Space week blast from the past: still relevant after 20 years

 

Bruce Gagnon - Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space

These are a set of 12 interviews originally filmed in 2001/2002 for an intended documentary film, entitled Welcome To Space and Missile Country, on National Missile Defense and the militarization/weaponization of space, also known as “Star Wars”. The primary impetus and focus of the film was the citizen non-violent opposition to this weapons program at the missile testing facility, Vandenberg Air Force Base (now renamed Vandenberg Space Force Base), on the central California coast. 

The documentary team fragmented and the project became my sole responsibility. As I was bogged down in two other of my own documentary films at that time, as well as working as a cameraman and editor on other films, this project was then shelved and largely forgotten. Then in a recent conversation with a peace and climate activist/friend I deeply respect the aborted film came up in discussion. Though it is true these interviews could have been “repurposed” (to use her term) and a different film could very possibly have been made, it was beyond my capability at the time. But her comments got me thinking again about the substance and importance of these interviews.

The truth is, though not in the forefront of peoples’ minds, the development of a National Missile Defense and weaponization of space program has never gone away. In fact, under the Trump administration the United States Space Force was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019 as part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. [The Democrats controlled the House of Representatives at the time and could have stopped the authorizing bill but in fact supported the creation of the Space Force.]

Though these interviews are 20 years old much of what is contained in them resonates as if they were conducted only yesterday. These interviews are presented almost in their entirety, with just a few things, such as certain references to the George W. Bush administration and some of the political happening around the world at that time having been excised, along with the interviewer questions. The answers are presented in the order that the questions were given.

I hope individuals and organizations may find the information contained here-in of some contemporary value, and perhaps even inspire a new generation of peace activists to speak up and stand up against National Missile Defense and the weaponization of space. No Star Wars!

Thank you. In peace.

Steven Baigel 

California