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Earth Science Not Earth War
London - May 10, 1999 - 
London - May 10, 1999 - It has been increasingly understood that the Earth's climate and environment are coming under threat from human industrial and growth related activities; in the past generation a growing popular political movement has arisen from this appreciation which is now exerting considerable influence on world culture, and development.The Green Movement indeed, unconsciously derives much of its impetus from the famous Apollo pictures of a small, beautiful and receding Earth encapsulating our whole historical and geographical experience to date. The idea of Spaceship Earth as the total ecology available to humans is all pervasive, and is reflected in the smaller but dramatic case of Easter Island, whose inhabitants multiplied over 1,000 years and eventually destroyed their environment by felling all the trees. We must reach beyond Earth if we are not follow the Islanders culturally and ecologically into a human tragedy It is not yet widely understood that there are major factors beyond our stewardship which make the long term sustainability of human civilization on Earth a precarious business. Chief among these are periods of extreme volcanism, epidemics of emerging viruses, Ice Ages, solar cyclical effects on climate, collisions with Near Earth asteroids and comets. No amount of Green political correctness or self restraint can sustain civilization against such threats ; scientific and technological growth, alone, offers hope for further human development in this context. It is evident that we live in a cosmic rather then purely terrestrial ecology, and that intelligent management of our environment will increasingly depend on surveillance of our climate and inter- relationships with the Sun and solar wind, as well as on interplanetary dust clouds and the early detection and study of our more wayward neighbours in Space. It follows from this, as ESA scientists have long suggested, that we need to "Instrument the Grand Machine"- of Earth's atmosphere, oceans, magnetosphere, and Solar -Terrestrial space. To do this well, and over the longterm, will require several hundred satellites - meteorological, interplanetary, Earth resource surveys, data relay, and, for dissemination and interpretation of data, educational and communications as well - to name but a few. This is no small task; our viability will come increasingly to depend on a sturdy space industry and academic structure as well as on cheap and reliable access to Space. Development of re-usable satellite launchers with the ability to launch at short notice will become increasingly important for sophisticated "modelling" of the complexity of our world. In future decades, indeed, our environment will benefit from utilizing space based energy and resources for some of our industries, leading ultimately to the dispersal of human activities and some population beyond the Earth - for insurance , if nothing else. Diaspora is a proven survival strategy, both in Evolution and History Such a massive development in human affairs will generate new employments, industries and a new vision for our youth, now sorely bereft of any grand ideas for the longterm future of Humankind. The furtherance of our scientific culture upon which so much of our future depends can be greatly enhanced by active sapce education and industry - since it is well known that astronomy and space attract youngsters into the study of the intellectually demanding fields of physical science. Insofar as education is tomorrow's seedcorn and space programmes and knowledge act as its fertilizer, there is an enormous hidden educational and later economic dividend from space activities to be reaped ; but first the field must be sown... Europe, with its successful track record of space development ( Arianes 1-5 and numerous science and applications satellites) is well placed to give a lead in the evolution of a space based human civilization based on peaceful and responsible co-operation for the global good. An alternative is a painful and destructive regression to a more mediaeval style of life, with the loss of millions, and incalculable costs for human culture and values. This is , indeed, an idea which could do much to restore the ideal of Europe as a dynamic and forward looking force for constructive development and growth - to the greater benefit of all It would be good to see the European Parliament calling for an increased and wider ranging European space programme as an antidote to militarism, short-termism and parochialism. We cannot live on the legacy of past glories and greatness for much longer, but must lay up treasure for the future. How about it ? Dr. Michael Martin-Smith, is President of Space Age Associates, and co- founder of the Greater Earth Initative. His personal website can be found here
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