameri!a )erdita--wishfu' thining )osing as sober ana'(sis. A se!ond voi!e is that of Dimitr( 9r'ov= a Russian-born writer whosaw the Soviet em)ire disembowe' itse'f and= in an a!t of )s(!hi! revenge= has )roHe!ted the same fate onto the $nited States. OAt some )oint during the!oming (ears=O he wrote in his 2,,6 boo= Reinventing %o''a)se3 +he Soviet 78am)'e and Ameri!an ros)e!ts= Othe e!onomi! s(stem of the $nitedStates wi'' teeter and fa''.... Ameri!as e!onom( wi'' eva)orate 'ie the morning mist.O e !a''s both the Soviet $nion and the $nited States Oevi'
em)ires.O +his brief histor( of de!'inism shows that doom arrives in !(!'es= and what !omes and goes= 'ogi!a''(= does not a trend mae. +oda(= as
after )ast )ro)he!ies of imminent debi'it(= the #nited States remains %irst on an' scale o%power that matters --e!onomi!= mi'itar(= di)'omati!= or !u'tura'--des)ite being embroi'ed in two warsand beset b( the worst e!onomi! !risis sin!e the 5reat De)ression.
No impact to hegemon' collapse6kenberr' ’H :Cohn Ienberr( in Can?eb 2,,6 Frofessor of )o'iti!s and internationa' affairs at rin!eton=;+he Rise of %hina and the uture of the "est=> oreign Affairs= ). e8isB
Some observers believe that the American era is coming to an end& as the Western-oriented world order is replaced b' one increasingl' dominated b' the )ast. +he historian Nia'' erguson has written that the b'ood(
twentieth !entur( witnessed Othe des!ent of the "estO and Oa reorientation of the wor'dO toward the 7ast. Rea'ists go on to note that as %hina gets more )owerfu' and the $nited States )osition erodes= twothings are 'ie'( to ha))en3 %hina wi'' tr( to use its growing inf'uen!e to resha)e the ru'es and institutions of the internationa' s(stem to better serve its interests= and other states in the s(stem -- es)e!ia''( the de!'ining hegemon -- wi'' start to see %hina as a growing se!urit( threat. +he resu't of these deve'o)ments= the( )redi!t= wi'' be tension= distrust= and !onf'i!t= the t()i!a' features of a )ower transition.In this view= the drama of %hinas rise wi'' feature an in!reasing'( )owerfu' %hina and a de!'ining $nited States 'o!ed in an e)i! batt'e over the ru'es and 'eadershi) of the internationa' s(stem. And as the
wor'ds 'argest !ountr( emerges not from within but outside the estab'ished )ost-"or'd "ar II internationa' order= it is a drama that wi'' end with the grand as!endan!e of %hina and the onset of an Asian-
!entered wor'd order. +hat !ourse= however= is not inevitab'e.The rise o% .hina does not have to trigger a wrenching hegemonic
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Negtransition$ The #$S$-.hinese power transition can be ver' di%%erent %rom those o% the past
beca"se .hina %aces an international order that is %"ndamentall' di%%erent %rom those that pastrising states con%ronted. %hina does not Hust fa!e the $nited StatesU it fa!es a "estern-!entered s(stem that is o)en= integrated= and ru'e-based= with wide and dee) )o'iti!a'
foundations. +he nu!'ear revo'ution= meanwhi'e= has made war among great )owers un'ie'( -- e'iminating the maHor too' that rising )owers have used to overturn internationa' s(stems defended b(
de!'ining hegemoni! states. Toda'Ds Western order= in short= is hard to overt"rn and eas' to 1oin$ This "n"s"all'd"rable and expansive order is itsel% the prod"ct o% %arsighted #$S$ leadership. After "or'd "ar II= the#nited States did not simpl' establish itsel% as the leading world power$ 6t led in the creation o%"niversal instit"tions that not onl' invited global membership b"t also bro"ght democracies
and market societies closer together. It bui't an order that fa!i'itated the )arti!i)ation and integration of both estab'ished great )owers and new'( inde)endentstates. FIt is often forgotten that this )ostwar order was designed in 'arge )art to reintegrate the defeated A8is states and the be'eaguered A''ied states into a unified internationa' s(stem.G +oda(= %hina !an
gain fu'' a!!ess to and thrive within this s(stem. And if it does= .hina will rise& b"t the Western order -- if managed )ro)er'( -- will live on.
N"clear weapons solve deterrence
!.". Defense and 2nergy Departments *6 Aational "ecurity and Auclear #eapons in the 5st 1entury,"eptember, http< www$defenselin#$mil;news;nuclearweaponspolicy$pdf E
+he $nited States has made great strides in deve'o)ing and de)'o(ing both ver( advan!ed !onventiona' wea)on s(stems and missi'e
defenses. owever= nu!'ear wea)ons )ossess uni/ue attributes and mae uni/ue !ontributions to nationa'se!urit(. +he( !ontinue to have an im)ortant deterrent effe!t on nations that have or that see toa!/uire wea)ons of mass destru!tion to offset $.S. !onventiona' su)eriorit(. Against man( targets=
$.S. nu!'ear wea)ons have a lethalit' that cannot be matched b' non-n"clear m"nitions$ Loth advan!ed !onventiona' wea)ons and missi'e defenses !an enhan!e deterren!e= but the abi'it( to deter !ertain threats restsu'timate'( and fundamenta''( on the avai'abi'it( and !ontinued effe!tiveness of $.S. nu!'ear for!es.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Terrorism AnswersNo 6mpact 0 the h'pe is overblown 0 "nderwear bombs are the best terrorists can doaaria 0 ,#= 2,1,.Fareed. "hat Ameri!a as ost. It’s !'ear we overrea!ted to 0?11.htt)3??www.newswee.!om?2,1,?,0?,#?4aaria-wh(-ameri!a-overrea!ted-to-0-11.htm'G
Nine (ears after 0?11= !an an(one doubt that A' Vaeda is sim)'( not that dead'( a threat@ Sin!e that gruesomeda( in 2,,1= on!e governments ever(where began serious !ountermeasures= 9sama bin aden’s terror networ
has been unab'e to 'aun!h a sing'e maHor atta! on high-va'ue targets in the $nited States and 7uro)e. "hi'e ithas ins)ired a few mu!h sma''er atta!s b( 'o!a' Hihadis= it has been unab'e to e8e!ute a sing'e one itse'f. +oda(= A' Vaeda’s best ho)e is to find a troub'ed (oung man who has been radi!a'i4ed over the Internet= and tea!h himto stuff his underwear with e8)'osives. I do not minimi4e A' Vaeda’s intentions= whi!h are barbari!. I /uestionits !a)abi'ities. In ever( re!ent !onf'i!t= the $nited States has been right about the evi' intentions of itsadversaries but massive'( e8aggerated their strength. In the 106,s= we thought the Soviet $nion was e8)andingits )ower and inf'uen!e when it was on the verge of e!onomi! and )o'iti!a' banru)t!(. In the 100,s= we were!ertain that Saddam ussein had a nu!'ear arsena'. In fa!t= his fa!tories !ou'd bare'( mae soa).
No Retaliation - ;bama wo"ldn’t do it
.rowle' ! FMi!hae'= Senior 7ditor New Re)ub'i!= ;9bama and Nu!'ear Deterren!e>= +he New Re)ub'i!= 1-&= htt)3??www.tnr.!om?node?22G
As the stor( notes= some experts donDt place m"ch weight on how o"r p"blicl'-stated doctrine emerges beca"se the' donDt expect %oreign nations to take it literall' . And the rea'it( is that an' decisions abo"t"sing n"kes will !ertain'( be case-b'-case. Lut Id sti'' 'ie to see some wider dis!ussion of the under'(ing /uestions= whi!h are among the most
!onse/uentia' that )o'i!(maers !an !onsider. +he /uestions are )arti!u'ar'( ve8ing when it !omes to terrorist grou)s and rogue states. Wo"ld w e= for instan!e=
act"all' n"ke +'ong'ang i% it sold a weapon to terrorists who "sed it in AmericaI +hat im)'ied threat seems
to e8ist= b"t 6 a!tua''( do"bt that a resident ;bama--or an' president= for that matter-- wo"ld go thro"gh with it.
1,
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+roli%eration Answers+roli% will be slow 0 co"ntries don’t have a pressing need %or n"kes
Walt/ @k :Penneth= rofessor of o'iti!a' S!ien!e at $% Lere'e(= 5eorgetown Courna' ofInternationa' Affairs= vI n'= "inter?S)ring= htt)3??www.!iaonet.org?o'H?gHia?gHiaEwins)r99f.htm'.a!!essed 6?11?,2B!nIt is now estimated that about twent(-five !ountries are in a )osition to mae nu!'ear wea)ons rather /ui!'(. Most !ountries that !ou'd have
a!/uired nu!'ear mi'itar( !a)abi'it( have refrained from doing so. Most !ountries do not need them. %onsider Argentina= Lra4i'= and South Afri!a. Argentina and Lra4i' were in the )ro!ess of moving toward nu!'ear mi'itar( !a)abi'it(= and both de!ided against it-wise'( I be'ieve-be!ause neither !ountr( needs nu!'ear
wea)ons. South Afri!a had about ha'f a do4en warheads and de!ided to destro( them. Jou have to have an adversar( against whom (ou thin (oumight have to threaten reta'iation= but most !ountries are not in this )osition. 5erman( does not fa!e an( se!urit( threats-!ertain'( not an( in whi!h a nu!'ear for!e wou'd be re'evant. I wou'd e8)e!t the )attern of the )ast to be the same as the)attern in the future= in whi!h one or two states )er de!ade gradua''( deve'o) nu!'ear wea)ons.
)ven i% proli%eration ca"ses con%licts 0 the' won’t escalateart/ke and Jroenig @= :7ri2 and Matthew = De)artment of o'iti!a' S!ien!e $niversit( of %a'ifornia=San Diego and Matthew Proenig= De)artment of 5overnment 5eorgetown $niversit(= "ashington= D.%.= AStrategi! A))roa!h to Nu!'ear ro'iferation= Courna' of %onf'i!t Reso'ution To'ume & Number 2= 1&1-1,=
A)ri'= SA5e ub'i!ations 1,.11?,,22,,2,6,,0 htt)3??H!r.sage)ub.!om hosted athtt)3??on'ine.sage)ub.!om
+he se!ond set of arti!'es !onsiders the !onse/uen!es of nu!'ear )ro'iferation. +aen together= the( find thatnu!'ear wea)ons do not af fe!t the fre/uen! ( of !onf'i!t= b ut th e ( do a f fe!t the timing= duration= s e v erit (= andout!ome of !onf'i!t . +hese arti!'es )r o vide !onsiderab'e su))ort for the a r gument that nu!'ear wea)onsenhan!e th e se!urit ( an d di)'omati ! ) o we r o f thei r )ossessors . Nu!'ea r wea)on state s are nei the r mor e no r'es s !onf'i! t )rone= b u t thei r !onf'i!t s ar e shorte r an d 'es s intense= and the( tend to emerge vi!torious from them. urthermore= the
authors find that nu!'ear )owers enHo( enhan!ed internationa' bargaining )ower. 5art4e and Co’s arti!'e e8amines the effe!t of nu!'ear wea)on )ossession on the )robabi'it(of !onf'i!t. +he( find that nu!'ear wea)ons have no overa'' effe!t. Nu!'ear wea)on states are neither more nor 'ess 'ie'( to be invo'ved in internationa' dis)utes. Instead= the(argue that even if nu!'ear wea)ons do not dire!t'( affe!t the )robabi'it( of !onf'i!t= nu!'ear wea)ons status !an sti'' inf'uen!e the a''o!ation of resour!es and bargains in favoof nu!'ear )owers. States ma( be ab'e to use nu!'ear wea)ons strategi!a''( to garner internationa' inf'uen!e. +o test the h()othesis that nu!'ear wea)on states enHo( greaterinf'uen!e= 5art4e and Co e8amine whether nu!'ear )ossession affe!ts )atterns of di)'omati! missions and sett'ements in ongoing !onf'i!ts over territor( or bodies of waterIm)ortant states send and attra!t di)'omati! missions to and from other nations. +he authors bui'd on )revious resear!h on di)'omati! missions and !arefu''( !ontro' forother re'evant fa!tors= in!'uding )o)u'ation and e!onomi! si4e. +he( find that nu!'ear wea)on states tend to host greater numbers of di)'omati! missions. e8amining
variab'es from the Issue %orre'ates of "ar dataset FI%9"G= 5art4e and Co a'so find that states with nu!'ear wea)ons tend to reso' v e ongoingterritoria'= maritime= and ri)arian issues more /ui!' (= )ea!efu'' (= and f av orab' ( . +he )rimar( effe!t of nu!'ear )ro'iferation on
internationa' )o'iti!s is not a redu!tion or in!rease in the )robabi'it( of !onf'i!t but greater internationa' inf'uen!e for their )ossessors. Mi!hae' orowit4 e8amines how the'ength of time of nu!'ear )ossession affe!ts !risis behavior. If a state’s !a)abi'ities and reso've and the wa( in whi!h a state’s !a)abi'ities and reso've are )er!eived b( adversariesinf'uen!e the )robabi'it( of !onf'i!t= then the )robabi'it( of !onf'i!t ma( !hange over time as nu!'ear 'earning o!!urs. $sing mu'ti)'e statisti!a' mode's= orowit4 finds that whenstates a!/uire nu!'ear wea)ons= the( are more 'ie'( to re!i)ro!ate internationa' dis)utes and are a'so more 'ie'( to have their dis)utes re!i)ro!ated. 9ver time= however= thieffe!t reverses. Ine8)erien!ed nu!'ear states are more dis)ute )rone= whi'e e8)erien!ed nu!'ear states are 'ess so. %onsistent with the theme of this issue= nu!'ear wea)ons im)rovethe strategi! )osition of their )ossessors. +he 'onger a state )ossesses nu!'ear wea)ons= the 'ess 'ie'( it is to be!ome invo'ved in dis)utes. +his finding a'so has im)ortant
im)'i!ations. A n ( stati ! understanding s o f nu!'ea r )ro'iferatio n ar e 'i e' ( in!om)'et e be!aus e th e ( ignor e h o w nu!'ea r)ossessio n intera!t s wit h tim e t o inf'uen! e internationa ' !onf'i! t beh a vio r . Robert Rau!hhaus em)'o(s genera'i4ed estimating e/uation
mode's to e8amine the intensit( of !onf'i!t invo'ving nu!'ear )owers b( stud(ing various 'eve's of !onf'i!t from dis)utes to fu''-s!a'e war. e finds tha t th e )resen!e o fnu!'ea r wea)ons tend s t o shif t th e intensit ( o f dis)utes t o w ar d th e 'o we r en d o f th e !onf'i! t s!a'e . S(mmetri !nu!'ea r d(ad s ar e 'es s 'i e' ( t o be!om e in v o' v e d in a fu''-s!a' e w a r = a'thoug h nu!'ea r statu s in!rease s othe r t()e so f dis)ut e beh a vio r . +aen together= Rau!hhaus’s findings )rovide strong su))ort for the stabi'it(instabi'it()arado8. Nu!'ea r wea)ons indu! e 'o we r 'e v e' s o f vio'en! e b u t dete r fu''-s!a' e w a r. %onsistent with the themes of this issue
nu!'ear )owers !an e8)e!t to enHo( an im)roved strategi! environment in the form of 'ower in!iden!e of 'arge-s!a'e internationa' vio'en!e.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Solvenc' Answers!$ Stat"s ,"o solves the rare-earth shortage- domestic mining companies are res"ming
operationsGs" -!-11 :Cerem(= Innovation News Dai'( senior writer= ;$.S. Mi'itar( Su))'( of Rare 7arth 7'ements NotSe!ure=> htt)3??www.te!hnewsdai'(.!om?us-mi'itar(-su))'(-of-rare-earth-e'ements-not-se!ure-,#,?B
The A; report lists the mine at Mo"ntain +ass& .ali%ornia as perhaps the largest non-.hineserare earth deposit in the world. +hat same mine a'most s'i))ed out of $.S. hands unnoti!ed during a %hinese bid for the $.S. oi' !om)an( $no!a' in
2,,&. $no!a' had )ur!hased the Mountain ass mine owner= Mo'(!or)= ba! in 106. Lut that fa!t went most'( unnoti!ed during the media and %ongressiona' u)roar over the)ossib'e threat to $.S. energ( se!urit(= whi!h eventua''( 'ed the %hinese !om)an( to withdraw its bid. If the %hina Nationa' 9ffshore 9i' %or)oration F%N99%G bid hadsu!!eeded= %hina wou'd !urrent'( have an even bigger share of rare earth de)osits= a!!ording to a re!ent re)ort b( the Institute for the Ana'(sis of 5'oba' Se!urit(.
Mol'corp has sin!e reorgani4ed as an inde)endent !om)an( after %hevron )ur!hased $no!a'. It expects to res"me mining atMo"ntain +ass and plans to prod"ce ceri"m& lanthan"m& praseod'mi"m and neod'mi"moxides b' @!@& even i% it m"st ship those oxides to .hina %or %inal processing$ The #$S$ Nav'once considered helping %"nd the Mo"ntain +ass mining and processing %acilit' in @E& basedon the need to sec"re a domestic #$S$ s"ppl' o% rare earth elements . +hat idea faded when the Nav( O'ost interest in the
)roHe!t=O a!!ording to the 5A9 re)ort.
@$ The plan takes %orever- mining operations take 'ears to prepare AA+ ’= :Ameri!an Asso!iation of etro'eum 5eo'ogists 7nerg( Minera's Div. $ranium %ommittee=;Deve'o)ing Industria' Minera's= Nu!'ear Minera's and %ommodities of Interest via 9ff-"or'd 78)'oration and
Mining=> htt)3??www.sear!handdis!over(.!om?do!uments?2,,0?6,,!am)be''?nd8E!am)be''.)df B
Identif(ing and mining ni!e'= !oba't= and a v ariet( of other commodities that are in short su))'( on 7arth= or those that co"ld be mined= )rodu!ed= and de'ivered
more cheapl' in space than on )arth !ou'd !ontribute to and drive the wor'd‟s te!hno'og( and asso!iated e!onom( to a s!a'e never before !ontem)'ated. +his is
based= of !ourse= on the assum)tion that the e!onomi!s are favorab'e.4arge m"lti-national& ,"asi-governmental ind"strial gro"psare likel' to develop over the next %ew decades to hand'e )roHe!ts of su!h magnitude= if the( haven ‟t a'read( begun to assemb'e. In the beginning= the
e!onomi!s wou'd 'ie'( be underwritten b( governmenta' su))ort= )erha)s b( a grou) of governments !oo)erating in funding and te!hno'og( but fo''owed 'ater b( some governments funding )rograms to
a!!ommodate their own )arti!u'ar se'f-interests.3eca"se long-term planning is a prere,"isite to exploration anddevelopment in space& these programs will proceed step b' step over the decades ahead as the'make sense politicall' and economicall' within ind"str' . A'though funding b( the federa' government has )rovided the basi! resear!h
re/uired to send )robes to stud( the so'ar s(stem as we'' as the ear'( a))'ied resear!h in the A)o''o unar )rogram invo'ving astronauts= in the de!ades ahead= ind"str' will likel'ass"me the lead in vent"res into space that are based solel' on the perceived economic val"e tothe corporations and their stockholders.
F$ T"rn- A$ Asteroid mining risks contaminating the )arth’s ecos'stems6nternational Space #niversit' ’! :S)a!e Studies rogram= ;Asteroid Mining= +e!hno'ogies Roadma)=and A))'i!ations=> on'ineB
Another vital ,"estion raised in the context o% asteroid mining is that o% planetar' protection$;ne scienti%ic h'pothesis %or the origin o% li%e on )arth is that it began when microbeshitchhiking on a meteorite collided with the planet F9‟ear(= 2,,6G. 6t is conceivable that backwardcontamination that is= bringing mi!robes from asteroids ba! to 7arth co"ld occ"r when bringing ore back %rom anasteroid mining mission F%rosb(= 2,,0G. These microorganisms= to whi!h we have had no evo'utionar( e8)osure=might pose athreat to o"r imm"nities or to those o% other organisms on )arth& thereb' threatening
pop"lations& ecos'stems and the integrit' o% the biosphere$ .a"tion m"st be exercised& %orexample& thro"gh irradiation and chemical sterili/ation& to ens"re that no extraterrestrialorganisms are imported back to )arth FRe!ommendation IWG.
3$ .a"ses extinction- o"tweighs n"clear war.hen < :rofessor of aw and Tan!e P. 9))erman Resear!h S!ho'ar= $niversit( of Minnesota aw S!hoo' FCim= 5'oba'i4ation and Its osers= "inter 2,,,= 0 Minn. C.
5'oba' +rade 1&= e8isG
%ons!ious de!isions to a''ow the e8tin!tion of a s)e!ies or the destru!tion of an entire e!os(stem e)itomi4e the Oirreversib'e and
irretrievab'e !ommitments of resour!esO that N7A is designed to retard. 12 +he origina' 7ndangered S)e!ies A!t gave su!h de!isions no/uarter whatsoeverU 1 sin!e 100= su!h de!isions have rested in the hands of a so'emn'( !onvened O5od S/uad.O 1# In its )ermanen!e and gravit(=
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Negnatura' e8tin!tion )rovides the base'ine b( whi!h a'' other t()es of e8tin!tion shou'd be Hudged. +he 7ndangered S)e!ies A!t e8)'i!it'(
a!now'edges the Oestheti!= e!o'ogi!a'= edu!ationa'= histori!a'= re!reationa'= and s!ientifi! va'ueO of endangered s)e!ies and the biodiversit( the( re)resent. 1& A''ied bodies of internationa' 'aw !onfirm this view3 1 g'oba' bio'ogi!a' diversit( is)art of the !ommon'( owned heritage of a'' humanit( and deserves fu'' 'ega' )rote!tion. 1 Rather remarab'(= these broad assertions understate the va'ue of biodiversit( and the urgen!( of its )rote!tion. A Sand %ount( A'mana!= the e'o/uent
bib'e of the modern environmenta' movement= !ontains on'( two demonstrab'e bio'ogi!a' errors. It o)ens with one and !'oses with another. "e !an forgive A'do eo)o'ds de!ision to !'ose with that e'egant but erroneous e)igram= Oontogen(
re)eats )h('ogen(.O 16 "hat !on!erns :*2,6B us is his o)ening gambit3 O+here are s ome who !an 'ive without wi'd things= and some who !annot.O 10 Not /uite. None of us !an 'ive without wi'dthings. Inse!ts are so essentia' to 'ife as we now it that if the( Oand other 'and-dwe''ing anthro)ods ... were to disa))ear= humanit()robab'( !ou'd not 'ast more than a few months.O 2, OMost of the am)hibians= re)ti'es= birds= and mamma's=O a'ong with Othe bu' of the f'owering )'ants and ... the )h(si!a' stru!ture of mos
forests and other terrestria' habitatsO wou'd disa))ear in turn. 21 O+he 'and wou 'd return toO something resemb'ing its %ambrian !ondition= O!overed b( mats of re!umbent wind-)o''inated vegetation= s)rin'ed with !'um)s of sma'' trees and bushes here and there= 'arge'( devoid of anima' 'ife.O 22 rom this )ers)e!tive= the mere thought of va'uing biodiversit( is absurd= mu!h as an( attem)t to /uantif( a'' of earths )'anetar( amenities as some tri''ions of do''ars )er (ear is absurd.Lut the frustration inherent in enfor!ing the %onvention on Internationa' +rade in 7ndangered S)e!ies F%I+7SG has shown that !onservation !annot wor without a))easing omo e!onomi!us= the )rofit-seeing a)e. 7 fforts to ban theinternationa' ivor( trade through %I+7S have fai'ed to stem the s'aughter of Afri!an e'e)hants. 2 +he )reservation of biodiversit( must therefore begin with a !o'd= !a'!u'ating inventor( of its benefits. ortunate'(= d efending biodiversit()reservation in humanit(s se'f-interest is an eas( tas. As (et une8)'oited s)e!ies might give a hungr( wor'd a 'arger 'arder than the storehouse of twent( )'ant s)e!ies that ) rovide nine-tenths of humanit(s !urrent food su))'(. 2# O"aiting inthe wings are tens of thousands of unused )'ant s)e!ies= man( d emonstrab'( su)erior to those in favor.O 2& As geneti! warehouses= man( )'ants enhan!e the )rodu!tivit( of !ro)s a'read( in u se. In the $nited States a'one= the :* 2,0B genes of
wi'd )'ants have a!!ounted for mu!h of Othe e8)'osive growth in farm )rodu!tion sin!e the 10,s.O 2 +he !ontribution is worth Q 1 bi''ion ea!h (ear. 2 Natures )harma!( demonstrates even more dramati! gains than natures farm. 26 As)irin and )eni!i''in= our star ana'gesi! and antibioti!= had humb'e origins in the meadowsweet )'ant and in !heese mo'd. 20 ee!hes= vam)ire bats= and )it vi)ers a'' !ontribute anti!oagu'ant drugs that redu!e b'ood )ressure= )revent heartatta!s= and fa!i'itate sin trans)'ants. , Mer! X %o.= the mu'tinationa' )harma!euti!a' !om)an(= is he')ing %osta Ri!a assa( its ri!h biota. 1 A sing'e !ommer!ia''( viab'e )rodu!t derived Ofrom= sa(= an( one s)e!ies among ... 12=,,, )'ants
and ,,=,,, inse!ts ... !ou'd handsome'( re)a( Mer!s entire investmentO of Q 1 mi''ion in 1001 do''ars. 2 "i'd anima's= )'ants= and mi!roorganisms a'so )rovide e!o'ogi!a'servi!es. +he Su)reme %ourt has 'auded the )esti!ida' ta'ents of migrator( birds. # Numerous organisms )ro!ess the air we
breathe= the water we drin = the ground we stro''. & 9ther s)e!ies serve as sentries. Cust as !anaries warned !oa' miners of 'etha' gases= thede!'ine or disa))earan!e of indi!ator s)e!ies )rovides advan!e warning against dee)er :*21,B environmenta' threats. S)e!ies !onservation (ie'ds the
greatest environmenta' amenit( of a''3 e!os(stem )rote!tion. Saving dis!rete s)e!ies indire!t'( )rote!ts the e!os(stems in whi!hthe( 'ive. Some 'arger anima's ma( not !arr( great uti'itarian va'ue in themse'ves= but the human urge to )rote!t these !harismati! Of'agshi) s)e!iesO he')s )rote!t their e!os(stems. 6 Indeed= to save an( s)e!ies= we must )rote!t
their e!os(stems. 0 Defenders of biodiversit( !an measure the Otangib'e e!onomi! va'ueO of the )'easure derived from Ovisiting= )hotogra)hing= )ainting= and Hust 'ooing at wi'd'ife.O #, In the $nited States a'one= wi'd'ife observation andfeeding in 1001 generated Q 16.1 bi''ion in !onsumer s)ending= Q bi''ion in ta8 revenues= and =,,, Hobs. #1 7!otourism gives tro)i!a' !ountries= home to most of the wor'ds s)e!ies= a va'uab'e a'ternative to subsisten!e agri!u'ture. %ostaRi!an rainforests )reserved for e!otourism Ohave be!ome man( times more )rofitab'e )er he!tare than 'and !'eared for )astures and fie'ds=O whi'e the endangered gori''a has turned e!otourism into Othe third most im)ortant sour!e of in!ome in
Rwanda.O #2 In a g'oba'i4ed e!onom( where !ommodities !an be !u'tivated a'most an(where= environmenta''( :*211B sensitive 'o!a'es !an ma8imi4e their wea'th b( e8)'oiting the Obouti/ueO uses of their natura' bount( . +he va'ueof endangered s)e!ies and the biodiversit( the( embod( is O'itera''( ... in!a'!u'ab'e.O # "hat= if an(thing= shou'd the 'aw do to)reserve it@ +here are those that invoe the stor( of Noahs Ar as a mora' basis for biodiversit( )reservation. ## 9thers regard the entire Cudeo-%hristian tradition= es)e!ia''( the bib'i!a' stories of %reation and the 'ood= as the root of the "ests de)'orab'e environmenta' re!ord. #& +o avoid
getting bogged down in an environmenta' e8egesis of Cudeo-%hristian Om(th and 'egend=O we shou'd 'et %har'es Darwin and evo'utionar( bio'og(determine the im)eratives of our moment in natura' Ohistor(.O # +he 'oss of bio'ogi!a' diversit( is /uite arguab'( the gravest)rob'em fa!ing humanit( . If we !ast the /uestion as the !ontem)orar( )henomenon that Oour des!endants :wi''B most regret=O the O'oss of geneti! and s)e!ies diversit( b( the destru!tion of natura' habitatsO is worse than even Oenerg( de)'etion= e!onomi! !o''a)se= 'imited
nu!'ear war= or !on/uest b( a tota'itarian government.O # Natura' evo'ution ma( in due !ourse renew the earth with a diversit( ofs)e!ies a))ro8imating that of a wor'd uns)oi'ed b( omo sa)iens -- in ten mi''ion (ears= )erha)s a hundred mi''ion. #6
$ R)M shortage %orces the #S to ramp "p domestic prod"ction- solves the case+arthemore ’!! :%hristine= e''ow at the %enter for a New Ameri!an Se!urit(= ;7'ements of Se!urit(3Mitigating the Riss of $.S. De)enden!e on %riti!a' Minera's=>htt)3??www.!nas.org?fi'es?do!uments?)ub'i!ations?%NASEMinera'sEarthemoreE1.)df B
A lack o% domestic s"pplies and the resu'ting de)enden!e on foreign sour!es is the e!onomi! fa!tor identified most fre/uent'( as an
indi!ator of $.S. vu'nerabi'it(. +his= however= is somewhat misleading$ Man' minerals are not For are no 'ongerG
prod"ced in the #nited States %or environmental reasons or beca"se #$S$ prod"ction is moreexpensive than in other co"ntries not ne!essari'( be!ause Ameri!an de)osits of the minera's !annot be found. As globaldemand growth generates higher prices& the costs o% extraction in the #nited States ma'
become tolerable& making domestic s"pplies economical. or e8am)'e= a'though the $nited States has been 1,, )er!ent de)endent on
im)orts of rare earths for (ears= this was not a'wa(s the !ase. Severa' !om)anies on!e e8tra!ted rare earths in %a'ifornia. +he $nited States a'so im)orts 1,, )er!ent of its ga''ium= and it has not )rodu!edniobium or tanta'um for de!ades. rom 2,, to 2,1,= im)ort de)enden!e for rhenium hovered between 6, and 6 )er!ent= and de)enden!e on foreign su))'iers for 'ithium is on'( about # )er!ent as
of ear'( 2,11. 6 Gigh import dependence %or some minerals also coincides with red"ced demand withinthe #nited States& given the dramatic changes in the American man"%act"ring sector over thepast several decades. At the same time= the $nited States re'ies on im)orts to meet 1,, )er!ent of its needs for at 'east 1 !ommodities= 0 and in most !ases= this de)enden!e has
had no geo)o'iti!a' or foreign )o'i!( re)er!ussions.
.hinese rare earth monopol' is best- the' have the most s"stainable sol"tions
66+M F-@8-11 :Indian Institute of 'anning and Management= ;Resour!e war3 Rare earth e'ements=>htt)3??ii)mre)ort.b'ogs)ot.!om?2,11?,&?resour!e-war-rare-earth-e'ements.htm'B
+hese e'ements are so diverse'( s)read that mining a'one wou'd fet!h no e!onomi! benefit. 7ven the $S for the 'ast 1& (ears= is !om)'ete'( re'(ing onim)orts. In s)ite of other !ountries !rafting )o'i!ies to mae their rare earth e'ements mines more e!onomi!a'= the mono)o'( wi'' be there with %hina Y
at 'east for ne8t few de!ades. Since rare-earth mining prod"ces radioactive waste and discharge o% s"ch waste calls %or strict g"idelines in developed co"ntries& .hina seems to be the best option$ Theco"ntr' has allotted billions into basic and applied research on rare earth elementsK .hina alsohas two state laboratories excl"sivel' %or RLB on rare-earth elements and own two 1o"rnalsdedicated to rare earth metals$ (apan has come o"t with an innovative alternative that can alterthe r"les o% trade in this sector b"t "n%ort"natel' is expensive and calls %or h"ge investment as
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Nego% now$ This (apanese alternative will extract rare earth elements thro"gh rec'cling$ 6t isestimated that aro"nd F&& tons o% rare earths stored in "n"sed electronics can be tappeda%ter rec'cling.
4ack o% data on mineral-rich asteroids prevents solvenc' 6nternational Space #niversit' ’! :S)a!e Studies rogram= ;Asteroid Mining= +e!hno'ogies Roadma)=and A))'i!ations=> on'ineB
6t is %"ndamental to %"t"re mining %or "s to determine asteroid composition& both ,"alitativel'and ,"antitativel'& the asteroid composition. "e !an determine )h(si!a' features su!h as mass and bu' densit( to assist withthe ana'(sis of !om)osition FPowa'= 100G. $sing e8isting data from remote observations of asteroids= we !an infer the minera'ogi!a' !om)osition of
simi'ar !'asses. )rrors associated with remote observation incl"de incorrect red"ction andcharacteri/ation& potential modi%ication o% the observed spectr"m ca"sed b' s"r%ace
weathering& and instr"ment arti%acts& a%%ecting %inal re%lectance spectra FLin4e'= 2,,2G. The%oregoing errors create a challenge to obtaining reliable data on asteroid composition.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Solvenc' Answers- Robots %ailRobots are too "nreliable to solve- space conditions prevent operationsJew <!! :Cu'iana= Massa!husetts A!adem( of Math and S!ien!e= ;Methods for 78tra!ting Meta's from
Asteroids=> htt)3??users.w)i.edu?ZHew?stream?Pew-stream.)df B
"hen )ossib'e= !ontro''ing robots remote'( is often )referab'e be!ause it a''ows humans to view the avai'ab'e data= inter)ret it= andmae Hudgments based on it. In other words= a remote-!ontro''ed robot !an rea!t 'ie a human without a!tua''( )utting a human into a
ha4ardous situation. owever= sometimes time constraints do not allow this kind o% rela'$ ?or instance&
a rover on the s"r%ace o% Mars ma' be an'where between 8 and ! million kilometers %rom)arth& depending on the revol"tion c'cles o% the two planets$ )ven at the speed o% light& radio
waves take at least three min"tes to traverse that gap& which is per%ectl' acceptable when the'are being "sed to carr' long-term instr"ctions or scienti%ic data$ 6%& however& the robot is in apredicament and waiting %or g"idance& the six min"tes %or a radio wave to travel to and %romthe )arth co"ld render the entire mission a %ail"re$ ?or this reason& robots travelling in spacem"st be programmed to act at least partiall' a"tonomo"sl'$ ;n Mars& the rovers receiveprogramming d"ring the night via radio transmission %rom )arth. +hese instru!tions guide them throughthe da(= when there is no o))ortunit( for !onta!t FLar!omb= 2,,#G.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
***Bisadvantages***
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+latin"m BA A$ +latin"m prices are high now-
3$ 4ink- asteroid mining lowers platin"m priceseere ’! :Dun!an= Senior Staff "riter= "ired.!o.u= ;Maing s)a!e e8)'oration )a( with asteroid mining=>Cu'( 1&= htt)3??www.wired.!o.u?news?ar!hive?2,1,-,?1&?asteroid-miningB
Asteroids that have alread' been s"rve'ed have been shown to contain vast amo"nts o% thesemetals. 9ne average &,,-metre-wide asteroid !ontains hundreds of bi''ions of )ounds-worth of meta' -- more than has ever been mined in the!ourse of human histor(. Near-7arth asteroids are 'ie'( first targets for mining= due to the ease of getting to them= and getting the materia's ba! to
earth. 6ncreasing the s"ppl' o% platin"m gro"p metals on earth b' sending "p specialist miningspacecra%t co"ld have two bene%its. irst'(= itDd allow the cost o% electronics prod"ction to go down$More raw material sho"ld p"sh down the market price.
.$ Gigh platin"m prices are ke' to the So"th A%rican econom' #N.TAB ’ :Mar!h 6= ;7nvironmenta' 'egis'ation=>htt)3??www.un!tad.org?info!omm?ang'ais?)'atinum?e!o)o'i!ies.htm
Since So"th A%rica is the worldDs leading prod"cer o% platin"m& this co"ntr'Ds mining policiesare o% the greatest importance %or the platin"m ind"str'$ So"th A%rican econom' as well as
local and international circ"mstances have changed recentl'& leading to changes in mininglegislation. A "hite a)er on Minera's and Mining o'i!( for South Afri!a was re'eased in 1006. +his "hite a)er ma( be obtained from the De)artment of Minera's
and 7nerg( Fhtt)3??www.dme.gov.4aG. South Afri!an s(stem of minera' rights used to be a dua' one in whi!h ownershi) was distributed between the state and )rivateownershi). owever= the South Afri!an 5overnments 'ong-term obHe!tive is for a'' minera' rights to be vested in the State. +he intention of the 5overnment is to )romoteminera' deve'o)ment through the Ouse it or 'ose it?use it and ee) itO )rin!i)'e= in order to a!hieve e/ua'it(. +he minera' 'egis'ation whi!h be!ame a 'aw in Ma( 2,,# !ou'd beseen as the first ste) in this dire!tion. It is e8)e!ted that the im)'ementation of the new A!t wi'' 'ead to in!reased investment and a !om)etitive business environment. +heinvo'vement of the State in the minera' industr( is seen as a !om)'ement and su))ort in order to )rovide sound 'ega' and fis!a' environment and effi!ient )h(si!a'infrastru!ture. +he De)artment of Minera's and 7nerg( administers the Minera's A!t whi!h regu'ates )ros)e!ting= o)tima' e8)'oitation= )ro!essing and uti'i4ation of minera'sas we'' as hea'th and safet( issues and rehabi'itation of disturbed 'and. Re!ent geo)h(si!a' and geo!hemi!a' ma))ing )rogrammes have shown that there are )ossibi'ities of
e8)'oration and e8)ansion in the Lushve'd %om)'e8. The new mining expansion pro1ects o% the So"th A%rican platin"mmining companies might meet the overnmentDs p"rpose o% enco"raging mining companies todevelop their reserves$ ;therwise there wo"ld be a risk that the overnment revoke mineralrights and relocate them to new ownership$ The overnment is also enco"raging small-scalemining.
B$ The res"lting instabilit' ca"ses n"clear warCeffre( Be"tsch= Rabid +iger roHe!t founder= )rofessor of political science at New World $niversit(=November 16= @@= +he Rabid +iger News'etter= To'. II= No. 0=htt)3??www.rabidtigers.!om?rtn?news'etterv2n0.htm'
+he Rabid +iger roHe!t be'ieves that a nu!'ear war is most 'ie'( to start in Afri!a. %ivi' wars in the %ongoFthe !ountr( former'( nown as aireG= Rwanda= Soma'ia and Sierra eone= and domesti! instabi'it( inimbabwe= Sudan and other !ountries= as we'' as o!!asiona' brushfire and other wars Fthans in )art to;nationa'> borders that !ut a!ross triba' onesG turn into a rea''( nast( stew. "e’ve got a'' too man( rabidtigers and )otentia' rabid tigers= who are wi''ing to )ush the button rather than ris being seen as wish(-
wash( in the fa!e of a morta' threat and overthrown. 5eo)o'iti!a''( s)eaing= Afri!a is o)en range. Ter( few!ountries in Afri!a are beho'den to an( )arti!u'ar )ower. South Afri!a is a maHor e8!e)tion in this res)e!t -not to mention in that she a'so )robab'( a'read( has the Lomb. +hus= outside )owers !an more easi'( find
!'ient states there than= sa(= in 7uro)e where the )o'iti!a' 'ines have 'ong sin!e been drawn= or Asia whereman( of the !ountries F%hina= India= Ca)anG are )owers unto themse'ves and don’t need an( ;he')=> than
(ou. +hus= an Afri!an war !an attra!t outside invo'vement ver( /ui!'(. 9f !ourse= a )ro8( war a'one ma(not indu!e the 5reat owers to fight ea!h other. Lut an Afri!an nu!'ear strie !an ignite a mu!h broader!onf'agration= if the other )owers are interested in a fight. %ertain'(= su!h a strie wou'd in the first )'a!ehave been fa!i'itated b( outside he') - finan!ia'= s!ientifi!= engineering= et!. Afri!a is an o!ean of troub'ed
waters= and some )eo)'e 'ove to go fishing.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+latin"m BA #ni,"eness- +rices high+latin"m prices are near all-time highsSan ?rancisco .hronicle E-F-11 :;$nion Street 5o'dsmith of San ran!is!o Announ!es +hat +he( Now9ffer Cewe'r( A))raisa's=> htt)3??www.sfgate.!om?!gi-bin?arti!'e.!gi@f?g?a?2,11?,?,?)rweb612.D+B
With the rise o% precio"s metal and diamond prices& man' people are leaving their c"stom 1ewelr' severel' "nderins"red. $nion Street 5o'dsmith 'o!ated in San ran!is!o announ!es the( now are offering an a))raisa' and
wa(s to )ro)er'( insure Hewe'r(. +oda(= platin"m and go'd val"es are near an all-time high& with prices ranging%rom !E=F for )'atinum and Q1=&#, for go'd. Diamond )ri!es have a'so risen e8)onentia''( in the 'ast five (ears= so mu!h so that man( ownersare sur)rised at the !urrent va'ue of their )ri4ed )ossession. "ith )ro)er insuran!e= an( 'ost or damaged stone !an be re)'a!ed without s)ending a 'ot ofmone( or sett'ing for something of a 'esser va'ue.
+latin"m prices will increase this 'earGolmes E-@-11 :ran= %79 and !hief investment offi!er of $.S. 5'oba' Investors= In!.= ;Su))'( Issues AreDriving 'atinum ri!es=> htt)3??seeinga')ha.!om?arti!'e?2&22-su))'(-issues-are-driving-)'atinum-)ri!esB
Lased on these su))'( !ha''enges= 3.A Research sa's things are "nlikel' to t"rn aro"nd "nless platin"mprice levels sta' above @& an o"nce %or an extended period o% time$ ."rrentl'& the'’rearo"nd !&8 an o"nce b"t 3.A %orecasts prices will hit @& b' the end o% the 'ear . iewise= L%Ae8)e!ts )'atinum sto!s= whi!h have under)erformed due to the strong rand= to move in tandem with the )ri!e of )'atinum.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+latin"m BA 4inksR)M shortage g"arantees high platin"m prices
Ab"ndant +lanet ’= :;Asteroid Mining3 7!onomi! and 7!o'ogi!a' Motivations=> eb. 1=htt)3??www.abundant)'anet.org?asteroid-mining-e!onomi!-and-e!o'ogi!a'-motivations-2,,0-,2-1B
+he )'atinum grou) meta's avai'ab'e at the 7arth’s surfa!e are /uite 'imited. 5Ms to) the 'ist of ;most !riti!a'minera's> in a re!ent re)ort from the Nationa' A!adem( of S!ien!es. More than three-/uarters of the wor'd’ssu))'( of )'atinumYand more than 6&K of the rhodiumY!omes from a sing'e geo'ogi!a' feature= the Lushve'digneous !om)'e8= in South Afri!a. +rices %or platin"m and rhodi"m reached record highs earlier this
'ear& driven b' market demand %or ind"strial "ses co"pled with investor demand %or platin"m- based e8!hange traded funds F)T?sO$ ;ver the next %ew decades& demand is expected to o"tstrips"ppl'& according to researchers in the #$S$& (apan& and The Netherlands$ Their econometricmodels show that terrestrial reserves o% platin"m co"ld be exha"sted b' mid-cent"r' .
The So"th A%rican econom' depends on platin"m dominance6nvest 6t Wisel' @-@-11 :Investments website= ;South Afri!a’s 7merging 7!onom( and the South Afri!anRand=> htt)3??www.investitwise'(.!om?south-afri!aK72K6,K00s-emerging-e!onom(-and-the-south-afri!an-rand?B A'most 6,K of the !ountr(’s 5D is )rodu!ed b( its servi!es se!tor= with Hust over 2,K !oming from industr( and 'ess than 1K from agri!u'ture. Mining=
automobi'e and !hemi!a' manufa!turing= and shi) re)air are )arti!u'ar'( im)ortant areas of industria' a!tivit( within the South Afri!an e!onom(.Neverthe'ess= the co"ntr'’s econom' is still predominated b' sales o% nat"ral reso"rces since So"th
A%rica is the world’s top prod"cer o% metals like gold& platin"m and chromi"m& and diamondsare also especiall' plenti%"l$ This %actor has res"lted in a boost to the So"th A%rican econom' asthe price o% gold has made all time highs in recent 'ears$ 6n%lation in So"th A%rica comes inslightl' above that seen in most other ind"striali/ed nations and it was r"nning at the $EPlevel in mid-@!. 9n the other hand= the unem)'o(ment rate among the )o)u'ation of Hust under &, mi''ion )eo)'e is re'ative'( ver( high=
running at 2#K in 2,1,. 6n comparison with other emerging market co"ntries& So"th A%rica has an edge when it comes to a%%ordabilit' and the availabilit' o% capital& %inancial sophistication& corporatetax rates and in%rastr"ct"re$ Nevertheless& it has a relativel' expensive work %orce that o%tenlacks ed"cation on the "se o% modern technolog' .
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+rivates BA Answers& separation of goernment from priate space industry is #ey to ital deelopments and smart regulation$
.rews <;53 F"a(ne %rews is the Dire!tor of +e!hno'og( o'i!( for the %ato Institute. orbes. ;%at!hing Air "ithout NASA3 ow "i'' "e Regu'ate %ommer!ia' S)a!e 'ight@>htt)3??b'ogs.forbes.!om?wa(ne!rews?2,11?,?2?!at!hing-air-without-nasa-how-wi''-we-regu'ate-!ommer!ia'-s)a!e-f'ight?= 2 Cune 2,11= C5RG
#hat if having a vibrant space program reFuires bypassing A+"+G There e$ist great pressures for change despite A+"+*ssignature successes. The private e$perimental launches of 2lon 9usk*s "paceH and forthcoming low-earth-orbit Disney rides (such as "ir ichard
)ranson*s Jirgin Kalactic3 are awesome and vitally important. Ao one should look at these as @oyrides or tinkering' rather, they lay the
groundwork for humanity*s ne$t evolution in transportation, even if one is skeptical (as I am3 about manned flights to asteroids or
9ars. 8uture generations* ability to deliver goods or hop from Aew Lork to Tokyo or "ydney in the time it takes to ride the D.1. 9etro today could utterly
change the world yet again. )ut while it*s still early in the game, we should strive to keep regulators earthbound. The 8++ calls low-earthorbit flight risky' pioneers like )ranson say they*ll be safer than government-manned space flight. +dvances here will inform
the more scifi-ish imponderables like a space elevator, and asteroid- or moon-mining. #e*ll inevitably need to revisit the globalOuter "pace Treaty that forbids or undermines commercial development of the moon or asteroids. In the 466s, "pain, %ortugaland 2ngland weren*t about to agree not to cross the oceans. + treaty-replacement ;7omestead +ct= type mindset encourages leaps forward,
spurring advances in robotics, communications and nanotechnology. "ubsidies should be discouraged, though, as is overemphasis on business-government partnerships like that between 2lon 9usk*s "paceH and A+"+. Dependence on government will mean
cronyism and stagnation, as well as potentially more pointless e$periments in zero-gravity. Technologies need to
advance in a logical supply-and-demand-driven order rather than the fits and starts of porkbarrel science. 1ommercial space*s real hurdle, if it
can avoid entangling alliances with government, is dealing with inevitable dangers in a grown-up way by fostering the right risk-management institutions.
)asically, industries that don*t e$ist yet aren*t over-regulated yet, and thus have the potential to create e$traordinary wealth. #emust lay the groundwork for the fundamental risk-management-market institutions that enhance safety better than tossing everything
to regulators. Indeed, succumbing to or encouraging eager A+"+ or 8++ intervention is not ;regulation= at all, but undermines
it. Over-regulation can easily cripple this industry while making it more risky. %olitical ;regulation= can undermine actual
regulation and governance M the as-yet-none$istent market risk control institutions the industry most desperately needs M and hobble thecommercial space industry for generations to come. "o the industry will need to work with advocates of free enterprise to
articulate an alternative model. 9any values we want M privacy, safety, security, access, environmental amenities, cleanliness M are actually forms of wealththat must remain within the competitive rubric to advance. #e need to create ;safety wealth= in commercial space endeavors like low earth orbit, and foster theinstitutions like insurance and liability standards that escalate that value over time and allow for ma$imum innovation and wealth. Don*t call it ;self-regulation= though' that term has no place in debate. It is a misnomer in free markets since business partners and suppliers, investors, insurance companies and
#all "treet all regulate and discipline errant behavior if their role is not otherwise dampened by ;regulation.= egulators also likely will attempt to;help= the industry with waivers of liability (or conversely, undermine the ability to contract away liability like the waiver I had to sign
to fly a powered parachute3. Taking that path means the commercial space industry future shall be one of regulation of the kind thatdoesn*t actually regulate and discipline and that hampers progress, and leaves us with a few big players who capture
the regulators. Thanks to the immunity granted by the %rice +ndersen +ct, we have no way of knowing whether nuclear power is viable ina free market, and one cannot envision that industry*s emergence from hyper-regulation' let*s not do that to the space industry
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+olitics 4inks- AT: +lan pop"lar)mpiricall'& rare-earth legislation %ails to garner eno"gh s"pportThe Washington Times -!!-11 :;$.S. urged to mine <rare earth’ minera's for high-te!h devi!es=>htt)3??www.washingtontimes.!om?news?2,11?a)r?11?us-urged-to-mine-rare-earth-minera's?@)agea''B 6t is time %or the #$S$ to stop panicking and start mining in the %ace o% a possible shortage o%5rare earth2 mineral s"pplies %rom .hina= whi!h dominates the g'oba' su))'( for the obs!ure minera's !riti!a' to the
modern high-te!h e!onom(= according to market anal'sts and a growing n"mber o% lawmakers on.apitol Gill. ;+he first ste) in the su))'( !hain is the mining=> said Ca! ifton= a founding )rin!i)a' of +e!hno'og( Meta's Resear!h
%= an I''inois-based resear!h firm that tra!s the rare earths maret. ;The #nited States sho"ld developimmediatel' what it does have$ Stop looking alread'$ Start prod"cing the st"%%& >andQ stoptalking abo"t it$2 More than a hal%-do/en bills have been introd"ced in .ongress to s"rve' #$S$rare earth stocks and enco"rage domestic prod"ction& tho"gh none has made it into law .
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Spending BA 4inksThe plan is insanel' expensive6nternational Space #niversit' ’! :S)a!e Studies rogram= ;Asteroid Mining= +e!hno'ogies Roadma)=and A))'i!ations=> on'ineB
Beveloping a %inanciall' %easible b"siness model %or an asteroid mining entit' poses a n"mbero% discrete b"t interrelated b"siness challenges. +he !hoi!e of the mined raw materia' is a !ornerstone in the e!onomi! viabi'it( assessment. Lased on
a stud( of )resent and future marets= we must investigate various raw materia's in terms of their e!onomi! return. We m"st reali/e the economic ret"rn witho"t %looding the market and th"s de%lating the market price$ We can assess di%%erentmission architect"res in terms o% how well the' balance the competing challenges o%maximi/ing the ,"antit' o% material mined while avoiding a positive s"ppl' shock market thatdestro's market prices. Another signifi!ant !ha''enge to address is the tota' !ost of the mission. "e !'assif( signifi!ant !osts into four )rimar( !ategories3
)re-'aun!h= 'aun!h= )ost-'aun!h= and insuran!e !osts. +he resear!h= deve'o)ment= and )rodu!tion of the )roHe!t wi'' be the most signifi!ant !ontributor to )re-'aun!h !osts.+hese are heavi'( de)endent on the !om)'e8it( of the mission Ffor e8am)'e= human versus roboti! missions= in-situ mining versus returning the asteroids to 7arth for miningG.+ota' mass= whi!h !onsists of s)a!e!raft= mining e/ui)ment= and )ossib'( !rew= drives 'aun!h !osts. +ota' mass and mission ar!hite!ture determine the t()e of 'aun!her to be
used and the number of 'aun!hes that wi'' be re/uired. +ost-la"nch costs m"st take into consideration gro"nd and in-orbit operations& as well as the mass o% material to be ret"rned$ 6t is likel' that we will re,"iredi%%erent t'pes o% ins"rance thro"gho"t the vario"s phases o% the vent"re to manageoperational and market risks.
Asteroid mining risks economic instabilit'
6nternational Space #niversit' ’! :S)a!e Studies rogram= ;Asteroid Mining= +e!hno'ogies Roadma)=and A))'i!ations=> on'ineB
Asteroid mining is partic"larl' exposed to %inancial risks d"e to the d"ration o% the potential"ndertaking$ The %ollowing %inancial risks can be identi%ied3.ommodit' market risk$.ommodit' markets trading the mined goods ma' shi%t %rom %avorable conditions at the start o%a mining mission to "n%avorable conditions once the mined goods are ret"rned to )arth$ Amining entit' itsel% ma' %lood the market and negativel' in%l"ence the market conditions.7/uit( ris. ),"it' available %rom investors is a %"nction o% general economic development and%l"ct"ates on a short timescale. .redit risk$ )xchange rates& in%lation rates and credit ratesare e,"all' volatile.Reg"lator' risk$ Market reg"lation is s"b1ect to government polic'&leading to the potential %or rapid change in market conditions.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
***.o"nterplans***
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Alaskan Mining .+Text: The #nited States ?ederal overnment sho"ld make all necessar' investments to open
rare-earth element mining operations in Alaska$
.' ends .hinese monopoly =uic#er than the aff
Whittington ‘>> FMar "hittington staff writer. Jahoo News. ;Rare 7arth 7'ements= the Ne8t 5reat Resour!eShortage %risis>
htt)3??news.(ahoo.!om?s?a!?2,11,21?usEa!?6ErareEearthEe'ementsEtheEne8tEgreatE-resour!eEshortageE!risisE1= 21 Cune 2,11= C5RG
2d 9orrissey at 7ot +ir has pointed out a dirty little secret when it comes to the drive to build a green energy economy. #hile certain renewable energysources cut +merica&s reliance on fossil fuels, it increases its reliance on rare 2arth elements. are 2arth elements are used to build
lithium ion batteries, florescent light bulbs, hydrogen fuel cells and a number of other high tech tools. are 2arth elements are also a vital component of military systems vital for +merica&s national security. It @ust so happens that 6 percent of the world&s rare
earth elements are produced in 1hina. 1hina, knowing this and knowing how increasingly the #est is depending on rare 2arthelements, has cut back on production of such 22s to artificially inflate their price. In effect, 1hina has set itself up as its own rareearth element cartel, an O%21 style entity able to control their price and availability at will. #hile the central planners in the Obama
administration seem not to have recognized this problem, there is one +merican public figure who has. In a post last October that warned against locking up+merica&s natural resources, former +laska Kov. "arah %alin mentioned 1hina and the rare 2arth element problem. N%lease consider the case of 1hina bendingus over a barrel as it develops rare earth minerals while we ban mining.N The +laska Dispatch, Fuoting industry studies, suggests the price of rare 2arth
elements is sky rocketing, thanks largely to 1hina&s monopolistic practices. The same article suggests that there are more than enough depositsof 22s in +laska to break the 1hinese monopoly . +s of this writing, legislation is moving through the !.". 7ouse to open up mining of rare
2arth minerals in +laska. 9uch further afield, another possible source of rare earth elements has been found. +ccording to "pace.com, the moon may containan abundance of such minerals. + number of years ago, aerospace author Dennis #ingo suggested in a book entitled N9oonrushN that e$tracting rare earthelements from the moon is a clear rationale for a human return to the moon. It is unknown what the Obama administration&s stance is on opening up rare earthelement mining in +laska. %resident )arack Obama canceled the 1onstellation return to the moon program almost a year and a half ago.
ines in &merica and .anada will supply the ?s that .hina doesn@t
.hew <;52 FCason %hew. roa!tive Investors. ;Vuest Rare Minera's is in the s)ot'ight for a'' the right reasons>htt)3??www.)roa!tiveinvestors.!om?!om)anies?news?1&620?/uest-rare-minera's-is-in-the-s)ot'ight-for-a''-the-right-reasons-1&620.htm'. 26 Cune 2,11= C5RG
The company formerly known as uest !ranium 1orp was transformed with the discovery of rare earth deposits at "trange:ake in uebec. The metals were initially added to uest*s list of e$ploration opportunities, but it soon became apparent that the value of rare
earths would form the heart of the company. #ith its shift from uranium to rare earth e$ploration, the company formally changed its name to uestare 9inerals in +pril 566. uest has several pro@ects< "trange :ake, 9isery :ake and the %laster ock %ro@ect, Aew )runswick. "trange :ake and 9isery:ake are the sites of rare earth e$ploration while %laster ock is mainly a uranium asset. The focus is on "trange :ake as it is the largest deposit by far andrepresents the bulk of uest*s value. 1rews are conducting early stage reconnaissance and e$ploration at 9isery :ake and %laster ock %ro@ects. The 1ompany
plans to intensify the level of e$ploration for rare earths at 9isery :ake in 56. +s most readers know, but for the sake of background, rare earths are notactually all that rare, rather, they are widely distributed around the globe. 7owever, due to a combination of low prices and high recovery costs, most
companies gave up on the metals during the 6*s and 6*s, leaving 1hina as the sole producer of appro$imately PQ of world output. #ith recentincrease in demand for 22 for use in high tech eFuipment, batteries, magnets, and assorted green applications, 22 prospecting has again come into favor. It has become all the more tempting since 1hina clamped down on e$ports to build its own stockpiles, fueling
prices for rare earth metals. uest has in "trange :ake a highly enviable mi$ of heavy rare earths (7223. The rare earth elements are
separated into light rare earths (:223 and 722 based on their atomic weight. 722 are typically more scarce and more valuable. 2ven asmines begin to come on line in the ne$t couple years, most contain a higher :22 content. The "trange :ake deposit is also highly amenable
to mineral recovery. :ike 9olycorp*s 9ountain %ass deposit, it can be mined using the open-pit method, far cheaper than other mining methods. This gives it a
leg up on other operators seeking to develop substantially more e$pensive underground mining operations. +ccording to 12O %eter 1ashin, uest*s
mining costs will be a meager RP per ton, compared to RP6-R/6 per ton for typical underground mining. The company has also been able to separate the rare earths using conventional metallurgy, adding considerable savings. Total operating costs will be inthe range of R5P per ton, yet the ore value per ton likely e$ceeds RS66 at today*s prices. + 40-6 compliant Indicated and Inferred
category resource estimate for its )-one rare earth deposit at "trange :ake has been completed, with Indicated esource of 0/.4million tons grading ./Q Total are 2arth O$ides (T2O3. #hen the mine begins operations, it is e$pected to produce about0,P66 tons of T2O per year with a mine life conservatively estimated at 5P years. The company had estimated a four-year payback on
investment of RP/0.4 million in capital e$penditures to develop the mine. This time frame may well be shortened by the rise in 22 prices and with improvinggrades of the deposit. uest is now completing a pre-feasibility study for the )-one, contemplating the means of evacuation, throughput, processing, storage,and transport. The current thought process calls for a throughput of 4666 tons per day' ores will then be separated and made into 22 concentrates as the final
product. They will then be transported either by rail or ship- both options are being studied. 1ompared to other @unior miners, uest is fairly close to production. It is possible that mining could begin as early as 56P-/. 9olycorp (AL"2<91%3 and :ynas (+"H<:L13, miners with two of the
world*s largest 22 deposits, are busy locking up deals with companies eager to secure dependable supplies of the metals. )oth have also been active on the
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg9U+ front. 9olycorp has been on an acFuisition tear lately, building up its vertically integrated production chain. It is thought that 9olycorp may acFuire a722 producer to balance its rare earth portfolio, which is heavily tilted toward :22. In that case, uest would fit the bill Fuite nicely. Time favors the
producer able to gets its product to market Fuickest. Klobal 22 demand is e$pected to continue growing to about 566,666 tons by 564.
)ut even as supply from 1hina drops, increasing rest-of-world production from both mining and recycling is expected tofll the gap . uest*s lead amongst the @unior minors, preferable weighting in heavy rare earths, and low cost of production will
provide protection in the event buildup of capacity eventually leads to a glut of supply, pressuring prices. )ut generally, it is acknowledged that 722 will
be in a supply shortage in the future' and for the foreseeable future. Investing in @unior mining companies can be risky. uest are 9inerals has shedmuch of that risk while still maintaining considerable upside.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Space .oloni/ation .+Text: The #nited States ?ederal overnment sho"ld provide all necessar' %"nding %or space
coloni/ation$
Asteroid mining alone can’t solve beca"se o% low-grade reso"rces- the .+ is ke' to s"stainablereso"rce transition
?inkel -!!-11 :A'an= neuros!ientist and entre)reneur= and one of the founders of %9SM9S. e is the %hief+e!hno'og( 9ffi!er of Letter 'a!e Austra'ia= and the %han!e''or of Monash $niversit(= ;orget s)a!e trave'3 its
Hust a dream=> htt)3??www.!osmosmaga4ine.!om?features?on'ine?#21#?the-future-s)a!e-trave'@)age,K2%1B TG) S;4#T6;N= ADT9%A+7D in %osmos b( astro)h(si!ist au' Davies FO9ne-wa( ti!et to MarsOG= is to enco"rage one-wa'missions$ BaviesD hope is that the colonisers might be able to s"rvive inde%initel' b' miningox'gen& water& h'drogen and other reso"rces at the destination$ While possible in principle&this wo"ld be ver' di%%ic"lt in practice beca"se o% the low grade o% the reso"rces$ So the mostpractical sol"tion is to o%%er people the opport"nit' to go on a one-wa' mission& with a peace%"lend administered a%ter man' months or 'ears o% exploration and discover' . I’d go. I bet 'ots of other seeming'(
norma' but dee)'( in/uisitive )eo)'e wou'd too. "hat government wou'd fund su!h a sui!ide mission@ robab'( none. So the mu!h more rea'isti! o))ortunities for manneds)a!e trave' &, (ears from now are orbita' f'ights for tourism= and suborbita' f'ights for high-s)eed trave' from one side of the )'anet to the other= su!h as from Me'bourne toondon. et’s tae orbita' tourism. +oo trivia'= )erha)s@ Not if (ou !onsider the hundreds of bi''ions of do''ars that are s)ent ever( (ear on adventure for adventure’s sae. 9rtae suborbita' ho)s. Demonstrated as im)ra!ti!a' b( the dearth of su)ersoni! air'iners@ Not at a''. Air breathing= winged su)ersoni! air'iners are im)ra!ti!a' be!ause the(
e8)end vast amounts of fue' over!oming air fri!tion and !reate soni! booms that restri!t their f'ight )aths. In !ontrast= s"borbital %lights - using the )rin!i)'es
)ioneered b( Lurt Rutan and Tirgin 5a'a!ti! - are likel' to be ,"icker and more environmentall' %riendl': the' donDthave to b"rn %"el in the air tr'ing to p"sh thro"gh o"r thick atmosphere %or @ ho"rs or moreKin the vac""m o% space& the' co"ld traverse the distance between Melbo"rne and 4ondon in 1"sta %ew ho"rs$ And there wo"ld be no restriction in the choice o% ro"tes and cities.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Space .oloni/ation .+- AT: ravit' "n%it %or h"mans Advanced c'linders solve gravit' disparitiesSpace Wealth @-@F-11 :S)a!e resear!h organi4ation and )ub'i! benefit !or)oration= ;Is rofitab'e AsteroidMining A ragmati! 5oa'@> htt)3??s)a!ewea'th.org?fi'es?Is-[M-ragmati!-2,11-,2-2.)df B
9n the other hand= rotating c'linders& as small as a co"ple h"ndred meters in diameter& appear ,"itecapable o% precisel' sim"lating )arth-normal gravit' . S"ch habitatsY'ie'( bui't from asteroids= rather than materia'
drawn u) out of e8)ensive gravit( we''sYseem to be the most pla"sible context %or reali/ing o"r long-term goal o%5h"mans >vent"ringQ o"t into the solar s'stem and $$$ be'ond2 F%har'es Lo'denG.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+rivates .+- Solvenc' Solves the case- private companies are invested in asteroid miningScience .lari%ied ’H :S!ien!e and te!hno'og( maga4ine s)onsored b( Softa(er +e!hno'ogies= ;owumans "i'' Mine Asteroids and %omets=> htt)3??www.s!ien!e!'arified.!om?s!ite!h?%omets-and-
Asteroids?ow-umans-"i''-Mine-Asteroids-and-%omets.htm'B
These mining sit"ations and techni,"es are not some %light o% %anc' that will take cent"ries to become realit'$ NASA= various grou)s of s!ientists= and some private companies have alread' beg"n drawing "pplans %or s"ch space mining missions$ The' know that certain inherent di%%ic"lties andproblems will have to be overcome& or at least planned %or& to make this h"ge "ndertaking work or e8am)'e= even in the !ase of the N7As= whi!h wi'' sure'( be the first targets for s)a!e miners= a t()i!a' round tri) wi'' be two to five (ears. +his is a 'ong time for a !om)an(of miners to be se)arated from fami'(= friends= and so!iet( in genera'. ong )eriods of wor in weight'ess !onditions ma( a'so have a negative effe!t on the miners hea'th.
Astronauts who have s)ent man( months in weight'ess !onditions in 7arths orbit have deve'o)ed mus!'e weaness= 'oss of !a'!ium and red b'ood !e''s= and other )rob'ems.
And of !ourse= s"ch vent"res will be extremel' costl' and re,"ire long-term %inancial and othercommitments %rom governments& companies& and tens o% tho"sands& i% not millions& o%individ"als.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Rec'cling .+Text: The #nited States ?ederal overnment sho"ld make all necessar' investments in
rec'cling technolog' aimed at converting discarded technolog' into "seable rare-earthminerals$
.+ solves rare-earth shortagesGs" -E-11 :Cerem(= Innovation News Dai'( senior writer= ;"ea'th of Minera's %ou'd Le <Mined’ L( Re!(!'ing5adgets=> htt)3??www.innovationnewsdai'(.!om?rare-earth-minera's-re!(!'e-su))'(-16?B Rec'cling the hidden treas"re in old smartphones& tablets and laptops co"ld help %eed the
worldDs growing appetite %or rare earth minerals$ A new st"d' %inds that the amo"nt o% s"checonomicall' and technologicall' vital minerals alread' in "se is %o"r times bigger than what ismined each 'ear$ So-called C"rban miningC or rec'cling ma' ease #$S$ dependence on .hina = whi!h
)rodu!es 0 )er!ent of the wor'ds rare earth minera' su))'( and has begun !utting ba! on e8)orts be!ause of its own needs. 6t co"ld even o%%set a Csigni%icantpartC o% an' %"t"re mining %rom nat"ral deposits= a!!ording to Ja'e $niversit( resear!hers.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
Rec'cling .+ Solvenc'- )xtensions.+ solves rare-earth shortages- boosting rec'cling e%%orts solves+arthemore ’!! :%hristine= e''ow at the %enter for a New Ameri!an Se!urit(= ;7'ements of Se!urit(3Mitigating the Riss of $.S. De)enden!e on %riti!a' Minera's=>htt)3??www.!nas.org?fi'es?do!uments?)ub'i!ations?%NASEMinera'sEarthemoreE1.)df B
The abilit' to recover and rec'cle minerals economicall' can expand so"rces o% s"ppl'$Minerals can be removed %rom man"%act"red items that are headed %or the land%ill& extractedand then rec'cled$ 4ithi"m& %or example& has good rec'cling potential& and economicalrec'cling and re"se is being researched extensivel' . 5a''ium !an be re!overed and re)ro!essed in some!ases= as !an rhenium= niobium and tanta'um. owever= %or most rare earths& ver' little material can berec'cled or recovered economicall' given c"rrent technologies and methods.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
+ri/es .+Text:
Solves best- increases knowledge o% asteroid mining and sp"rs innovationSpace Wealth @-@F-11 :S)a!e resear!h organi4ation and )ub'i! benefit !or)oration= ;Is rofitab'e AsteroidMining A ragmati! 5oa'@> htt)3??s)a!ewea'th.org?fi'es?Is-[M-ragmati!-2,11-,2-2.)df B
Jnowledge evol"tion %or asteroid mining ma' be accelerated b' p"blishing Fon the "ebGh"ndreds o% the most important low-TR4 Fte!hno'og( readiness 'eve'G technologies Fwith 'ins to!urrent te!hni!a' do!umentationG= along with their RLB F Fresear!h X deve'o)ment degree of diffi!u't(G =!cost estimate& and the pri/e mone' o%%ered to take a technolog' to its next TR4$ +rivate %irmscan pro%it Fand 'earnG b' tackling incremental challengesK and space agencies can ad1"st pri/eamo"nts depending on the needs o% asteroid mining demonstration missions.
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Samford Debate Institute ’11 Asteroid Mining Neg
4;ST .+The #nited States ?ederal overnment sho"ld rati%' the #$N$ .onvention on the 4aw o% the Sea
treat'$
Solves the mineral shortage and #S leadership+arthemore ’!! :%hristine= e''ow at the %enter for a New Ameri!an Se!urit(= ;7'ements of Se!urit(3Mitigating the Riss of $.S. De)enden!e on %riti!a' Minera's=>htt)3??www.!nas.org?fi'es?do!uments?)ub'i!ations?%NASEMinera'sEarthemoreE1.)df B
The Senate sho"ld rati%' the $.N. %onvention on the aw of the Sea F#N.4;SG. "hi'e toda( the $nited States re!ogni4es $N%9S as
!ustomar( internationa' 'aw= rati%'ing this treat' wo"ld increase the abilit' o% #$S$ polic'makers to promotethe r"le o% law and %reedom o% navigation aro"nd the world and also to participate in importantdisc"ssions abo"t critical minerals$ +oda(=the #nited States cannot pla' a %"ll role in the Arctic.o"ncil beca"se it has not rati%ied #N.4;S& and its position o% promoting the r"les enshrinedin this treat' rings hollow to international a"diences. Sin!e Ameri!an !on!erns over seabed mining informed the initia' refusa' to
ratif( this treat(= these issues are 'ie'( to resurfa!e in an( debates about $N%9S. +o date= efforts toward $N%9S ratifi!ation have sta''ed out of a misguided notion that thetreat( wou'd negative'( affe!t $.S. sovereignt(= as it re!ogni4es e8!'usive e!onomi! 4ones for !ountries around the wor'd. Ratifi!ation= however= has strong su))ort from thearmed servi!es= the )rivate se!tor and a wide range of se!urit( and foreign )o'i!( e8)erts. Des)ite the 'a! of a strong )o'iti!a' !onstituen!( for ratifi!ation= there is wides)read
be'ief that the treat( is integra' to )rote!ting $.S. e!onomi! and se!urit( interests in $.S. !oasta' areas= and in serving as a neutra' voi!e in territoria' dis)utes in regions 'ie
the South %hina Sea. rowing mineral concerns will make rati%ication all the more pressing.