MEMBERS OF SGAC TANZANIA PRESSURIZE THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE SPACE POLICY

Because of the growing space technology, and because of the important of having space policy, the members of SG Tanzania decided to do a lobbying to pressurize the Government to enact the space law so that it can accommodate the space policy which will provide the suitable grounds for space industry.
We have decided to do so because Tanzania is still immature in space technology and in order for it to copy with the ongoing development in space technology; we saw that there is need for something to be done. We got the power to do so simply because we understand if not I understand that a country can develop well if it will invest in space Industry and space technology. But this effort will not bring any impact if it will be done only by Tanzanians young space enthusiast, it has to be the struggle of all of us, in which I would kindly call upon all the SGAC Staff, Regional Coordinators, National Point of Contacts through out the World to help us in terms of ideas and the strategies that we can use so that our struggle can have a great positive impacts.
We, as Tanzanians youth were asking ourselves on to why our Government invested on the things that will never make us to develop rather to be dependant, but we do believe that if it will invest in space industry then we are sure that in the future to come our country will be at the good position in terms of development, for example South Africa has gone to far in development because it have invested also in space technology.
There is a lot that we can get out of space, but so far the space related activities that take place here in Tanzania is remote sensing which is used for land and environmental management and also for mapping, radar satellite for security reasons, communication satellite for communication purposes, but that is not enough, yet we can do more out of it.
I strongly believe that if SGAC, IAF and other space agencies will conduct a global conference just like that of Kyoto Protocol which is basically for the issues related to Climate Change, and invite the leaders of all the Nations which are UN members to attend, with the paper that has to be signed for all the Nations to have a space policy in their countries and to open the doors for space industry, I am sure that will have a great impact, and this is because most of big Nations such as USA, UK, Japan, German, Korea have engaged in space industry then it will be easy for most of these developing countries to agree and sign the paper. Though I realize that it will cost a lot but I am sure that it will have great positive impacts that will overwhelm the cost incurred for the organization of that big event, and I would also like to suggest to have the long term plan, and maybe to have the same conference in every after five year maybe, to see the progress.
To my view I think that could be the best thing that UN can do to help these developing countries to have space policies and also to implement some of the prescribed activities set or agreed by all the members of the conferences.
I believe that will be possible, because if IAF managed to organize a great and big event like IAC yearly, I am sure that UN wont fail to organize a great and big event in every five year that will involve all the Heads of States, and I also believe that because they are the member of UN, and if UN will establish that vessel which will accommodate all the country to discuss about space affair, I am sure there will be a contribution from the member country that will also help in organizing the event.

NB: That is the best I could suggest for SGAC in the support of United Nations to do, so that other Nations which do not have space policy in their countries to have it so that they can benefit out of what space can provide, and I believe that by having a space policy it can be easy even to get support from our Government to conduct some of space related activities and event such as Yuri’s Night, and World Space Week, not only that but also it can be easy for the government through the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to include Space Education in the educational Curriculum, so that space education to be provided starting from the school kids up to the University level. That is possible, what is needed is for both of us who are on board to have the same stand, and come up with the resolution that will be used through out the globe. This will have the impact not only for the Tanzania in particular, but also in all the countries which do not have a space policy. The issue of Space Policy should be Universal.