[meteorite-list] meteorites not being able to leave certain countries

From: Mark Crawford <mark_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:29:15 +0100
Message-ID: <4803865B.9030008_at_meteorites.cc>

Utter rot.

Why should meteorites be different from any other cultural or scientific
heritage? Viewed from a slightly broader view than we sometimes do on
this list, meteorites are items of both financial and scientific value.
None of us have any god-given right to own them, whether they come from
Canada, Argentina, or (for that matter) the US.

In the absence of international treaty (such as with Antarctica), every
state has to make its own mind up how to handle these matters. Some may
choose to be laissez-faire; some may blanket ban export; some will
strike a reasonable middle path, and, say, permit export of material
once their own scientific establishments have had a chance to examine
and take samples.

If anything, we should perhaps be arguing for a /more/ uniform approach
to be taken, and that uniform approach to me wouldn't be a free-for-all.

Mark

Michael Murray wrote:
> The "reasoning"? That's easy Steve, pick one:
> - exercising absolute state authority,
> - exercising autocratic authority
> - exercising complete regulation by the state
> - exercising a monopoly
>
> BTW, in response to someone's statement about artifacts, I fail to
> find "meteorite" crouched anywhere in the meaning of the word
> "artifact". That is an often used strategy though.
>

-- 
Mark's Meteorite Pages: http://meteorites.cc

Received on Mon 14 Apr 2008 12:29:15 PM PDT