Re: [FT universe]

On Wed, 16 Sep 1998 16:35:43 +1000, Beth Fulton
<beth.fulton@marine.csiro.au>
wrote:

>	Lastly, as to running out of space and resources. We're running
pretty
>short of a few essentials already. For instance, xenophobic arguments
>aside,  Australian immigration should be slowed or even halted. Not
because
>of any social or racial issues, but because the population has outgrown
(or
>is just about to outgrow) the environment's longterm ability to provide
it
>with water. 

Of course, here in Canada we have far more fresh water than we are ever
going
to use. The US has noticed this, though, and wants to start buying it
from us
(of course, they want to keep their OWN hand on the faucet...). This is
the
beginnings of what will be the MAIN reason for interplanetary
exploration:
sociological, political and economic factors. Persecution has been a big
motivator in colonisation, probably right behind wealth. Whole peoples
have
moved because they weren't wanted where they were...

>	Mind you there is also one other very good reason to get off the
planet
>(and I am being a tad silly here) - its the fact that Sol won't last
>forever :)

You may be silly, but you've brought up a good point. It's likely that
in the
next 10,000 to 100,000 years something big and nasty is going to happen
to the
planet: comet collision, meteor collision, what have you. If we don't
somehow
destroy our own environment through stupidity, it's entirely likely that
something else cataclysmic will come around. We're all sitting ducks;
the only
question is when a hunter will --- if ever --- come waltzing into this
particular duck pond...

Allan Goodall	       agoodall@sympatico.ca

"We come into the world and take our chances
 Fate is just the weight of circumstances
 That's the way that Lady Luck dances
 Roll the bones." - N. Peart