Brighton Publishing LLC
Copyright© 2015
ISBN 13: 978-1-62183-311-6
First Edition
Here are some elements of the question that we should consider:
First there is the human cost/benefit ratio: China, the European Union, the United States and to some extent Russia are main players in this high stakes question. These four countries are currently spending billions on space technology as well as arms that otherwise could go on to solve issues concerning more immediate problems. I don't think I need to list them. There is much to do here on Earth to enhance the welfare and living conditions of millions of people living in poverty. There is much to do in terms of our environment. We could be investing in cures to rid ourselves of some of the most devastating of diseases. In other words; we collectively have much to do here at home to promote our continued survival. Aside from the knowledge we attain from space exploration and the jobs created as a result, there are only a few real reasons to invest in space technology. We do learn a great deal about the universe we inhabit and we do develop new and remarkable products as a result of research into materials and earth sciences. But I believe those benefits pale in comparison to other more immediate problems with society and our destruction of the environment.
Secondly: Is it even possible to not already be flooding the Galaxy with information of our existence? The electromagnetic energy we produce is a signpost to who we are and how far we have advanced in terms of our technological abilities. Even with the background noise of the universe an advanced, intelligent, Alien civilization can ferrite Earth out. Although, we have only been able to produce the required energy levels within the last hundred years or so. The distance the electromagnetic energy can be detected is constrained by the speed of light so our cosmological detection radius is on the order of 100 light years. This, in terms of just our own Galaxy, is infinitesimally small.
Thirdly: Look at what we have accomplished in just the last 100 years - think what we will accomplish in another thousand years? Think about how much more advanced they are than we are. In the book I have just finished, I present a window into the possibilities. The possible results of an Alien encounter are mixed. Obviously, if they have found us and have, somehow, traveled great distances to introduce themselves. - They are not afraid of us or afraid of what we might do to them. That alone is enough to make us leery of their intentions. If Aliens are anything like humans they are, by nature, curious. But they also might take offense at how we go about accomplishing certain aspect of our existence. Fore instance, they may require that we disarm ourselves, stop burning fossil fuels, limit population growth, stop polluting what they may consider important resources such as water. They may, like Christopher Columbus, stick a stick in the ground and say ' This is ours'. They may carry their own set of diseases that we have no immunity for. The possibilities are endless.
No I think we stay to ourselves and improve our lot in life and invest in the sciences only as it relates to improving the human condition. That includes improving the Earths ability to sustain life.
So we have to ask ourselves - Do we really want them to know we are here?
Of course it is possible that intelligent aliens have visited earth in the past. Look for my next post.
