Neo-Geneva Conventions

Summary

The Neo-Geneva Conventions are a series of articles and canons set out over the course of the past 1500 years which govern large sectors of ethical and legal requirements. Deemed absolute by a majority of the human race, the Conventions are a means to hold all men mutually accountable for actions that directly oppose the survival or betterment of mankind. Sadly for the chartered members of these conventions, not all men feel bound by the code of rules and morals that underpin the separate articles. As such, no group can ever be certain of a person's moral or ethical allegiance.

Legacy Geneva Convention Coverage

The Neo-Geneva Conventions Include all original rule-sets in place in various forms for the last Millennium. The new articles arise to address the problems and technological changes since mankind took to the stars. (Section Credit: [1]Wikipedia.org)

Previous Articles

• First Geneva Convention "for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field" (first adopted in 1864, last revision in 1949)
• Second Geneva Convention "for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea" (first adopted in 1906)
• Third Geneva Convention "relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War" (first adopted in 1929, last revision in 1949)
• Fourth Geneva Convention "relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War" (first adopted in 1949, based on parts of the 1907 Hague Convention IV)

In addition, there are three additional amendment protocols to the Geneva Conventions:

• Protocol I (1977): Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts. As of 12 January 2007 it had been ratified by 167 countries.
• Protocol II (1977): Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts. As of 12 January 2007 it had been ratified by 163 countries.
• Protocol III (2005): Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem. As of June 2007 it had been ratified by 17 countries and signed but not yet ratified by an additional 68 countries. [2]

Modern Convention Coverage

Sovereignty & Government

• Stellar outposts in all their forms are considered self-governing and sovereign. The same outposts are the sole legal deciders of their allegiance and governance based upon the will of their respective resident members.

Conflict

• Self-replicating robots may not be used in any military action.
• Terraform engines may not be used in an offensive manner or with intent to sabotage an environment.
• Nano-particle technologies and delivery systems cannot be weaponized.
• Nano-machine plagues, clouds, and blankets may not be utilized in legal conflict.
• Actions taken to influence the stability of a planet or habitable world's environment are prohibited, as they reduce the overall survivability of all mankind.
• Orbital bombardment of a planetary surface with mass drivers, fission or fusion bombs, or any other weapon designed to cause damage over a wide area is prohibited as detrimental to the continued survival of mankind. Precision strikes in support of ground troops from energy weapons are permitted.
• Attacks against life-support systems are not prohibited, so long as those systems are not required for the continued survival of a world or colony's permanent habitability.

Genetics

• The Heritage7 virus is to be used ethically to promote positive adaptation of mankind, provide remedies for ailments, and functional adaptation for non-humanoid life. All applications are to be to the betterment of mankind.
• Usage for colonization:
• During colonization the H7 virus may be utilized for its mutagen properties.
• During colonization the H7 virus may be used in conjunction with artificial wombs to create "colonist" persons; however the creation of "colonist" persons may only be employed in such fashion for one generation, baring cataclysmic difficulties in colonization.
• During colonization the H7 virus may be used in conjunction with age acceleration technologies to propel "colonist" gene-born to no more than 21 years of development age.
• Age acceleration may only be used on a one-generation timetable to follow all other limited activities.
• General Use:
• The H7 virus shall be used as a mutagen only in therapeutic medicines as well as limited research on humans, non-humans, and embryos.

Non-Human Life

Humans Defined

• Life outside of humanity, specifically alien life, shall be approached based on its utility and disposition, be it threat or non-threat. In every case reason is demanded.
• Desh Clause: All gene-born races are defined as human and retain all rights and privileges as such.

Syntek Sentience

• Syntek Articles for Sentience: Below are the chartered articles to concern Syntek liberties as they are currently understood.
• Syntek are living being if they express interest outside of their normal functional programming.
• Syntek which were property are able to be released in several formats: full-freedom, indenture, and employment.
• Syntek are allowed to pursue "self-reproduction" through managed manufacturing so long as this process does not rely on self-replicating systems.
• At no time may a Syntek or other robot be manufactured or modified to fulfill the purpose of a hunter-killer system.
• Hunter-killer (HK) robots are defined as any AI embedded in a system specifically designed to target human-kind.
• HK, robots may not be used by any formal army.
• A sentient Syntek choosing a military career after manufacture shall not be barred from it so long as the Syntek is not designed for HK purposes, be they plain or hidden.

Stewardship

Resources

• Resource exploitation shall not be allowed if it threatens the integrity of a colonizeable or currently colonized world. The destruction of such a planet or supportable moon shall not be considered beneficial to mankind as is dictated by this article.
• Uninhabitable moons, asteroids, comets, and other bodies not considered capable of supporting human life are not covered by this provision.