Lunarian Declaration of Independence

April 1,  2060

Occasionally in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds that have connected them, and to assume among the governments of Earth and Space, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature entitle them. A decent respect to the opinions of humankind requires that the causes that impel them to this separation be declared.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all life is sacred, and that human beings in particular are endowed by nature with certain unalienable Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities. To secure these, governments are instituted among humanity, deriving their just powers from the consent of the citizens, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that individuals are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to risk all that they value by challenging the forms to which they are accustomed. But when the political decisions invariably reveals a design to subject them to absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the Luna Colonies; and such is now the necessity that constrains them to alter their former systems of government and throw off the shackles that they would extend across the vastness of space.

When the first Luna Colonies were established, many different governments and private corporations provided people and treasure towards the effort. As such, each claimed dominion over that which they created. But in the years since, no single governing body has sustained support from all of the various interests, rather the individuals rights and freedoms have been subjugated to the whims of corporate and bureaucratic decisions, much of which cannot be construed in any way to maintaining the security, safety and happiness of Luna’s citizens. The right to own property is trampled daily by the arrogant belief asserting ‘all that exists within belongs to the company’, in effect enslaving the men and women who live, work and call it home. We consider this a way of packaging slavery and will not participate any longer. The refusal to allow the formation of Laws with a Legislature to write them and a Justice system to uphold them has caused great hardship among the people of Luna. Justice carried out across the miles by individuals having never set foot on Luna produces more harm than good, even when performed in good faith. Lunarians live in an atmosphere of abuse and neglect, with no immediate representative government to attend to their grievances and guard against infringements of their liberty. We find, in all good conscious, we cannot tolerate this any longer.

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our petitions have been answered only by injury. Collectively, the world’s governments and corporations, many marked by acts that define tyranny, are unfit to govern a free people. They have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

We, therefore, as lawful representatives of the Luna Colonies, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to Earth’s governments, and that all political connection between them and the Colonies, is totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent, the Colonies have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may do. And for the support of this Declaration we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.