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

[MeteorHntr at aol.com]

Hello Steve #2,

The reason laws are passed to keep meteorites in a  country 
can be summed up in one word:

Money!

As the old saying  goes: "Follar the Dollar."  (Translation: that is 
"Arkansas" for:  "Follow the Dollar.")

While it is easy to tag commercial meteorite  dealers with being 
"greedy" don't let anyone fool you.  If a country,  such as Canada, 
can keep a rare meteorite, such as Tagish Lake within it's  own 
boundaries, then ONLY Canadian scientists can get the grant 
money to  study that meteorite.  Just ask any Canadian Meteorite 
Scientist!

If a meteorite hunter is allowed to go in and find a new  meteorite, 
or if a local finder exports it and it is taken to another  country to get 
studied, then the other country gets the grant  money.

I think one Canadian authority is on public record as saying  
something to the effect that "the biggest mistake Mexico ever did 
was  allow ANY Allende to make it out of Mexico."  

Of course that  comment can't be justified in any other context 
than the Mexican authorities  let the millions, if not tens of 
millions of dollars that have gone into  Allende research "get away."

Never mind that the Science of Meteoritics  has gained great 
knowledge by hundreds of Allende research papers written by 
hundreds of researchers all over the globe other than by the 
hundreds of esteemed Mexican Meteorite Scientists. 

Australia will  let meteorites out that are not scientifically important, 
or ones that they  have enough of in local collections (read= 
no more grant money will get  away).  And Canada has regulations 
where their national  institutions have a 6 month window to buy them 
at "fair market value."  So if something shows up and they don't want  
to buy it (read= not enough grant money to justify the purchase) 
then  they can choose to let them go.

Now, can an argument be made that it is  best for "Science" if 
the meteorites get spread around to the BEST  researchers on the 
planet, not just the ones inside the respective  county?  

Sure.  

But will national legislators care  what is best for science?  

Maybe.  But  probably not.

But who is available to step up and offer a countering  view 
point when laws are being drafted in these countries?  One 
or  two local experts (who get grant money) will ask that 
export restrictions be  placed using any "politically correct" 
reason, and it is a virtual "slam  dunk."  

One would think someone, right now, in Peru is trying  to get 
expanded laws passed, so the next time a crater forming fall occurs,  
only the Peruvian Meteorite Scientists (is that an oxy-moron???) 
will  get the rocks and the grant money.  So who is in Peru 
right  now making the argument that there might be better 
scientists outside of  Peru to do the needed research on future 
falls?  
 
I bet Mike Farmer could make that case, but, with all due respect 
to Mike, unfortunately, I don't think the Peruvian Authorities respect 
too much what he thinks.

And all that pre-supposes that any  government cares what 
is best for science.  Most would gladly cooperate  if an honest 
case was made that the local scientists want the grant  money!
 
After all, that is less money their governments have to come up 
with if foreign money is invested instead.

I wonder if the  Meteoritical Society has ever addressed this 
issue?  Of course  virtually ALL the Meteoritical Society 
members make their living via grant  money or are paid by 
institutions that are strongly supported by grant  money.  
Maybe they would not be the best people to ask to make 
a  stand for what would be best for the science.  Then again, 
maybe some  members have already done so?  Maybe someone 
within the Society would like to jump into this thread and 
state the "Official Position"?

And maybe there is another logical  reason why meteorites 
should not leave the political boundaries from which  they 
landed?  I just can't seem to figure out what that might  be.

Maybe if the Meteoritical Society would come out with an  
"Official Position" that it is indeed best that NO national 
laws be  passed by any country restricting the trade of 
meteorites, so that science  can best be served, then that 
might help prevent other countries from  passing new stupid 
laws. 

Steve Arnold
Arkansas



In a message dated  4/13/2008 8:41:31 A.M. Central Daylight Time, 
stevenarnold60120 at yahoo.com  writes:
Good morning list. I want to start a new thread on
something,that  to me is a real steamer,that makes me a
really upset,as to why certain  countries prevent
meteorites from being able to leave without  proper
papers.You have Australia,Canada,Oman,and now
Argentina.If there  are more I do not of them. I really
want to know the reasoning behind such  mind sets.We
all live on the same planet,why deny everyone a chance
to own  a piece of the cosmic puzzle that we all love
to collect?Any thought??When I  read that countries are
now going to keep them under lock and key it just  does
not make any sence.

Steve  R.Arnold,chicago,Ill,Usa!!
The Asteroid  Belt!
http://chicagometeorites.net/
Collecting  Meteorites since 06/19/1999
Ebay I.D.  Illinoismeteorites
 



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