[Greenbuilding] Outer Space: Huh ? No water ? Oh oh. (was Re: Gaviotas)

[Corwyn]

On 2/19/2011 7:18 PM, Gennaro Brooks-Church wrote:
> I sure do get called a lot of names on this list. Now I'm a space cadet.
> Again, my opinion is that we will travel space.   Nothing more.

Since we are ALREADY traveling space, this is true, but hardly a revelation.

> All the opinions given on this list for why we won't are from the
> limited perspective of our current technological state.

Nope.  The problem ISN'T technology.

> We won't travel
> space using the technology we have now. So it is all a moot point.

I don't see why not.  We CURRENTLY have the technology to accomplish the 
travel.  What we lack is the ability to produce a self-sustaining 
ecosystem (like the one we are used to dealing with).

And more to the point, there is nowhere worth traveling.  All current 
destinations would basically require bringing a self-sustaining 
ecosystem with us, as RT says STEALING it from our planet.  And when you 
get there, exactly what have you gained?

Plenty of room in Antarctica, and it is about 1 million times more 
hospitable than any space destination.  And yet you don't see anyone 
jumping to live there (the only ones are those bribed to do so for 
imperialistic reasons).

If we DO accomplish the technology to live in a self-sustaining way, on 
another planet, that technology is more than enough to fix (almost) any 
conceivable damage to our own planet.

> I do
> know that before we flew planes it was considered by most experts that
> it wasn't possible. Same goes for most technical advances.

Actually history of science shows that most inventions are not believed 
impossible before they are realized.  Care to provide a cite for your 
knowledge on planes?  The only one I am aware of was based on the 
inability of the then current engine technology to produce the power to 
weight ratio required.  And it certainly wasn't widely accepted as 
truth; there were many others working on the problem simultaneously with 
the Wrights.

> I do find it interesting that there is so much resistance to the concept
> of space travel on this list and more importantly that there is the need
> to belittle it. resistance can simply be a difference in opinion but
> belittling always tells me I'm on to something.

The reason you are seeing resistance, is because it is seen by many as 
an escape from the guilt that each of us is killing our only home.  It 
is another in a LONG list of such evasions from that basic fact.  It is 
by now, reflex to quash it.  Since space travel REQUIRES planet saving 
levels of technology, and yet you claim both that it will happen, AND 
that we will trash our Earth at the same time, it is easy to perceive it 
as just another assuaging of guilt.

Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn


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Topher Belknap
Green Fret Consulting
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