Doors frontman and self-proclaimed ‘lizard king’ Jim Morrison famously said in the late 60’s “I’m gonna get my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames”.
I must confess that there was a time I had some sympathy for Morrison’s view, but getting fat and suffering a coronary in the bath probably wasn’t what he had in mind either.
Now there is a more optimistic view of humanities future.
Professor Stephen Hawking has suggested that we may eventually need to look elsewhere in the universe if we want to ensure humanity’s survival. But, the most exciting part is that he predicts that within 20 years we may have a permanent base on the moon, and – even better – we could start colonising Mars in less than half-a-century.
“It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species,” Hawking said. “Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.”
Imagine that. The chance to start a new world, without god-ordained conflicts, divine missions and disputed territories. A new civilisation built on science, human effort and co-operation… that is until the clerics and misionaries start arriving on Easy Shuttle…
*sigh*