The Earth is in trouble and even after molecular manufacturing becomes commonplace, not all of the damage we’ve done to it will be erased. Therefore, inspired by VHEMT, I’ve decided form my own organization: The Voluntary Earth Evacuation Movement (VEEM). The aims of VEEM are as follows, in the intrest of saving, or at least partially restoring, the ecosystem that proceeded homo sapiens, I resolve to:
- Support any technology that radically alters human biology (To drastically reduce terraforming costs.) and lowers the cost of space travel (Getting from surface to orbit should be as cheap as possible.).
- Publicly repeat that it is in the best interests of the natural world if all human life evacuates this planet as fast as possible.
- Repeat that this evacuation must be voluntary. Perhaps a process akin to the mass migration from rural to urban life that occurs whenever a country begins to industrialize may occur. People go where there is money to be made. If most of the economic activity is in space, people will move there.
- Repeat that no one should be forced to remain or leave the Earth’s surface, however all those who choose to remain must be subject to strict technology caps. Living on the Earth is a luxury, not a right.
“Repeat that no one should be forced to remain or leave the Earth’s surface, however all those who choose to remain must be subject to strict technology caps. Living on the Earth is a luxury, not a right.”
I see where you’re coming from, and I agree with your basic idea, Mr. F. However, for the VAST majority of humans living on the Earth is neither a luxury nor a right; it is simply the way things are. Many of us, myself included, would love to be able leave this planet. Personally, I might even consider a suicidal attempt to colonize the Moon or Mars or be one of the first generation on a centuries long voyage to Alpha Centauri. But those are simply not options.
So, can you really say that remaining on this planet is a luxury when we have no other choice? Other than suicide, of course. And can you call it a right when we are forced to do so?
And now I have to empty the dish washer and go to bed. It’s late.
Good point Dwal. I wrote that rant late at night after reading some depressing environmental news and frustration drove my pen.
Sometimes I entertain the fantasy that an advanced alien civilization will put us all to sleep and then relocate us to asteroidal colonies in the interest of repairing the biodiversity of Earth.
But that’s not gonna happen and most folks aren’t going to leave even if most of the economic activity is in space. The Earth is going to eventually be filled with urban sprawl, astroturf, atmosperic renewal plants, mice, cockroaches and pigeons. Everything else will be extinct, or if we are smart, stored in long-term genetic archives for eventual restoration in zoos–all the natural habitat will be destroyed. No way around this that I can see, even with nanotechnology, you can’t reduce the footprint of 15 or 20 billion humans past a certain point.