Originally posted by RAM:
Technically, we have already done it...if you take the Moon as a planet
.
Solar system colonization will happen not far in the future, regardless of the political situation on the earth. Beyond that, in the thought of colonization of other solar systems...I agree, it is far in the future, and unfeasible without a united Earth government.
And I agree again, that human race is far from being mature to do this possible now. But someday....

[This message has been edited by RAM (edited 10-31-2000).]
Sorry..I meant a planet we could live on without being stuck in "tin cans" because it was too cold..too hot...gravity too high...atmospheric pressure would squish you like a bug.
It is one thing for 100 people to live on Mars. It is quite another thing to make a true self-sustaining colony of any real size.
this solar system yes....
If we can ever modify the Mars environment. (we can't even manage ours)
Outside it.....I don't think so....
even if everyone tried together.
Modern man is now naive enough to think anything is possible.
It current rate..by 2010 half of the current species alive on earth will be dead.
The human population is killing the planet.
(and eventually ourselves along with it)
Most people don't care or are in denial of that fact.
Selfish human nature won't let us change our habits even though we know most of what we have to do. The only other hope is a population drop..by choice..or by "natural causes".
With gene advances bringing the possiblity of
immortality (if you can pay for it), things are that much more scary. Do we not have children anymore ? Do we select who gets to die ?
This old rock has only so much space.
The hope/belief that we can move outside the solar system and find a REAL inhabitable planet is fostered by the same type of hope that a God will come and save us.
If anything the so called "Apocalypse" will be a massive die off of the world population.
The world would in fact be like a "paradise" if the population was under 1 million.
Small groups living separate lives without needing to get along or worry about the environment.
Then again RAM..
I may be, and hope I am, wrong.
Regards,
Snoopi
[This message has been edited by Snoopi (edited 11-01-2000).]