LIFT-OFF

The recent UN report on climate change is damning for the planet. We can look forward to drought, freak storms and a re-drawn world map. And the problem is definitely down to the multi-nationals, the consumer society and oil usage. But is the answer to damn them? Yes and no.

 Perhaps space exploration can lend a helping hand. At present, space exploration – if the little that is done can be called exploration – is very much in the hands of government – America and Russia in particular. But if we look at the history of exploration a simple fact becomes obvious.

Take the British Empire. This was not made by government, but by enterprise – the famous East India Companies, for starters. Throughout history this has been the case. Alexander the Great may have carved an empire by brute force, but it was enterprise that then held the three elements in place following his death.

We should maybe learn a lesson, here, from history. First of all, enterprise imposes things on people, and it is just as true today as it has ever been. But enterprise also has periods of change and expansion that lead to exploration. Or so it did. And it must do so again.

I offer a challenge to enterprise; to the multi-nats. Eventually, you know the present system must change. As the planet warms up, people WILL get the message, and your bank accounts will begin to run dry. So why not make the change now, yourselves?

Do what you, and only you, can do. Get the hell off this planet and begin the next stage of exploration proper.

Hey, guys, there’s a universe out there!

© Anthony North, Feb 2007

Read more on the Environment on my Beyond the Blog