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365 It is when we respond to such signals that we assume any risks that may exist. Before we make such a response or decide to radiate a long-range beacon, we feel the question of the potential risks should be debated and resolved at a national or international level. ~ ~ ane With the first SETI Protocol on its way to public release, some people began addressing the question of a response to an extraterrestrial signal. In 1989, your present author suggested basic principles for an international agreement on communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence. In a joint paper presented a year later, Billingham, Jill Tarter, and I proposed that a collective message be sent on behalf of all Humankind. “The time to begin our studies on a reply from Earth,” we wrote, “is now.” Meanwhile, Gold- smith had proposed that the International Astronautical Federation and the International Astronomical Union create a joint committee that would encourage consultation on a worldwide reply.” Subsequent discussions within the International Academy of Astronau- tics produced a Position Paper proposing a decision process for sending communications to other civilizations. Under this plan, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) would con- sider a draft declaration of principles that, if approved by member govern- ments, would become a statement of international policy. The draft Declaration (an attachment to the Position Paper) is known informally as the Second SETI Protocol.” In 1996, IAA President George Mueller (a former senior official of NASA) sent the Position Paper and the draft Declaration of Principles to the foreign ministers of nations that are members of COPUOS, suggesting that they consider placing this issue on the committee’s agenda. Australia responded that it would support this idea if another nation took the lead, but none did. Jill Tarter, then Chairperson of the IAA SETI Committee, presented a briefing on these documents to COPUOS in 2000. The U.N. General Assembly formally noted the Academy’s presentation, but took no action beyond filing the documents for future reference. The authors of this proposal had no illusions about getting a formal agreement among nations in advance of a detection. They did hope to set up a process that would require governments to address the issue. What would stir the United Nations to action, other than a confirmed detection? Related discoveries such as fossils on Mars or an Earth-like planet near another star might provoke a discussion, possibly leading to consideration of something like the proposed Declaration of Principles on communicating with extraterrestrial civilizations. Although the United Sending Communications Sending Communications —Project Cyclops, 1972”