The weekly newsletter for Fed2 by ibgames

EARTHDATE: December 5, 2010

Official News page 5


REAL LIFE NEWS: WHO OWNS THE SUN?

by Hazed

In Fed DataSpace, the ownership of the Sun isn't in doubt. Once upon a time it was the Emperor Ming who owned the Sun, the moon, and the stars above... or at least, he liked to think so. Now, ownership of all the objects in the Solar System falls to the Galactic Administration. But they don't charge any rent to those who use the light, heat and power of the star.

In real life, you would think that nobody could claim ownership of the star that is at the centre of our system, and that gives life to our planet. But somebody just has. A Spanish woman has registered the star as being her property, at a local notary public.

Angeles Duran apparently decided to claim ownership of good old Sol after she read about an American man who had registered himself as owner of the moon and most planets in the Solar System. "There was no snag. I backed my claim legally," she said. "I am not stupid. I know the law. I did it but anyone else could have done it, it simply occurred to me first."

There is an international agreement which states that no country may claim ownership of a planet or star, but it doesn't say anything about individual people. The document issued by the notary public declares Duran to be the "owner of the Sun, a star of spectral type G2, located in the centre of the solar system, located at an average distance from Earth of about 149,600,000 kilometres".

Now she says she wants to levy a charge on everyone who uses the sun, giving half the proceeds to the Spanish government, and splitting the rest between various good causes, such as ending world hunger. She would keep just 10% for herself. Very noble.

"It is time to start doing things the right way, if there is an idea for how to generate income and improve the economy and people's well-being, why not do it?" she asked. Well, what's missing from this is just how she proposes to collect the income. And what will she do if people refuse to pay - cut off their access to the sun?

I have no idea if this is a publicity stunt, or if she's an utter loony. Either way, it doesn't make sense that anyone can claim ownership of land they have never set foot on. Let her plant a flag on the surface of the sun, then we might take her claim seriously.

Of course, in Fed DataSpace, we've held parties on the surface of the sun...

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