Search

The contemporary State has been transforming itself since the institutionalization of non-conventional democratic participatory mechanisms which involve complex and continuous information flows. Conscious of these transformations, the Colombian State has proclaimed the Law 1712 of 2014, concerning Transparency and the Right of Accessing to the Public National Information, which enables citizens to have complete information in regards with the States administration as well as to make petitions to the public entities through electronic means. In this way and making use of interdisciplinary collaborations betweenthe Faculty of Law and the Engineering Faculty, the informatic tool named Transparenci@ has been developed with the aim of helping in the consolidation of control mechanisms of the public administration and in the building of a critic citizenship which has enough tools for decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using three study cases, we will show how the private property rights interacts with space activities and it occurs in this area, separated from article 2 of the Outer Space Treaty (OST), which provides the prohibition of claims over space. The sector where the intervening subjects, kinds of property, rights and laws operate will be found in order to clarify that concept. The first case is satellite-broadcasting TV, the second one, the intellectual property rights in the International Space Station (ISS), and the third one, is the case of extraterrestrial material extraction from the Moon and Mars. We intend both to show the difference between real property rights and personal property rights at the space scope and to state questions about the dominium plenum concept, by analyzing the ius utendi or the ius fruendi, and new aspects such as the transformation of space natural resources in goods that can be subjected to appropriation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyzes Colombia׳s space policy: its successes, its failures and what it still needs to achieve. The paper examines the interaction among the different players, and how this policy contributes to economic and social development of the country. And postulates that, unless a real national plan of action, with specific milestones and budget as well as a managing agency are developed, this policy may be in danger of disappearing. The Colombian Space Commission (Comisión Colombiana del Espacio, or CCE) was created by Presidential Decree 2442 in 2006. It is a multi-sectorial entity, in charge of coordinating, planning, and leading in the implementation of national policies for the development and application of space technologies. The CCE was also charged with the drafting of plans and programs in this field. The CCE began with only a few members (15) and today is comprised of 47 members: 13 ministries, 4 administrative departments, another 21 governmental entities and 9 universities, the latter acting as consultants. The Vice-President of the Republic is the President of the CCE. These different actors gave great importance to the development of Colombia׳s space sector, and 6 years later, they are continuing support and development the country׳s space policy. This analysis takes into account three aspects: first, achieving the objectives of the CCE: the creation and development of a national space policy for Colombia; secondly, focussing on “target groups” and “end users”; and thirdly, the “outcomes” or achievements to date. Some conclusions are worth highlighting: first, the warm reception and support of the CCE by both the public and private sectors on high levels, but the poor knowledge of the national space policy by the Colombian people and the small and medium companies. Secondly, in the context of public policy [9], the strategic plan called “National Policy in regard to Space Activities”, is caught between two phases: the formulation and decision-making regarding the program, and its implementation. And finally, the members of the CCE do not necessarily act in accordance with a national strategy, but follow their own interests, resulting in undue influence (and perhaps interference) in the development of a coherent national space policy. In brief, the author hopes that this first analysis of Colombia׳s experience with its Space Commission will serve as an example to other developing countries that also are seeking to develop their space sector, and implement a national space policy. Further, the author hopes that this analysis will allow the various politico-administrative actors “policy makers” in Colombia, as well as the general public, to realize that, while much has been accomplished, much still remains to be done. It is essential to keep alive the interest shown in space activities; otherwise, Colombia׳s space policy may become an “endangered species”, in danger of failing and disappearing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]