Peace Week: Outer Space as a Global Commons

From Saturday, October 3^rd through Saturday, October 10^th, people around the world are organizing local events to bring outer space to greater public attention by proclaiming “Keep Space for Peace.” However, on Monday, September 14^th, the Trump administration announced it had placed weapons in orbit around the Earth in a major effort to militarize space. U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink followed up by saying the United States, “now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action.”  He refused to say what the weapons are, how many there are or when they were launched.  https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/space-force-has-space-control-weapons-on-orbit-air-force-secretary-says/

Importantly, on that Monday, Victoria Samson, chief director of space security and stability at the Secure World Foundation, a research group, told Defense One, “I don’t think any U.S. government official has ever said that before. The U.S. also now has to accept [that] the Chinese and Russians are doing/saying the same.”  She continued, “What this does is normalize weaponizing space.”  https://www.swfound.org/

The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space is asking groups and concerned citizens of the global community to organize events and share information about the growing dangers of the U.S. program to “control and dominate space and to deny others the use of space.” https://space4peace.org/

Protests will be held outside military bases, military weapons production sites, and various government installations, and along busy streets.

According to the Global Network, the public must be informed of the cost of preparing for war in space, resulting in the theft of trillions of taxpayer dollars that could otherwise be used for the needs of health care, education, environmental remediation, public transportation, infrastructure repair and so much more.

There are many reasons to oppose the weaponization of space. The Global Network has posted educational videos on its YouTube page.  https://space4peace.org/videos/

It is important to remember that the pollution from each rocket launch knocks a larger hole in the Earth’s ozone layer, which keeps life on the planet from burning up. Lower Earth Orbit, or LEO, is now so cluttered with satellites and space minefield waste that scientists fear cascading collisions. https://www.britannica.com/technology/low-Earth-orbit

The U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, said on his recent Arsenal of Freedom Tour in Texas, “The fight for space is the fight for the future of the world as we know it. We cannot afford to have a fair fight in space – I’m not interested in orbital equity or orbital parity.  We demand orbital dominance plain and simple. Whoever controls space controls the fight.” https://www.war.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4606768/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-speech-on-the-arsenal-of-freedom-in-austin-tx-as/

1. Friday, October 2^nd from noon to 1 pm – Join the nuclear disarmament community at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval in Santa Fe for the weekly peaceful protest in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Bring your flags, signs and banners.

2. Saturday, October 3^rd through Saturday, October 10^th – Keep Space for Peace Week – Space is a Global Commons – Not to be Dominated! For more information: https://space4peace.org/keep-space-for-peace-week/

3. Saturday, October 3^rd from 1 pm to 3 pm at Southside Library (6599 Jaguar Drive, Santa Fe, NM) – Nonviolent Santa Fe workshop, “Exploring Nonviolence: Tools for Managing Conflict in Everyday Life.”

4. Tuesday, October 6^th from 1 pm to 4 pm or 6 pm to 8 pm – the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE) and the Red Water Pond Road Community Association are hosting a public comment workshop on the Community Impacts Assessment for the water discharge permit for the proposed Churchrock Crownpoint Uranium Project. The event will be a drop by to learn about how to make public comments on-line or by mail. Come by the Churchrock chapter house. https://swuraniumimpacts.org

5. October 14^th at 5:30 pm – Webinar for “A Data Center Moratorium for NM – Because an Executive Order Can’t Protect Our Air or Water” with NM Representatives Micaela Lara Cadena and Angelica Rubio. Register at: https://bit.ly/nmdata-center-moratorium

AI developers may be in a headlong rush, but we don’t have to be. Making good law requires time and community input. New Mexico needs to slow down and get data center guardrails right. With guest speakers from NM Water Advocates, Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) and New Energy Economy.

6. Saturday, October 17^th, Early Voting Day of Action – Nationwide NO KINGS: VOTE EARLY – No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings nonpartisan events designed to increase participation from all eligible voters. For more information, https://www.nokings.org/

Tags: Arsenal of Freedom Tour, Chief Director of Space Security and Stability, Defense One, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, LEO, Lower Earth Orbit, Secure World Foundation, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Victoria Samson, “Keep Space for Peace, ” U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink