The New New World - Our Planet and the Environment Forum

Novice Joined: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 9

The New World

Speak of the new world and most people will no doubt have an image of America, or maybe North and South America and how over a period of several centuries it was civilized and tamed. Few would now argue that America is the richest country in the world, that Canada has natural resources that rivals those of Russia and China put together. North and South America are two vast continents in which the largest rain forests exist in Brazil and Argentina and North America has huge land areas of conifers and deciduous forests. Alaska is virtually untapped and oil, natural gas, and minerals are plentiful on both continents. The new world is growing old.

Is it only because of America’s people, its constitutional government, and its capitalism that it is such a wealthy and successful country? I believe the primary reason lies in the fact that it is much easier to build upon the new than the old. Poor old Europe has a time of it in the 21st Century. Narrow ancient streets, old buildings (that must be preserved), and all parts of Europe have been inhabited for thousands of years. This is not to say that America was not inhabited, America had its Native Americans but these were hunters and gatherers who did not get into the game of how to make the best gadget, they were content to live off the land, and some, other tribes. Where is this leading, what am I talking about?

The new world of the future will be literally a new world. It may be Mars, it might even be Venus if they can find a way to terraform and bring down its tremendous heat and its 90 atmospheres at ground level. It might be possible though, I am leaning towards one of the outer moons such as Titan or Europa. They may seem like an odd choice because they are so cold, but given the right technology it may be much easier to warm a moon up than to cool a planet down. Of course, we look at Mars, at least I do with fond affection. Sometimes during Mars year that lasts two Earth years, during Mars summer it can reach almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface. One could easily imagine that it would be far easier to terraform Mars than any other planet that we currently are aware of, and planets in other solar systems, even if we could get to them, would be way too expensive to undertake at the present time.

Mars though, it taunts me. The book published several years ago, The Case for Mars was very exciting to me. The possibility of going to Mars, setting up a base, a colony, and permanent settlement is a reality that will happen within the next 50 years. I would not be surprised if in 20 years we already have a well established colony, or colonies on Mars. The new world, Mars (or some other, or many planets and moons) will be the real new worlds. Mars probably will be the first, but think of this. Just like America was so new and fresh and has emerged as a world leader, I think it is also possible that the first planet or moon to be colonized will over take the Earth in leading the way towards the next centuries of innovation. Mars within a hundred years or so could exceed the gross earnings of the Earth! We will be the old world while on Mars, that has the same land area as Earth (no oceans) is prime real-estate. I think the oxygen problem on Mars will be much easier to solve than people might think, especially now that they have found vast stores of ice under many parts of Mars. There are problems but they can be overcome even without a breathable atmosphere. Whole new cities can be created on empty real-estate that will rival any city on Earth. Mars will of course be rich in natural resources, some of which are probably unavailable on Earth, or in short supply. Mars will also be a natural port to the asteroid belt that will also be plundered for as yet unknown natural resources. Mars the fresh new world, the world where everyone who is somebody will want to be. Earth, the tired old Earth will seem like a quaint town in Austria. A place to visit but for living in the fast lane there will just not be anyplace like Mars, the other established planets and moons, and a few thousand asteroids. A colony on Mars by 2026, a large city on Mars by 2046, and a new society that rivals Earth’s by 2096.

· Encyclopaedia · Wikipedia

· Encyclopaedia
· Wikipedia