Supplements - CNDI 2024

Aff AI Inventorship
AT Space Col
AT S – Investment
No financial incentives or safety.
Sarah Scoles ’23. Colorado-based science journalist, a contributing editor at Scientific American and Popular Science and a senior contributor at Undark citing experts, 10/1/23, "Why We'll Never Live in Space", Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-well-never-live-in-space/, acc 7/20/24, aun
Physical and mental health problems—though dire—aren't even necessarily the most immediate hurdles to making a space settlement happen. The larger issue is the cost. And who's going to pay for it? Those who think a billionaire space entrepreneur is likely to fund a space colony out of a sense of adventure or altruism (or bad judgment) should think again. Commercial space companies are businesses, and businesses' goals include making money. "What is the business case?" asks Matthew Weinzierl, a professor at Harvard Business School and head of its Economics of Space research efforts. For the past couple of years Weinzierl and his colleague Brendan Rousseau have been trying to work out what the demand is for space exploration and pursuits beyond Earth. "There's been a ton of increase in supply and cutting of costs of space activity," Weinzierl says, "but who's on the other side?" Space companies have historically been insular: specialists creating things for specialists, not marketing wares or services to the broader world. Even commercial undertakings such as SpaceX are supported mostly by government contracts. Company leaders haven't always thought through the capitalism of their ideas; they're just excited that the rockets and widgets work. "Technical feasibility does not equal a strong business case," Rousseau says. Today private spaceflight companies target tourists for business when they're not targeting federal contracts. But those tourists aren't protected by the same safety regulations that apply to government astronauts, and an accident could stifle the space tourism industry. Stifling, too, is the fact that only so many people with money are likely to want to live on a place like Mars rather than take a short joyride above the atmosphere, so the vacation business case for permanent space outposts breaks down there as well.
AT S – Survivability
People literally can’t be in space for prolonged periods of time.
Sarah Scoles ’23. Colorado-based science journalist, a contributing editor at Scientific American and Popular Science and a senior contributor at Undark citing experts, 10/1/23, "Why We'll Never Live in Space", Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-well-never-live-in-space/, acc 7/20/24, aun
Human bodies really can't handle space. Spaceflight damages DNA, changes the microbiome, disrupts circadian rhythms, impairs vision, increases the risk of cancer, causes muscle and bone loss, inhibits the immune system, weakens the heart, and shifts fluids toward the head, which may be pathological for the brain over the long term—among other things. At the University of California, San Francisco, medical researcher Sonja Schrepfer has dug into two of the conditions that afflict space explorers. Her research, using mice floating within the International Space Station, has revealed that blood vessels leading to the brain get stiffer in microgravity. It's part of why today's astronauts can't simply walk out of their capsules once they return to Earth, and it would play out the same way on Mars—where there's no one to wheel them to their new habitat on arrival. Schrepfer and her colleagues did, however, uncover a molecular pathway that might prevent those cardiovascular changes. "But now the question I try to understand is, 'Do we want that?'" she says. Maybe the vessels' stiffening is a protective mechanism, Schrepfer suggests, and limbering them up might cause other problems. She also wants to figure out how to help astronauts' faltering immune systems, which look older and have a harder time repairing tissue damage than they should after spending time in space. "The immune system is aging quite fast in microgravity," Schrepfer says. She sends biological samples from young, healthy people on Earth up to orbit on tissue chips and tracks how they degrade. Vision and bone problems are also among the more serious side effects. When astronauts spend a month or more in space, their eyeballs flatten, one aspect of a condition called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, which can cause long-lasting damage to eyesight. Bones and muscles are built for life on Earth, which involves the ever present pull of gravity. The work the body does against gravity to stay upright and move around keeps muscles from atrophying and stimulates bone growth. In space, without a force to push against, astronauts can experience bone loss that outpaces bone growth, and their muscles shrink. That's why they must do hours of exercise every day, using specialized equipment that helps to simulate some of the forces their anatomy would feel on the ground—and even this training doesn't fully alleviate the loss. Perhaps the most significant concern about bodies in space, though, is radiation, something that is manageable for today's astronauts flying in low-Earth orbit but would be a bigger deal for people traveling farther and for longer. Some of it comes from the sun, which spews naked protons that can damage DNA, particularly during solar storms. "[That] could make you very, very sick and give you acute radiation syndrome," says Dorit Donoviel, a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and director of the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH).
Aff Biopower
Case
Yes State Biopiracy
Multiple instances of genetic bioporacy enabled by IP protection (basically every single instance was patented) - Blood Quantums, genetic engineering, agriculture and crops, etc.
Yousufi and Thapak 20 [Mahmood Khan Yousufi, Ph.D. Research Candidate, School of Law, L.N.C.T. University, Bhopal, M.P. India; N.K. Thapak, Professor (Law) and Vice Chancellor, L.N.C.T. University, Bhopal, M.P. India; “The Plundering of Genetic Knowledge: Biopiracy & Biopirates”; International Journal of Social Science and Management Studies, Volume 6 No. 2; March 1,2020; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359352855_The_Plundering_of_Genetic_Knowledge_Biopiracy_Biopirates]//KuGa
Evidences on Patenting of Genetic Knowledge :- The object of developing intellectual property rights is that it shall encourage innovations by initiating competition in different fields of research. But the evidences in the domain of genetics suggests that it can restrict the innovations and further create monopolies in this field. This has definitely raised the cost of several biomedical products based on genetic knowledge. Some of the significant evidences relating to biopiracy of genetic resources are described as under: ● In the year 1999, a pharmaceutical giant corporation Myriad Genetics developed a biomedical kit to diagnose breast cancer. This kit employed two human breast cancer susceptible genes BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. The corporation impelled to develop a monopoly in the native region by compelling the local patients to be diagnosed only through their kit at their own high costs. The Myriad Genetics obtained several patents for its genes capable of detecting human breast cancer that include US Patent No. 5,709,999, and US Patent No. 5,693,473 (Gold and Carbone, 2010). ● The development of genetically engineered Tracy sheep was for the isolation and commercialization of human blood clotting agent called as AAT or Alpha-1 Antitrypsin within its mammary glands. Tracy sheep is another evidence of biopiracy of genetic knowledge. The pharma giant companies PPL and Bayer obtained US Patent No. 5,476,995 for the technique of developing Tracy and its successive generations (GRAIN, 1998). The genetically transformed sheeps were regarded as bioreactors that were exploited for generating human blood-clotting protein. ● In the year 1997, the cloning of Dolly sheep was carried out, that was granted two patents as WO 9707668 and WO 9707669 to its innovator i.e. Roslin Institute (Mooney, 1996). The object of such cloning was to investigate different human diseases via such cloned animals for human welfare. But it was the opinion of several environmentalists that this type of selective animal cloning might bring imbalance in the environment that can be hazardous. ● In the year 1976, John Moore spleen was isolated by a surgeon and his spleen cell lines were used for developing special protein. These cell lines were named as Mo Cell lines patented as US Patent No. 4,438,032 and commercialized for billions of dollars (Glasner, Atkinson and Greenslade, 2017). However, the original source of this patent i.e. John Moore was ignorant about this fact that his spleen cells generated huge income. When Moore came to know about this incident he approached the Supreme Court of California to object. However, the court decided that as the spleen was isolated from the body, therefore, the rights of John Moore declined. ● One of the largest populations of the carrier of the HIV infection is present in the African region (WHO, 2019). In the year 1991 Pasteur Institute located in Paris obtained a patent with US Patent No. 5,019,510 for claiming discovery of HIV (Wain-Hobson et al., 1991). Various researchers from different parts of the globe have isolated samples from the blood and saliva of the people from this region without any prior permission from the people or native authorities. These samples were used to isolate and study DNA. This helped to develop effective drugs against the HIV infection. The biopiracy of the genetic knowledge of the African people for HIV research could be termed as immoral. Several drugs have been manufactured against HIV infections using the genetic information of the African people. The cost of these HIV drugs is very high and beyond the purchasing capacity of the African people. However, the drugs that have been prepared by the contribution of African people are not even available to them at cheaper rate. In fact the African people are not provided with any benefit instead they were exploited. ● The Biopiracy of the blood samples of the Icelandic people was in the news headlines. It has been reported that there has been rarely any migrations in the region of Iceland since the historic times and therefore the genetic knowledge of the people of this region has been preserved. The deCODE corporation by duping the people of Iceland isolated their genetic information. In the year 1990, this corporation was of the view of developing the world’s first Biobank based on the genetic information of the human population (Tutton, 2010). The corporation was of the view to establish a database of genetic information of the human population. It was proposed by the deCODE corporation that the genetic database of Icelandic people will be quite useful in treating incurable diseases like HIV and cancer. However, in the year 2013, the services of the deCODE Corporation were stopped. ● The West African plant Amelonado spp. is a variety of cocoa plant that has a distinct flavour. The Mars Corporation of the United Kingdom obtained patents in the United States as US Patent No.5,770,433 and US Patent No. 5,668,007 for the genes of this plant and producing a similar plant variety bearing cocoa flavour (GeneWatch, 2000). The patents were especially obtained by the Mars Corporation for restricting the export of this plant from the West African nations that will hinder their national income. ● A US-based corporation POD-NERS biopirated Mexican Enola beans and obtained a US Patent No. 5,894, 079 (Nottenburg, 2009). The yellow Enola beans were created from the Enola bean variety of Mexico by this corporation by using genetic plant breeding practices and further subjected it to patent. Thus by mere manipulation of genetic knowledge the biopiracy of Enola beans was committed. ● The biopiracy of Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis gene is yet another evidence of biopiracy of genetic knowledge that is hazardous to mankind and the environment. It is well known that Bacillus thuringiensis commonly persists in the soil microflora. It excretes a protein that can inhibit various insects. This characteristic of Bt was utilized byinserting the Bt genes through genetic engineering. The crops created through Bt genes include Bt-cotton, Bt-soybean, Btpotato etc. (Guillemaud, Lombaert and Bourguet, 2016). ● In Asian countries like India, several incidences of biopiracy with respect to plant genetic resources has been reported. The biopiracy of Basmati rice by Rice Tec Inc. of the USA is one of the leading cases. The Rice Tec Inc. obtained a patent for an Indian origin rice variety i.e. basmati and patented it as US Patent No. 5,663,484 (Siddiq, Vemireddy and Nagaraju, 2012). Moreover, the corporation renamed the basmati rice variety after patenting, as Texmati. The main object of this corporation was to establish a monopoly on the variety of rice lines of basmati rice. However, after several protests by the Indian government and by providing various evidence on its origin in India, the patent on basmati rice was revoked.
Politics
AT L – Anti-State Rhetoric
The political has already been ceded—populist political influence is a fairytale that helps politicians corral the masses
Las Vegas Sun 22 (Las Vegas Sun, award-winning breaking news, investigative reporting, “In reality, GOP’s ‘America First’ rhetoric puts America’s security last”, Oct. 20, 2022, https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/oct/20/in-reality-gops-america-first-rhetoric-puts-americ/) VQ
For months, we have explained why domestic policy proposals of Republican candidates are anti-freedom, anti-liberty and anti-American. But throughout that time, we’ve said little about their foreign policy proposals. That was in large part because very few Republican candidates have provided any details of their foreign policy, dubbed “America First.” But this week, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy provided a vivid demonstration of why “America First” is nothing more than a marketing slogan that fails the American people when applied to real-life circumstances. The California Republican is widely considered the front-runner for speaker of the House should Republicans take control of Congress’ lower chamber. He confirmed to Punchbowl News this week that GOP support for Ukraine is wavering. “I think people are going to be sitting in a recession, and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” he said. McCarthy’s statements echo those of numerous other Republicans, including Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., who told Axios that “When people are seeing a 13% increase in grocery prices; energy, utility bills doubling ... Ukraine is the furthest thing from your mind.” This is classic “America First” rhetoric that creates the perception that anything happening elsewhere in the world is separate and unconnected to what is happening here in the United States. It sets up a binary choice between investing in America first or sending resources elsewhere, with the implication being that money sent elsewhere has no benefit to Americans. McCarthy, Armstrong and much of the rest of the Republican delegation are proposing that somehow, by surrendering Ukraine — the world’s largest exporter of grain — to Russia, food prices will go down. That doesn’t even make sense. Moreover, they want to hand all of that food and all of the money it brings in (over $27 billion in annual agricultural exports alone), to an enemy that intentionally targets civilian populations and just threatened the U.S. and our allies with nuclear war. It’s a national security nightmare. Worst of all, America First rhetoric ignores the long-term implications of foreign policy for nonsensical domestic talking points. If Vladimir Putin wins in Ukraine, he isn’t stopping. And an unleashed Putin is a profound danger to Americans. Indeed, consider the crew Putin assembled for international support: North Korea, Iran, China, Belarus, Saudi Arabia. All of them are ruled by tyrants who want to harm America. GOP appeasement of tyrants is not a strategy that places America first in any sense. It’s just appeasement that will lead to disaster for our country. The message it would send to our allies around the world is just as damaging. It announces to the world that the U.S. kneels to tyrants. Why would anyone want to align themselves with America then? America First to the GOP really means America groveling on the world stage. It’s bankrupt morally, defensively and economically. Don’t believe us? Listen instead to former President Ronald Reagan — the man repeatedly held up as Republicans’ most vaunted saint. According to a 2004 analysis by the Baltimore Sun, between 1980 and 1985, Reagan more than doubled the number of dollars devoted to defense each year, from $142.6 billion to $286.8 billion, in order to fight a Soviet enemy that had never directly attacked the United States. He also advocated for spending a minimum of 0.6% of the U.S. gross domestic product on aid to foreign countries. That’s three times what we’ve sent to Ukraine in 2022 and double what we sent to all countries combined pre-pandemic. This disconnect between messaging and reality is at the heart of what makes Republican politics so frustrating right now. GOP politicians engage in false claims about what appears good for Americans in the short term, when in reality their policies would cripple the nation in the long term. We’re not questioning that many Americans in many communities across the country are struggling. Economic insecurity is real, and it leads to existential threats like housing and food insecurity. We should be doing more to help Americans who are struggling. Democratic lawmakers have advocated for free school lunch, increasing affordable housing, funding robust public K-12 education, increasing rural access to higher education and trade schools, and ensuring everyone has access to essential health care. Yet these are the exact policies that “America First” Republican legislators keep fighting against. It’s also worth noting that the blanket 25% tariff on Chinese goods passed by former President Donald Trump and the GOP is contributing to raising prices and fueling inflation, because companies simply pass those costs on to American consumers. Compare this with President Joe Biden’s highly targeted approach to the Chinese tech industry, which had more devastating results for China without passing along price increases to American consumers. Meanwhile, GOP leaders communicate to Russia’s Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un that U.S. resolve can be overcome by doing nothing more than raising costs for six months. They tell our allies that the U.S. will only have their back against a foreign invader if it’s cheap and convenient to do so. And they tell the American people that it is somehow Democrats’ fault that Republicans voted to kill legislation that helps working-class Americans while supporting bills that use taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of corporate executives. But maybe that’s the point. If you view the American people as nothing more than a tool for hoarding wealth and resources, then maybe Republican policies do put America first and are making America great again. First at promoting economic inequality and great at helping the rich get richer at everybody else’s expense. It’s too bad for McCarthy and the Republican Party that they’re playing right into Putin’s hands. And in the long run, they’re putting the ambitions of Russia and China ahead of the safety, security and needs of Americans.
Cap
Perm Do Both
Perm do both – biopower and late-stage capitalism is intrinsically tied – only resistance against both biopolitics and capitalism solve.
Dufresne and Sacchetti 13 (Todd Dufresne, Canadian socia

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