Newswise — A special briefing is to be held at the United Nations on new perspectives on space security, focused on the commercial sector, emerging space states, and civil society.
The briefing will spotlight the findings of a newly issued study Space Security 2008, a report by Project Ploughshares that reviews anti"satellite and space debris risks as increasing threats to the security of outer space.
Space Security 2008 is the fifth annual report on trends and developments in space, covering the period January to December 2007. It is part of a wider Space Security Index (SSI) project that facilitates dialog among space experts on space security challenges.
All are welcomed to the briefing -- in particular members of delegations, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) -- to contribute views and comments to the ongoing research of the Space Security Index.
When: Tuesday, October 21st Where: United Nations - Conference Room A: 1st Ave & E 44th St New York, New YorkTime: 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. (Eastern Time)
The presentation features the following experts:-- Jessica West, Managing Editor, Space Security 2008 and the Space Security Index -- Richard DalBello, VP Government Relations, Intelsat-General Corporation -- Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director, Secure World Foundation -- Ray Acheson, Project Associate, Reaching Critical Will, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
"The Space Security Index work provides in one place the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment available today of the state of global space security - the ability to maintain a safe and sustainable space environment," Ray Williamson, Executive Director of the Secure World Foundation explained, and a contributor to the research effort.
"Presenting this research directly to the delegates of the United Nations First Committee is a way to educate them on space security and allows them to query some of the experts who contributed to it," Williamson said.
To view the complete report and executive summary online, please go to:
www.spacesecurity.org/publications.htm
Project partners in this work include Project Ploughshares, Secure World Foundation, the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University, the Ploughshares Fund, the Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non"Proliferation Research at the University of British Columbia, the Cypress Fund for Peace and Security, and the Space Generation Foundation.
The United Nations briefing is sponsored by The Space Security Index and Reaching Critical Will/Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.
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