Declaration of the Rights of the Moon

Draft for circulation and discussion
version: 11 February 2021

We the people of Earth -

Acknowledging the unique, intact, interconnected lunar environments and landscapes which exist on the Moon;

Acknowledging the ancient, primordial relationship between Earth and the Moon;

Mindful of how much is still unknown about the co-origins of Earth and the Moon;

Aware that the Moon is critically important to the healthy functioning of the Earth System, and is a vital sustaining component of all life on Earth;

Aware that the Moon holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning for human beings;

Acknowledging that the cycles of the Moon have enabled life itself to evolve on Earth;

Mindful of the immeasurable value the Moon holds as a repository of deep time and connection among all beings who have ever lived on Earth, since its features have remained almost unchanged since time immemorial;

Conscious that wealthy nations and corporations are developing technologies that may make it possible to return to, live on, mine and otherwise alter the Moon;

Aware of humanity’s impact on the Earth - causing ecosystem collapse, a new era of mass species extinction and global climate change - and seeking to avoid destruction and change to the natural systems and ecosystems of the Moon,

Declare that -

  1. The Moon – which consists of but is not limited to: its surface and subsurface landscapes including mountains and craters, rocks and boulders, regolith, dust, mantle, core, minerals, gases, water, ice, boundary exosphere, surrounding lunar orbits, cislunar space – is a sovereign natural entity in its own right and, in accordance with established international space law, no nation, entity, or individual of Earth may assert ownership or territorial sovereignty of the Moon.
  2. The Moon possesses fundamental rights, which arise from its existence in the universe, including:
    • (a) the right to exist, persist and continue its vital cycles unaltered, unharmed and unpolluted by human beings;
    • (b) the right to maintain ecological integrity;
    • (c) the right to be defined as a self-sustaining, intelligent, cohesive, intact lunar ecosystem, beyond current human comprehension;
    • (d) the right to independently maintain its own life-sustaining relationship with the Earth’s environments and living creatures; and
    • (e) the right to remain a forever peaceful celestial entity, unmarred by human conflict or warfare.

More information

For information about the development of the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon, please see this page.

If you would like to connect with the creators of the Moon Declaration please email: aela@earthlaws.org.au

 

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356 signatures

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Latest Signatures

356Chelsea C.Madison United StatesThank you for creating this. I can't believe governments and companies are clamoring to defile the moon like they have the Earth.
355AnonymousDhaka Bangladesh
354Michael W.Worcester United StatesHow and why should we trust these organizations and corporations when they talk about establishing a closed loop system on the moon, in the name is sustainability, when there has been no true effort to establish such a system here on Earth with and for our own resources? We cannot trust them.
353Jamie V.Santa Clara, CA United States
352Brodie N.Donegal Ireland
351Melody H.Rancho Cucamonga United States
350John H.Brisbane AustraliaWe have trashed this planet. Please leave the moon (and all other planets) alone!!
349Brigitte P.Rimsting GermanyIt is so necessary to have this declaration!
348Madeleine H.MAROUBRA Australia
347Lisa S.North Hollywood United States
346Samantha L.Stirling Australia
345Jennifer R.Boston United States
344AnonymousNew York United States
343Tara B.Vancouver CanadaThe moon shines up there in the sky like a blank slate and humans are clamoring to be the first to slap some paint on it. We must ensure it stays a happy little moon.
342Judy N.Oakland United StatesThank you for this beautiful declaration. Humans need to learn that we are not entitled to exploit and plunder whatever we want. We have a sacred responsibility to steward the health of our planet and moon; to live in balance and reciprocity; and to have some damned boundaries.
341Jessica L.Westfield United States
340Christen B.Ohio United States
339AnonymousEnschede Netherlands
338Alycia J.West End Australia
337Belinda P.Balmain AustraliaThis declaration contains values that should govern how we treat not just the moon, but our own planet
336Karen J.Chapel Hill Australia
335Claire D.Fitzroy North Australia
334AnonymousEUDLO Australia
333Cristina N.Fitzroy Australia
332Anna C.North Warrandyte Australia
331Lizzie O.Florida United States
330Patricia B.New Braintree United States
329Susanne M.Hadley United StatesIt breaks my heart we even need this declaration.
328AnonymousBraidwood Australia
327Penny W.Glossop United KingdomI think it's ghastly the way we're going to invade the moon and plunder its resources. Really disrespectful. I don't want to look up in the sky and think that humans are living there. Let's hope some spirit force prevents it and that universal forces just don't allow us to do it.
326Rebecca C.Queensland Australia
325Fiona R.Springfield AustraliaHoping this is one of many such acknowledgements of the rights of nature to exist and persist..
324G L.Old South Wales United Kingdom
323barbara d.Zandeweer Netherlands
322Fleur B.Amsterdam Netherlands
321Frank F.Bend United States
320Li M.Malmö SwedenThis is a unique opportunity to do better than we have before and respect the relationship we have with the moon.
319Rina F.Pretoria South AfricaHumans impact the physical environment negatively, so let us make a promise not to destroy the moon as we did our mother earth.
318simon g.Darmstadt GermanyAn Antarctic treaty for the moon. Don't destroy a pristine environment.
317AnonymousGalway Ireland
316AnonymousMontreal Canadamoonrights.com
315Linda D.Wales United Kingdom
314AnonymousIstanbul Turkey
313AnonymousRandwick AustraliaThe moon is vital for so many aspects of human life, from culture to science, to stabilising our planet. To destroy the moon, its memory unto itself, and any heritage or scientific inforamtion contained within its presence only makes humanity worse off.
312Avery J.Atlanta United States
311Sajidah A.Koah Australia
310Lawrence H.Malanda Australia
309Brian E.Speewah Australia
308Lorraine S.Mornington Australia
307Julie-Ann H.Leura Australia