Assuming humanity will experience first contact with an Extraterrestrial Intelligence, how should we proceed? We need a treaty.
, the VLA, MEERKAT, the ATA, Parkes Observatory, and Green Bank Observatory, among others, as well as some optical telescopes,” Gertz writes.
These questions are not new. Many thinkers have pondered these issues. But what if we’re thrust into making a decision quickly? What if one of Earth’s nations decides to respond on its own, either to a distant signal or to a visiting probe? “As matters stand now, any one country might make the decision to signal by itself and thereby encumber all humankind and its future generations,” writes Gertz.
But according to Gertz, whatever the nature of first contact is, we need some kind of international treaty to govern our response. Humanity will have to organize itself like never before. Transparency between nations is a critical piece for this hopeful committee or body, according to Gertz. Nations engaged in SETI and similar endeavours must be willing to share information equally. “The envisioned treaty should contain provisions for inspections and verification. Every SETI, space and astronomical program should be open to all signatories for intrusive inspection. Chinese scientists should have the right to receive American data streams and vis-a-versa,” Gertz writes.
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