Instead of focusing on who owns the moon, the international community needs find ways to incentivize future business activity on the moon by guaranteeing that rights to land and resources will not be preempted by competing interests, said Hertzfeld.

CNN: Who owns the moon? It's 'complicated,' say experts

The Monywa mine has now become a national cause, encompassing issues that will be central to Burma's post-military development - land rights, environmental protection, freedom to protest, and balancing the interests of big investors with those of ordinary Burmese citizens.

BBC: Spirit of defiance at Burma's Monywa mine

The BBC's Jonathan Head, who recently visited the Monywa mine, says it has now become a national cause, encompassing issues that will be central to Burma's post-military development - land rights, environmental protection, freedom to protest, and balancing the interests of big investors with those of ordinary Burmese citizens.

BBC: Burma courts charge protesters over copper mine protest