The RDA
| Description | The largest single non-governmental organization in the human universe |
|---|---|
| Function | Massive corporation involved in interests ranging from mining, transportation, medicines, weapons and communications. |
| Notes | More powerful than most Earth governments The Resources Development Administration (RDA) has monopoly rights to all products shipped, derived or developed from Pandora and any other off-Earth location. These rights were granted to RDA in perpetuity by the Interplanetary Commerce Administration (ICA), with the stipulation that they abide by a treaty that prohibits weapons of mass destruction and limits military power in space. |
Overview
With millions of shareholders, Resources Development Administration (RDA) is the oldest and largest of the quasi-governmental administrative entities (QGAEs). But its origins are far more modest. The entity that would become RDA was little more than a Silicon Valley garage startup in the early 21st century, when its two founders borrowed money from family members to begin the company.
Within a few decades, the company had the stature to propose the construction of a world-spanning rapid transit system that would allow entire population groups to conveniently commute hundreds or even thousands of miles to perform work where it was needed, without impinging on the cultural values of host populations. This led to the current global network of maglev trains that require the superconductor unobtanium for their continued operation.
The company's early expeditions to Pandora were seen as a colossal risk; the construction of the first interstellar vehicle alone put an enormous strain on capital resources. But with exclusive mining rights to unobtanium (which, at time of publication is valued at $20 million per kilo), and potential profits from countervirals, biofuels, and cosmetics, the enormous capital investment has paid off.
Controversy
Illegal Practice / Violations
Recent Interplanetary Commerce Administration (ICA) investigations suggest that the RDA may have violated ICA and United Nations (UN) sanctions on multiple separate occasions, specifically those relating to certain high-powered projectiles authorized only for use in self defense or emergency situations.
Environmental
Many environmental organizations and leading scientists have protested the RDA's unrestricted mining of unobtanium, calling it reckless and irreversibly damaging to Pandora's ecosystem. Countless appeals made to the Interplanetary Commerce Administration (ICA) to revoke the RDA's exclusive licenses have been dismissed.
In 2148, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ran a $1.2 million ad campaign showing images of a dying and starving Na'vi woman, with strong slogans blaming the RDA. These had great impact on the general population of the world; it was images of the humanoid Na'vi that captured the world's attention and convinced the ICA to authorize RDA expeditions. It was later discovered that PETA's images were faked; this triggered an international outcry. The so-called “Catwoman” incident, referring the woman in the ads who was made-up with prosthetics, led to the first of many new national advertising bills. The Truthful Advertising Bill of 2149 (in the United States) extensively covered and revisited the parameters of 'false advertising.' This is well known in the political world as one of the only bills to which there has not yet been found any loophole or uncovered area.
