“SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System”
Did you know that humans visiting other planets is almost a reality? Did you know that the sky isn’t the limit anymore? Check out this video released by the company Space X yesterday to convince yourself.
However, I am wondering what visiting other planets or meeting other intelligent life forms could bring to the advancement of the human race.
“SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System”
There is no denying how the advancement of new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has revolutionized the world and changed mankind forever. It seems only yesterday when the “to boldly go where no one has gone before” from Star Trek (2009) appeared so unbelievable. Just look where we are today.
From computer-assisted surgery to video cellphones and social media almost all areas of life seem to work thanks to ICT. There is no denying either that these technologies can help save life when used efficiently and responsibly. For example, there are new technologies that allow us to predict natural disasters such as earthquakes and prevent casualties.
Unfortunately, the rapid growth of technologies has not seem to improve mankind. Yes, it has not seem to reach our humanity yet.
- Could we use technologies to try to end hunger, poverty?
- Could we use technologies to better understand and celebrate our differences?
- Could we use technologies to stop wars instead of creating new ones?
- Could we use technologies to advance diplomacy instead of scheming cold war?
This quote of Martin Luther King Junior has never been more accurate and apropos.
“When we look at modern man, we have to face the fact…that modern man suffers from a kind of poverty of the spirit, which stands in glaring contrast to his scientific and technological abundance; We’ve learned to fly the air like birds, we’ve learned to swim the seas like fish, and yet we haven’t learned to walk the Earth as brothers and sisters…”
A voyage to planet Mars is at the horizon (if everything goes well). There are many satellite dishes flying above Earth. Every now and then there is a new discovery from NASA about new possible habitable, Earth-alike planets and allusions to other intelligent life forms. Indeed, we have pushed the boundaries of possibilities with technologies. Finally, the sky isn’t the limit anymore.
Then why can’t we imagine and create technologies that will benefit mankind as a whole and improve our humanity? Can we find it in our souls and hearts to think beyond ourselves?
Now let’s imagine a possible encounter with other species. What are we going to offer?
- Greed?
- Unreasonable and heartless wars?
- Egoism?
- Our lack of humanity for human beings?
I think these new technological advanced times call for new reasonings, new ways of imagining things, and going beyond our too-easy-greedy tendency when comes the time to conceive new tools, new products, new services. I think it’s time to paraphrase Martin Luther King that humans learn “to walk the Earth as brothers and sisters”.
VoiceOasis is officially launching a series of questions and debates concerning the fate of humankind in this new technological age with new boundaries.
Come voice your opinion in this new technological adventure. Visit our Contact Page for info on how to reach us.
