Messages from Earth (part 3)
What should we do?
Earth said the following on Sept. 6, 2017:
“Earth is speaking. Earth has asked John Human to record another message from Earth. Earth believes that John Human does not know what Earth is about to say. Earth suspects that John Human has no idea what has been the result of what John Human has already done. Earth understands that several hundred people have already been talking about John’s message. Earth believes that, for this reason, people are interested and want to know more about what Earth has to say.
“Earth will explain some details about what Earth hopes human can begin to do to help create the possibility of a civilization that can co-exist with Earth and perform what humans are here to do. Earth understands that when humans have a major crisis, they have a tendency to think creatively about collective security in a way that they do not when they feel safe. Now we are facing such a crisis, but humans do not have a clear sense of urgency. For this reason, Earth believes that a catastrophe will have an effect that will bring humans into contact with each other, who have the inclination to solve the problems that face human civilization. Earth wants humans to work together collectively to begin to reach to other planets. This will result in the ability of humans to solve problems here on Planet Earth. Humans must work together. Earth has a limited understanding of human social organization, but Earth understands that humans are divided into separate countries that sometimes have violent disagreements. Earth understands that, for humans to survive, the tendency toward violent disagreements must be reduced.
“Earth hopes that humans with the knowledge of what is happening will begin to influence humans who are in positions of leadership. This is what Earth requires. Earth asks humans who are interested in cooperating with Earth to begin to think carefully about what political [initiatives] must be done to ensure that humans can live in harmonious balance with the surrounding environment and also work cooperatively to reach other planets. This is all that Earth will say now.“
A month or so later I wrote my response:
Over a month ago, on Sept. 6, Earth asked me to ask others to think about what must be done for humans to live in harmony with the environment and also go to other planets. Here is my own answer:
1. Aquaponic skyscrapers (go ahead, google it):
Most likely you’ve heard of hydroponics: growing plants indoors, without soil. A system of tubes brings water and nutrients to the plants. Imagine hooking up a hydroponic water system to a big aquarium. The waste from the fish in the aquarium becomes fertilizer to help the plants grow – and that is aquaponics. Now imagine stacking rows of growing plants on top of each other. Aquaponic skyscrapers in the middle of a city could raise fish and grow rice and beans and vegetables. This way cities could grow their own food, instead of importing food from far away. In addition, fish is healthier than beef, and we should shut down the cruel cattle “factories” where cows are crowded into enclosed areas. Moreover, with aquaponic skyscrapers we won’t need as much farmland, so we can start re-growing forests in places that used to be covered with trees. Furthermore, aquaponics will eventually be a good source of food on spaceships and space stations. However, aquaponic skyscrapers will take a lot of electricity, so we need a clean supply of abundant electricity.
2. Ultra-high-speed vacuum tube trains.
Imagine a train in a vacuum tube going 1000 miles an hour or more. This is an idea that has been around for a long time. China is developing a prototype, and the billionaire industrialist Elon Musk has been getting others interested in such a project, which he calls “hyperloop.” With this type of system, we could cut down on the use of airplanes, which would reduce air pollution and noise pollution and traffic congestion in our cities. However, as with aquaponic skyscrapers, vacuum tube trains need a clean supply of abundant electricity.
3. And of course, as soon as we develop good enough batteries, electric cars and trucks can completely replace polluting gasoline and diesel engines; but once again, we need a clean supply of abundant electricity.
4. Fusion Power
For a clean supply of abundant electricity, we must develop nuclear fusion power – the same source of energy that powers the Sun. And of course fusion power will facilitate space travel, as a power source both for spacecraft and for colonies on other planets. The problem is, developing fusion power will take a lot of resources and effort, until we finally get it right; so fusion power won’t happen unless we embrace short-term sacrifice toward a long-term goal. The development of fusion power is too expensive for one nation to do alone: we need cooperation among nations as a common human effort. We need to embrace a vision for a healthy future, and be willing to commit to a difficult and risky project. The long-term alternative, unless somebody suddenly comes up with a science fiction miracle energy source, is that we will slowly lose our capability to maintain our existing level of technology, with ongoing conflict between nations as we fight over dwindling resources.
5. Promote the General Welfare
Initiatives such as these depend on citizens and leaders sharing a general concern for the well-being of others and the well-being of society as a whole – in other words, habitual benevolence. (In the minds of the Founding Fathers of the USA, habitual benevolence was the path toward happiness, which is where the phrase “pursuit of happiness” comes from.) We need to expect this benevolent orientation from our leaders. Our society tends to discourage this natural development of habitual benevolence, especially in the all-important teenage years. Imagine having regular yoga classes as part of physical education in high schools. Yoga both relaxes the body and promotes emotional health. It is also important to restrict things like pornography and commercial advertising. Constant sexual stimulation inhibits the development of a benevolent orientation, as does thinking of ourselves as a “consumer society.” We must learn to live with less. In addition, we need inspiring, long-term collective goals, and Earth’s prime goal for humans to go to other planets fits this need well. Other long-term collective goals: reduce the ravages of pollution, and re-grow forests. The Sahara Desert, for example, doesn’t have to stay a desert. But none of this likely to happen without widespread public-spirited commitment to the betterment of humanity, a commitment that should regularly inform the decisions of our political leaders.
At the societal level, an orientation toward ongoing technological progress is essential for cultivating habitual benevolence in the population, and an orientation toward habitual benevolence is essential for ongoing technological progress. Both are necessary for our long-term survival.
Earth replied a few days later:
“Earth is speaking. Earth believes that John has been trying to help others understand what is necessary for humans to act in a way that works for human survival. Earth understands that survival means not staying at humans’ current level. Humans must continue to advance. Earth believes that fusion power is the way for humans to continue advancing in a way that will allow humans to go to other planets and come back. Earth believes that not reaching for fusion power means giving up the potential of going to other planets and coming back. Earth believes that this is something that is fundamentally important. Earth hopes that humans will take this seriously. Earth needs humans to consider the consequence of not going to other planets. Earth knows that if humans do not go to other planets, and humans do not continue progressing with technology, humans will move backward. Their ability to live as they are now living will decrease, and humans will reduce in population at a lower level of technology. Earth hopes that humans understand, this will be a catastrophe, for Earth and for humans. Earth hopes that humans are able to continue working together. Earth knows that there are a number of humans who are concerned about the situation and motivated to act to make things better. Earth understands that if humans are able to do this, they will be able to overcome what is going to happen in the next four or five years. Earth believes this is necessary to ensure that humans who are motivated to work together are able to make decisions for humanity. Earth wants this to happen, but Earth does not believe this is inevitable. Earth knows there is a real possibility that humans will not succeed in working together to advance technologically and go to other planets. Earth knows that this means there is a very real possibility of human self-destruction. Earth wants to avoid this. Earth hopes that humans will continue thinking about what is necessary about what is necessary for humans to progress technologically and go to other planets and come back. This is all that Earth will say.”
https://earthwarning.org/index.php/blog/