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

[Mark Crawford]

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