The last time the world was engaged in a space race was during the “Cold War” era when the United States of America and Russia were in a technological race to dominate space. That war was between two superpowers and had the governments of those superpowers calling the shots. We are again in a space race, but the playing field, objectives, and participants have changed drastically. Not only are there a diverse array of nations and governments involved, but now the private business sector has put on its racing shoes and, in many areas, is currently leading the race. Indeed, this is good news, one would think. Or is it? My question is: Will this race benefit Asgardia Space Nation or destroy us? When formulating a possible hypothesis for this question, the two scenarios I thought were the most legitimate were these two: Scenario 1: The space race contributes to the advances of Asgardia’s objectives and allows us to have a favorable outcome for our mission. Scenario 2: The space race advances at a rate surpassing Asgardia Space Nation's objectives. Since Asgardia could not keep up with those advances, they were eliminated as legitimate space partners. I would love to get people’s thoughts on this. One scenario is the best case, the other the worst case.

John Fine 04 March, 23 at 15:38 District 1 (English) Creating Unity Through Diversity An Introduction Hi Asgardians! I am John Fine, a current Parliamentarian and the Chairman of the Trade and Commerce committee. I live in the state of Georgia in the United States of America. I retired from the United States Army and fathered five children with my loving wife for over 18 years. Only one child remains in our home as the others have gone off to build their own lives and families. Besides owning a nonprofit business, I currently work to stay busy on a military installation inspecting and driving military vehicles. Education has always been a pursuit as I have achieved degrees in science and education. In my most recent degree, I majored in Political Science and was inducted into three honor societies for attaining the highest grades within the top 10 percent. Over the years, I have had several careers. The first was in the military; the second was in the automotive industry, and the final current career in politics and political endeavors. I was one of the ‘Golden 100’ first to join Asgardia. I was also one of the first to pay a resident fee. With me, Asgardia is no longer a dream but a reality. Everyone or anyone that knows me knows I am an Asgardian. My family, employer, friends, strangers I meet, acquaintances, and even my government know that I am 100 percent dedicated to being an Asgardian. Early on in Asgardia, I joined their politics and became a parliamentarian. Shortly after that, I was appointed Vice Chairman of the Trade and Commerce committee. I supported several committees then, including education, information and communication, and trade and commerce. After becoming the Vice Chair, the Chair position opened up, where I submitted my candidacy and won. Becoming the Chairman gave me many opportunities and responsibilities. Out of those, I achieved many successes. The best was when our committee became among the first to have legislation we wrote become Asgardian law. Since then, that legislation, ‘the Asgardia Companies and Enterprises Act,’ became a pivotal piece of legislation allowing many initiatives in Asgardia business to become a reality. This reality is working towards strengthening Asgardia’s economy, enabling Asgardia to reach its goals. Recently, I added my private company to the Asgardia business community, which is already positively impacting the legislative system of Asgardia. I hope to continue my legislative agenda as its Chairman in the Trade and Commerce committee. Two Acts, the Asgardia E-Commerce Act, and the Asgardia Consumer Protection Act, are branches of the enormous A.C.E. Act tree. It is essential to pass these Acts as we move into the next Parliament term so that trade and commerce in Asgardia continue progressing. Those Asgardians that have supported me for the last five years, I appreciate their continued support for the next five years. Thank you! All new Asgardians, I welcome you and welcome your vote. My Platform Equality Equality is an easy word to say but a hard way to practice. All humans have some form of bias within them. Diverse cultures, tastes, upbringings, religions, education, and the list goes on and on. Working in Asgardia Parliament for the last five years has allowed me to see my bias as I exchanged ideas, debated, and conversed with a vastly diverse community of Asgardians. The biggest takeaway from that experience is that it made me realize that my thinking might be wrong. It is this realization that is the cornerstone of equality. You can only produce equality once you recognize the inequality, even if that inequality is in yourself. My goal in parliament is to help foster ideas that recognize these inequalities so that we can reach the goal of universal equality, which is one of the core principles of Asgardia. Unity Our motto echoes the unity of Asgardians. Therefore, unity is an important part when managing legislation within Asgardian Parliament. In the early years of Asgardia Parliament, disunity would have been a more appropriate word. However, as time passed, we found unity even when we disagreed. The key to unity is to recognize that no one person is right or wrong. There is, however, a unified community of dedicated Asgardian residents who accept their rights and wrongs and band together in that acceptance to create a right just for Asgardia. My goal is to continue this process into the next Parliament term. As I write legislation, debate issues, or brainstorm, I will keep the unity principle at the forefront of my efforts. To truly become one nation under one unity, we must realize that we unite when we agree and when we disagree. We do not falter in our unified efforts just because something does or does not go our way; regardless of the outcome, we remain unified. Diplomacy Believe it or not, I had diplomacy experience before becoming an Asgardian. Diplomacy is creating a character within yourself for others to see, hear, interact with, evaluate, and form relations. As a soldier in the U.S.A. Army, we were often told that we were diplomats first and soldiers second. If our character as a soldier were unbecoming to those we interacted with, then we would be unbecoming diplomats who paint that shame of unbecoming unto the United States to those outside the United States. Even some companies I worked for had the same principles towards diplomacy. People will recognize us in our actions; if those actions are wrong, we are wrong; if they are reasonable, we are good. My goal for the next five years is always to present a character in diplomacy that makes Asgardia look good. Not only with my fellow Asgardians but also with those I meet outside Asgardia. It is hard for someone to like something that brings discomfort, shame, embarrassment, or hurt. If someone acts in a manner that causes those things, they are most likely poor diplomats for Asgardia. Our future rests on being the best; to that end, we must form a character that fosters good diplomacy. Progress Without progress, we have nothing. In any endeavor, one always yearns for improvement. When the progress stops, so make our efforts. We have an old saying in the United States: ‘keep that ball rolling,’ which means keep progressing. What to advance in is everything Asgardia represents. Education, equality, unity, Space habitation, Space operations, trade and commerce, citizenship, science, and technology are some, but there are so much more. Asgardia is the future, and to have that future, Asgardia must show progress. My goal for the next five years is to write legislation or support programs with the progress at the forefront. The last five years in Asgardia parliament has seen many initiatives with improvement in mind. I always supported these initiatives because I knew how vital progress was. I see no reason not to continue supporting progress. I will always support any endeavor that allows Asgardia to progress, grow, and become the most extraordinary Space Nation the world will ever know. Of course, dedication, good management, transparency, and forward-thinking will continue into the next term. The Asgardia constitution is my guide, the Asgardian people are my inspiration, and the Asgardia dream is my eventual result. Together we can continue to progress as we move into the next Asgardia parliament term advancing the goals of Asgardia.

Looking back at all the wonderful times we had in parliament is a vision worth visiting. Sure we had those moments when we were at each other's throats, but most of the time we were unified in our efforts to create great legislation. I wanted to take this time to tell all my parliamentarian friends I appreciate all the memories, and even the times you disagreed with me. As our term come to a close and a new one begins I hope to see all of you in the next term. I also hope to see many new faces with many new voices as we either finish what we started or come up with even more exciting ideas. It has been and will be an honor to serve with you. OHOA! and let us keep that dream alive!!!!

My service as a Parliamentarian for Asgardia has been an absolute Joy. These last five years have seen many achievements for the Trade and Commerce committee. Asgardia Parliament Elections are coming very soon. It would be an honor to retain my Parliament position and continue to serve as the Chairman of Trade and Commerce. I thank all Asgardians who supported me and appreciate your continuing support for me for the next Parliament term of service. Now enjoy these highlights of the last five years.

please check out this report and make useful comments DECEMBER 20, 2020 Asgardia Trade and Commerce Committee Authored by: John Fine, Committee Chairman   Agenda 2021 Introduction This report is an overview of what legislative Acts the Trade and Commerce committee has worked on previously and a short description of each, plus the agenda moving forward into 2021. Our hope is this gives the reader enough information to seduce this committee's actions and plans accurately. Consider this report as a bridge to close the gaps in communication as we share this report with all of Asgardia, allowing the discussion process to get started from those who wish to share valuable information that may help with our efforts. We hope that those who read this report become excited about becoming an Asgardian resident; you can join our team at https://asgardia.space/en/ and become a resident. Asgardia is genuinely the future of humanity in creating a peaceful Nation in space; if this sounds like something that interests you, please give us a look. Our Mission Statement Table of Contents AGENDA 2021 2 INTRODUCTION 2 Our Mission Statement 2 PREVIOUS AGENDA 4 The Asgardia Companies Act 4 The Asgardia Business Act 4 The Asgardia Intellectual Properties Act 4 The Asgardia Consumer Protection Act 4 The Asgardia Business Grants Act 4 THE A.C.E. ACT 4 FUTURE LEGISLATIVE ENDEAVORS 2021 AND BEYOND 5 Dispute Settlements 5 Cross Border Transactions 5 Customs Valuation 6 Rules of Origin 6 Import Licensing 6 Safeguards in Trade 7 Anti-dumping 7 Tariffs (Custom Duties) 7 Trade-related investments 8 Trade Tax 8 e-Commerce or Digital Trade 8 the Tort System 9 Antitrust Laws 9 Criminal Liability 9 Free Trade Agreements 9 Trade Partnerships 10 Trade and the Environment 10 Manufacturing and Trade 10 Trade Adjustment Assistance 10 and Trade Treaties. 11 FUTURE ACTS READY FOR APPROVAL 11 RESIDENTS OF ASGARDIA 11 SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS GROWTH 11 CLOSING REMARKS 12 Disclaimer 12   Previous Agenda For over two years, the Committee of Trade and Commerce has been working on five key pieces of legislation we felt were essential to the objectives of Asgardia. These legislation Acts were as follows: The Asgardia Companies Act This Act established what a private business was in Asgardia and how needed areas related to one another. The Asgardia Business Act This Act was a business regulatory act that established the initial regulations to business with Asgardia. The Asgardia Intellectual Properties Act This Act established protections of intellectual properties in all areas involved within Asgardia. The Asgardia Consumer Protection Act This Act establishes protections for Asgardians in consumable goods and services. Unfortunately, the world has plenty of fraudulent actions against humanity that can become very costly. Asgardians should have laws to protect them from such things; therefore, we created this Act to accomplish this. The Asgardia Business Grants Act This Act will establish a way forward in creating grants to assist Asgardians in starting, managing, and maintaining private businesses within Asgardia. Our committee feels it is essential to have a grants system to assist entrepreneurs in their dreams. However, we do not believe this should be a blank check; instead, a process that allows those with enthusiasm, dedication, commitment, and responsibility to qualify for financial assistance once that type of system is created. The A.C.E. Act During our deliberations, it was decided to combine three of these Acts into one Act. The HON initiated his Priority Legislation Policy where Parliament's committees were assigned key areas of Asgardia law that needed to be addressed and needed legislative governance. The critical area for our committee was Private Business. Looking to streamline our efforts and simplify the process, we decided that one Act would do the same work as three to integrate our objectives within the three into one. With the assistance of fellow parliament members outside our committee and the Chair of Parliament, we were able to draft a quality legislative Act appropriately named Asgardia Corporations and Enterprise Act, which we have given the short name A.C.E. Act. The three Acts we combined were the Asgardia Companies Act, the Asgardia Business Act, and the Asgardia Intellectual Properties Act. We felt these three acts were all related to private business, and each other therefore combining them would help simplify the process. Future legislative endeavors 2021 and beyond Our main priority is, of course, the passing of the A.C.E. Act. We appreciate any support towards this Act and ask Asgardians to write or contact their district's legislative representatives and support the A.C.E. Act. We feel early in 2021 this Act will be approved, and to keep the progress of Trade and Commerce moving forward, we will start to focus our attentions on a new legislative Act that will establish how Asgardia leadership, citizens, and residents interact with the trade and commerce of the world. These are the key areas we will first focus our attention on to establish a draft Act: Dispute Settlements We commonly participate in negotiations during our daily activities, often without being consciously aware. Negotiation can be simple, like friends deciding where to eat dinner, or complex, as governments of multiple countries establishing import and export quotas across multiple industries. When or before a formal proceeding is started in the court system, alternative procedures of solving disputes, thus avoiding litigation, could be used; one such way is alternative dispute resolution (A.D.R.). Negotiation is often the first step used in A.D.R. While there are other forms of alternative dispute resolution, negotiation is considered to be the simplest because it does not require outside parties. In a Thesis paper written by Nataliya Baytalskaya attending Pennsylvania State University, the U.S.A. in 2008, she defined negotiation as the "process by which parties with nonidentical preferences allocate resources through interpersonal activity and joint decision making." Resolving trade disputes is one of the principal activities within the World Trade Organization. Therefore, Asgardia must align themselves with the W.T.O. since they are primarily related to the United Nations. Our goal will be to draft a provision that shows this alignment and give Asgardia a firm resolution process. Cross Border Transactions With today's global economy, businesses are required to follow specific national and local laws. This action can make cross-border deals complicated. For example, if a company from France decides to form a subsidiary in Spain, both businesses have to know the legal and tax implications of both countries. Although some Nations are forming free trade agreements that merge business ideologies, there are still many regulations to consider to stay legal. Our committee will find the best provision to address this issue as we research International business in cross-border transactions. Having a legal professional solely responsible for reviewing these transactions and ensuring all parties have what is needed would be the best way to address this provision. Customs Valuation As described by the W.T.O., "Customs valuation is a customs procedure applied to determine the customs value of imported goods. If the rate of duty is ad valorem, the customs value is essential to determine the duty to be paid on an imported good. Customs duties can be designated in either specific or ad valorem terms or as a mix of the two. In case of a specific duty, a concrete sum is charged for a quantitative description of the good, for example USD 1 per item or per unit. The customs value of the good does not need to be determined, as the duty is not based on the value of the good but on other criteria. In this case, no rules on customs valuation are needed and the Valuation Agreement does not apply. In contrast, an ad valorem duty depends on the value of a good. Under this system, the customs valuation is multiplied by an ad valorem rate of duty (e.g., 5 per cent) in order to arrive at the amount of duty payable on an imported item." so basically this is a fee on an imported item when the right circumstances apply. It sounds like another area of expertise within a legal framework, so I recommend this is added to cross-border transactions. Rules of Origin W.T.O. "Rules of origin are the criteria needed to determine the national source of a product. Their importance is derived from the fact that duties and restrictions in several cases depend upon the source of imports. There is wide variation in the practice of governments with regard to the rules of origin. While the requirement of substantial transformation is universally recognized, some governments apply the criterion of change of tariff classification, others the ad valorem percentage criterion and yet others the criterion of manufacturing or processing operation. In a globalizing world it has become even more important that a degree of harmonization is achieved in these practices of Members in implementing such a requirement." I agree that we must harmonize our efforts; Asgardia will need a certificate of origin, negotiate across borders to harmonize efforts and stay in line with the W.T.O. objectives. Therefore, my recommendation is a provision is written with these objectives in mind. Import Licensing W.T.O. "import licensing is defined as administrative procedures1 used for the operation of import licensing regimes requiring the submission of an application or other documentation (other than that required for customs purposes) to the relevant administrative body as a prior condition for importation into the customs territory of the importing Member." Each Nation has its own rules on import licensing, and this too looks like an area that would fit the same provision classification as cross border transactions. Therefore, I suggest we add it to that particular provision. Safeguards in Trade W.T.O. "A WTO member may take a "safeguard" action (i.e., restrict imports of a product temporarily) to protect a specific domestic industry from an increase in imports of any product which is causing, or which is threatening to cause, serious injury to the industry. Safeguard measures were always available under the GATT (Article XIX). However, they were infrequently used, and some governments preferred to protect their industries through "grey area" measures ("voluntary" export restraint arrangements on products such as cars, steel and semiconductors). The W.T.O. Safeguards Agreement broke new ground in prohibiting "grey area" measures and setting time limits ("sunset clause") on all safeguard actions." Safeguards are simply protections in trading procedures. In Asgardia, we should gravitate towards areas of protection. The W.T.O. and its objectives and Asgardia Constitution and its objectives. A provision stating this type of action should be sufficient. Anti-dumping W.T.O. "Anti-dumping actions: If a company exports a product at a price lower than the price it normally charges on its own home market; it is said to be "dumping" the product. Is this unfair competition? Opinions differ, but many governments take action against dumping in order to defend their domestic industries. The W.T.O. agreement does not pass judgement. Its focus is on how governments can or cannot react to dumping — it disciplines anti-dumping actions, and it is often called the "Anti-Dumping Agreement. " Well, Asgardia should not allow dumping in Asgardia or perform dumping on other nations. If a company is dumping, fines should be assessed, and if it continues, they should lose their certification to do business in Asgardia. This assessment is my view of any company, whether they are an Asgardian company or one from earth nations. Tariffs (Custom Duties) Investopedia: "Tariffs are used to restrict imports by increasing the price of goods and services purchased from another country, making them less attractive to domestic consumers. There are two types of tariffs: A specific tariff is levied as a fixed fee based on the type of item, such as a $1,000 tariff on a car. An ad-valorem tariff is levied based on the item's value, such as 10% of the value of the vehicle." I believe that we should give Asgardia government the ability to impose a tariff; however, it should limit how it is used. It can not be used as an unfair advantage over another nation; it could be disciplinary action against a nation being a bad state actor. I also believe caps be placed on how much tariffs are imposed onto another nation if such an action is warranted. Tariffs should also be a method of last resort after all other negotiation methods have been exhausted. I also believe we should follow the W.T.O.'s guidance and recommendations and use them as a mediator of tariff imposing actions. Trade-related investments W.T.O. "Under the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures of the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.), commonly known as the TRIMs Agreement, W.T.O. members have agreed not to apply certain investment measures related to trade in goods that restrict or distort trade. The TRIMs Agreement prohibits certain measures that violate the national treatment and quantitative restrictions requirements of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Prohibited TRIMs may include requirements to: • achieve a certain level of local content. • produce locally. • export a given level/percentage of goods. • balance the amount/percentage of imports with the amount/percentage of exports. • transfer technology or proprietary business information to local persons; or • balance foreign exchange inflows and outflows. These requirements may be mandatory conditions for investment or can be attached to fiscal or other incentives. The TRIMs Agreement does not cover services." This looks like a managing tool that helps keep trading practices equal. If we are to become a member of the W.T.O., we would need to implement the measures of this agreement. A provision specifying our compliance to the TRIMs Agreement should suffice and be appropriate. Trade Tax This topic is one for our Asgardia Lawyers; most likely, trade tax will be addressed in treaties developed between Asgardia and nations of Earth. I would say this topic will fall under Trade Treaties, and the stipulations of such tax will be negotiated and addressed by our legal team. I recommend it fall under trade treaties, and the Ministers of Equity and Resources, Finance, and Justice all have a part in the management of said treaties. e-Commerce or Digital Trade United Nations: "The digitalization of the economy requires new ways of thinking about competition, intellectual property, taxation, industrial policy, privacy, cybersecurity, the labor market, immigration and skills and, of course, trade. The internet powers the wheels of international trade. From the smallest informal trade to a major supply agreement, contracts are transacted online, whether via email, e-commerce store, or digital platform. Any formal trade relies on the internet for implementation – financing, documentation, and logistics are all digitally-driven and becoming more and more so. Whether it is an emailed order, an online purchase, or merely the financial arrangements behind the transaction, the internet will inevitably be used in conducting international trade." This issue is the single most crucial area when it comes to business within Asgardia. We must protect the Asgardian's ability to conduct digital trading. We must also recognize that there will be many regulations born from these trading practices. For now, I believe our terminology needs to be broad and allow other Acts and provisions to do the regulatory work. the Tort System OpenStax: "Torts; Civil suits involve different causes of action, and they are included in one general classification: torts. The word "tort" means "wrong" in French. Thus, torts are wrongs committed against others who suffer some form of damage as a result. While these damages could also be the result of criminal action, the criminal element of the matter is not tried in a civil lawsuit. The standard of proof is lower for civil suits, and a finding of liability in a tort case does not necessarily translate to guilt in a criminal case. The actor of the wrongs has historically been called a tortfeasor. When a wrong is committed by a tortfeasor, damage is done to another. Tort law seeks to address this damage based on the circumstances of the issue, which is based on fault. Civil lawsuits are used by the injured parties to seek redress for the loss associated with the tort. Unlike criminal proceedings, redress is often provided in the form of money as opposed to incarceration. As such, the burden of proof of fault is lower. The offender, or tortfeasor, who commits the Act is the accused in a civil suit. The plaintiff, who is the injured party, files the lawsuit on which the civil court will make a decision. The offender ultimately becomes the defendant, who must respond to the accusations of the plaintiff in a civil suit. During tort litigation, the judge and jury have certain separate functions (Kionka, 2013)." We should either have a provision for the tort system or have our Justice committee provide us with the provision. I would imagine the Consumer Act will provide most of the protections resulting from a tort. This area will need to have many debates over with our Justice committee and refer to the Consumer Act while those discussions occur. Antitrust Laws To protect the consumer from antitrust, I believe the Consumer Act will suffice as the regulatory means to manage antitrust. However, with Asgardia, we will have to have our antitrust laws that regulate unfair business practices. I suggest a broad provision that states unfair business practices, whether against consumers or between businesses, will not be tolerated and will result in the Asgardia legal system's punitive actions. I would suggest we also work with the Justice committee on this provision because it involves contract agreements and litigation procedures. Criminal Liability There are all kinds of crimes that can result from business activities. Our constitution guarantees that these crimes will not be tolerated or go unnoticed. We need an explicit provision that states these facts, and we will again need to collaborate with the Justice Committee in drafting this provision. Regardless of the protections in the Consumer Act concerning criminal liability, this provision must address all business transactions' legal liability within the trade and commerce community of Asgardia. Free Trade Agreements I recommend we allow free trade agreements, and they should be pursued whenever possible within Asgardia. Our trade negotiations will have to negotiate these agreements between nations and use the W.T.O. as the mediator of such agreements. "Free Trade" is a broad term that describes many different types of agreements that have been made between nations. Everything from regional trade agreements to preferred trade agreements falls into this category. We could probably put this provision under Trade Treaties; trade partnerships would also be along the same lines as agreements and should fall under Trade Treaties as a sub-category. Trade Partnerships I.T.A.: "The International Trade Administration (I.T.A.) recognizes the importance of collaboration and partnership for international business success. I.T.A. created the Strategic Partnership Program to better leverage the work of trade associations, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, and other organizations that support I.T.A.'s mission. Our Partnerships help to broaden and deepen our outreach by enabling I.T.A. to share critical export and investment information with millions of U.S. businesses." I recommend creating a sub-category under Trade Treaties that allows partnerships to be formed and managed concerning trade and commerce activities. Trade and the Environment W.T.O.: "Sustainable development and protection and preservation of the environment are fundamental goals of the W.T.O. They are enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement, which established the W.T.O. and complement the W.T.O.'s objective to reduce trade barriers and eliminate discriminatory treatment in international trade relations. While there is no specific agreement dealing with the environment, under W.T.O. rules, members can adopt trade-related measures aimed at protecting the environment provided a number of conditions to avoid the misuse of such measures for protectionist ends are fulfilled." I agree with this statement and recommend that Asgardia adopt the same ideology towards protecting the Earth's environment. We must also protect the outer space's environments, the moon, Mars, or any other planetary bodies or objects within space. Therefore, we need a vital provision affirming this concerning trade and commerce. Manufacturing and Trade There are times when manufacturing and trade coexist, so we must work with the Manufacturing Committee on a provision that describes this relationship and its boundaries. Manufacturing will become an essential component of Asgardia; therefore, I thought it would be appropriate to include a provision within the T.C.C. Act that showed our relationship. Trade Adjustment Assistance The United States has a robust Trade Assistance program I feel is a positive program that gives genuine assistance to those involved in foreign trade. I feel Asgardia could adopt a similar program and be in line with our constitution's objectives. Therefore, I suggest we add a provision that allows the creation of such a program and give the Minister a broad ability to regulate and manage policies concerning such a program. And Trade Treaties. International trade treaties are an essential part of Asgardia, and the pursuit of is guaranteed within our constitution. We must acknowledge trade treaties in a provision, plus we will have sub-categories to be added as well. Trade treaties will impact many departments across the spectrum of Asgardia, so we will need to involve most of the other committees to effectively produce an adequate provision concerning trade treaties. I have decided to call this Act Trade and Commerce Compliance Act (T.C.C. Act) to simplify matters. In this Act, we will have how Asgardia interacts with international trade from every aspect needed to create successful trade laws within Asgardia. You will also notice that much of the information was taken from the W.T.O. I believe the W.T.O. is aligned with Asgardia and our objectives; therefore, it is important to follow guidance from an organization that has been in the service of helping humanity for an exceptionally long time. Future Acts ready for approval The Asgardia Business Grants Act and Asgardia Consumer Protection Act have already been drafted and gone through committee deliberations. We will seek to have these Acts debated within the Asgardia Legislative Forums to get them finalized and put on the official Asgardia Parliament session agenda. Our committee is confident these Acts play an essential role in Asgardia, and we have received overwhelming supports from our fellow parliamentarians who agree with their importance. Residents of Asgardia We present this report to our Asgardia residents to play an active role in the governance of Asgardia. We welcome any suggestions, comments, or information from our residents to assist us in this endeavor. For any resident that wishes to contribute, you can go to the Asgardia main website ( https://asgardia.space/en/ ) and go into the Asgardia communities section labeled Trade and Commerce 2021 Agenda. Feel free to leave any useful information on this platform you feel will help our committee reach its 2021 Agenda objectives. I will also post this report on my private blog page on the Asgardia website, and you can respond there as well. Finally, a copy of this report could be distributed within the Asgardia Slack, Discord, Asgardia official Facebook page, and my website blog page, which you can find at https://www.meetampfine.live/blog. SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS GROWTH With technology advancing exponentially, economic opportunities are becoming available to many as the world moves towards globalization. The internet has become a useful tool for advancing one's financial portfolio as global trading practices become less restrictive and competitive. Therefore, the Trade and Commerce committee supports entrepreneurial business growth and believes those pursuing business ventures can succeed if they are determined enough to complete the process. Our goal is to provide as much assistance as possible through legislation to help Asgardians reach their business objectives. A useful resource for those who wish to learn more about international business and take some free lessons that deliver the training you need to make profitable export sales click on this link https://export-u.com/index.html. As we advance into 2021, we will endeavor to make every effort to complete our legislative Acts and await their approval into law. Closing Remarks I want to wish our entire Asgardia family a wonderful Christmas and New Year to move forward into the 2021 Agenda. I want to give condolences to those who have lost love ones and gone through the incredible challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and wish healing on all as we move into the future. I hope that 2021 will be the end of COVID-19, and we can get back to face-to-face contact, traveling, and enjoying the close relations of our friendships. The completion of this 2021 Agenda will get Asgardia one step closer to reaching the objectives of Asgardia and moving our great Nation into space. Despite the challenges of 2020, I believe we have made real progress in Parliament, and already we see the fruits of our labor. I want to thank all my colleagues, friends, and fellow Asgardians for the tremendous efforts in creating the foundations needed for our success. We are not without failures but failing is our way of succeeding. If we never try, then we have nothing, but the objective is to try. Action speaks louder than words, so it is essential to talk about what you want to do; however, it is more important to do what you want to do. As always, One Unity, One Humanity, my love and respect to all, Best Regards Disclaimer: The information contained in this report is for general information purposes only. The Trade and Commerce Committee (T.C.C.) assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this report's contents. In no circumstances shall the T.C.C. be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other torts, arising out of or in connection with the use of this report or the contents of this report. The T.C.C. reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to this report at any time without prior notice. The T.C.C. does not warrant that this report is free of viruses or other harmful components. This report may contain links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with the T.C.C. Please note that the T.C.C. does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites. The information given by this report is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Even if the T.C.C. takes every precaution to ensure that this report's content is both current and accurate, errors can occur. Plus, given the changing nature of laws, rules, and regulations, there may be delays, omissions, or inaccuracies in the report's information. The T.C.C. is not responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from the use of this information. The T.C.C. may use copyrighted material that has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The T.C.C. is making such material available for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. 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Collective Action Problems and Freeriding in Asgardia Since I have been in Asgardia, which is over 3 years now, I have been very active with the activities of Asgardia and their politics. Currently, I am the Chairman of the Trade and Commerce Committee for the Asgardia Parliament. From the first time that I join and until now I realized that this dream of our HON Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli was and still is a worthwhile endeavor. Some would question my loyalty as they believe that this endeavor is either a scam, poorly managed, or moving in the wrong direction. To these people I would say that I can certainly say it has not been a scam since Asgardia has put more money into me then I have to them, scammers don’t put any money into the people they are scamming, they let you do all the spending and make you think they contributed to your efforts. I once was scammed from a very good source that had a very convincing scam. They managed to scam over 20k from me before I realized they were a scam. Armed with that experience I am much more careful who I put my trust in, and with Asgardia that trust has never been violated or broken. As far as management, yes, we have had a few issues in that area, but nothing out of the ordinary considering how much of a logistical undertaken Asgardia is. Most people only see things from their limited perspective, however, Asgardia has chosen to manage the perspectives of thousands of people from countries all over the world with many diverse backgrounds. That in itself sounds impossible, not even the United Nations has been able to manage such of a task with the members of their organization with absolute clarity and stability. So, if we have a few minor problems here and there that can certainly be expected. We have managed effectively and continue to do so. Each year our management gets better than the year before as we fine-tune our objectives, goals, and interactions. It will be only a matter of expected time when we have a fully functioning management team that allows us extraordinary success in our management endeavors. Then there is the direction of Asgardia. This direction has always remained the same, which is to do research in the scientific and aerospace communities towards long term space habitation, formulate action plans towards the goal of long term space habitation, participate in the global political structure towards international law concerning space and the occupation of space, and put support structures in place to allow us to reach our goals and objectives. Now, this may not be the direction of some outside of Asgardia, but it is the direction of its founder and those who are the most dedicated to Asgardia. This direction won't change, it may have to adapt from time to time but in the journey to its end result, which would be a Nation in space, it will remain the same. One of the biggest problems I have seen in Asgardia is the lack of collective action and the exercise of freeriding within Asgardia. Over a thousand of Asgardians have totally dedicated themselves to Asgardia, that thousand is not nearly enough. However, we have had over a million say that wants to see the success of Asgardia, but they fail to contribute to that success. They troll through the websites of Asgardia, the social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, they make derogatory comments towards anyone trying to achieve success, they tell us how things should be done, they put themselves above the system as if they are the all-seeing eye of knowledge, but yet, they do little to nothing to actually support Asgardia. If you put nothing into something than all you will get back is nothing. Surely in their wisdom, they must know this. I listen to people say that the HON should invest in a corporate style strategy and run Asgardia like a business. Which sounds ok put Asgardia won’t be a business or nothing like it, it will be a nation in space. Currently, there are no models to explore on nations in space because there has never been one, so we are building this model ourselves from scratch. To build something you need builders who are willing to build. Since Asgardia is a Nation for all, and all for a Nation, our builders are those citizens and residents who are dedicated to seeing its success. You don’t build something with good or even bad intentions, no you have to have action and in Asgardia that action would be a positive collective action. This PCA involves your time, your money, and your resources. Any all-volunteer organization out there requires its members to put their faith, their money, their time, and their dedication into that organization in order for it to be successful. Asgardia is no different. Let me tell you a story about the house I am currently living in. I have lived here for over 20 years, and when I first entered this house 20 years ago. I knew I was going to own it. I had a vision or a dream of how I would own it and how beautiful the house would be. So, I went around my local area and started visiting financial institutions to acquire a loan to buy the house. The owner was asking for 75k and every financial institution I went to said my credit was to bad to purchase a house for that amount and it would be impossible for me to get the loan, my friends told me the house was ugly and broke down and that I would never be able to get it to look good, or that it simply was not worth my time and money. Despite all the critics I wanted that house and I was determined I was going to get it. Finally, after searching all surrounding townships near my home, some fifty miles away, I found a financial institution that would lend me the money. But then another problem came up, in order to get the money, I had to have an appraisal done on the house, I needed the appraisal to be for at least 75k. When the inspector came out, he appraised the house at 0 dollars and condemned it. He said it was a complete piece of junk and I should just move on and look for another house. However, I saw what the house could be or was going to be, not what it was currently, so I asked him how I could get a favorable appraisal. He gave me the list of everything that had to be either replaced or repaired and said fix this stuff and I will give you a favorable appraisal. Now I was not a man who had a lot of money at the time, in fact, my finances were in terrible shape. Knowing I could not pay for new materials for repairs I went around junkyards, construction sites. And anywhere they were throwing out stuff I could use and collected it. For 2 years I worked on this house building it into something new using junk, my time, and my money. I also did this knowing I did not actually own the home, I might not get the financing, and the appraiser might not approve the home. The owner could also easily back out of the deal and keep the home, but I kept working on it because I had faith it was going to work, and I would own the home. So, after two years the house was finished, and the inspector came back to inspect. He appraised the home at 95k, and I got my loan to buy the home. Today my house is worth over 150k and is an awesome 19th century home, that everyone says is the most beautiful they have seen, but if 20 years ago I had listened to all those people who told me it was not worth it, or that I would not succeed, it would be a piece of junk sitting in a field, and I would be living in a home I would not appreciate as much as this one. But I did not listen, instead, against all odds, I put my faith, time, money, and dedication into it because I knew it would be a success, I had envisioned it. The same way I envisioned Asgardia being a success. That home also started out with no value, but it gained value only by the efforts of one very determined person who believed in its success. Lastly, let’s talk about freeriding. Freeriding is where someone benefits from something in some sort of way, without actually contributing something to it. Like a radio station that is on the air from donations only, even though only 30% of its listeners actually contribute, millions might actually benefit from the radio show. In Asgardia we need less “Free riders” and more “Action riders”. My dad used to coin the phrase “Put your money where your mouth is” which means show how you support something by engaging in action of contributing to its financial needs. As I said before every organization out there like red cross, green peace, and even the Facebook community started out very small, then those who believe in it, contributed to it and were totally dedicated to the cause, turned it into something grand beyond their wildest dreams. So, it’s time to take action! It’s time to show our faith in Asgardia and it’s time to contribute our time, money. And resources into a worthwhile cause. Worthwhile because humanity needs Asgardia more than most people realize, one only has to take a serious look around the planet to see how bad things are getting now, and we have done little to take humans beyond Earth. Asgardia may not hold all the answers but it is a vision of hope to those who want space to be more than just a topic that will get discussed at the dinner table. So those of you who would like to take action and contribute here are five ways to make that happen. 1. Become a Resident - Being an Asgardia resident is a voluntary way you can contribute to the efforts of Asgardia monetarily, and gain access to all the benefits of being an Asgardian. The membership fee is only 100 Euros, and that is about 8 US dollars a month. A person could take and put a few bucks in a jar a month and at the end of the year, they would have all they needed to pay the fee. That money is used to run the administrative actions of Asgardia and to advance its objectives. As Asgardia builds on its funding more initiatives will come out for all residents and thus creating more value to Asgardia and allowing it continued success. 2. Become a Mayor – Becoming a Mayor and organizing community events will certainly help Asgardia reach its goals. It is simple really, you organize meetings with your friends, family, and acquaintances. Then you discuss current issues in Asgardia, write petitions, and suggestions to the laws, or processes, engage in the political structures of Asgardia, invite Parliament members and Ministers to your meetings for a one on one questions and answers, hold fundraisers, and makeup flyers, pamphlets, and business cards and get the word out. 3. Shop Online at Asgardia StarShop.Space – Star Shop is the only official website that sells Asgardia products. There are all kinds of things to choose from at an affordable price. Being a customer of Star Shop I can say the service was great, the packaging was professional, and the products were of good quality. Much of the merchandise is designed by Asgardians themselves, and if you want to design something and have it featured on the website, your allowed to do that as well. Officially 20% of all sales go toward Asgardia’s economy, but unofficially much more than that has been given back to Asgardia. It’s a great way to buy Asgardia products and help Asgardia at the same time. 4. Contribute and get involved in organized events – Asgardia continues to have organized events, our last event was the Asgardia Art Competition where Asgardians from around the world entered some of the most awesome pieces of Art until there were 10 finalists. I personally viewed and voted on the winner of the competition and can say I was certainly proud of all the entries presented. I am an art lover and thought this was some of the finest art I have seen, and it was an honor to pick the winner. Currently, we have another event coming up called Asgardia Fair Booth and Float. It is being organized by parliament member Bridget Kielas-Fecyk and has the potential to increase Asgardia residency and increase recognition for Asgardia. Fairs and Floats are a very big deal in America, thousands of people come to these events and participate in them, the event that has been chosen for this fair is one of the largest in the region. But to make it happen we need people to contribute, there is a go-fund-me page set up, and just follow the link in this article. Your contributions now matter how large or small all will aid in its success. 5, 10, 50, or 100 dollars, the amounts don’t matter as much as the quantity does, every little bit helps, and everyone can afford to contribute a few bucks. Keep in tune with Asgardia’s website and follow the news for more events you can be a part of. Another great place to go is the Trade and Commerce of Asgardia BDAR (Business Development Activity Registry) This is a place where you can enter your business ideas and let Asgardia help you in developing those ideas if the idea turns out to be something that will help us reach our goals it may be selected for further approvals and lead to a partnership with Asgardia. 5. Buy Asgardia Solar’s – The Solar will be the official trading currency of Asgardia. Buy making a purchase of the solar you are adding value to the currency and aiding in it getting recognized by the world stock exchanges. Plus, you can use the solar to make transactions between Asgardians and more ways are coming as those get passed into law. Many financial experts believe the Asgardia solar will become one of the most stable markets and have enormous value, now is the time to get in on the ground floor and invest in a very good stock. The exchange rate is set at one solar for one Euro, and as you purchase its value increases. Hopefully, soon we will be able to start purchasing the solar on the main website. I will continue to invest in Asgardia because I believe it is a worthwhile cause that will yield many advances in science and technology, become a model for all of humanity, and be valued at a price beyond belief. It is that hope that keeps the dream alive and keeps those who wish to kill the dream away. Humanity needs a way out if our planet becomes inhabitable, Asgardia is that way out. Humanity needs to expand its horizons beyond earth and into the stars, Asgardia is that expansion and the bright star of humanity that will allow many hopes and dreams to come true. No, let’s take action and make it so. Author: John Fine Asgardia Parliament TCC Chair An opinion article, with related facts, wrote for publication to all Asgardians.

Many important people within history have been born on September the 9th, but the one person born on this day, that has affected me the most, is Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, known today as the father of Asgardia. I remember the month before I joined Asgardia, I was praying to my God. I asked God to let me become someone special, someone who really does something meaningful in helping humanity, someone who is part of a movement or cause that stands out in history as a great achievement for mankind. Well that prayer was answered when I became an Asgardian. I truly believe that Dr, Ashurbeyli has given us a dream of something that will become humanity's greatest hope. So on this very important day I wanted to give my most sincere Happy Birthday wish, and look forward to many more celebrated birthdays in the years to come, but the celebrated birthday that excites me the most is the one we celebrate in space standing on Asgardia’s first ever space Ark. Happy Birthday Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli!!! from John Fine Chairman of Trade and Commerce, Asgardia Parliament

The vision of our HON has always been an inspiration to me, I have seen many organizations come and go, that would seem to have the same agenda as Asgardia, but they only appeared that way on the surface. Asgardia is as legitimate as they come, but that legitimacy comes from the leadership and commitment of Dr. Igor ASHURBEYLI our HON. He is truly inspirational as he reaches the objectives he has envisioned for Asgardia, this Executive Congress is a milestone in our development that will keep us on a forward path to ultimate success. I learned many things, reunited many friendships, started new friendships, and got to be a part of History. A history and future worth creating, which all started with the dream of one man. I am sincerely appreciative of the opportunity to have been a part of that dream.