“The Gobi Desert is about a thousand times as hospitable as Mars and five hundred times cheaper and easier to reach.”
– Bruce Sterling State of the World Address @ Engaged: Conference: inkwell.vue
It?s hard to miss news of Mars lately. From the missing Beagle 2 to the 3D images beamed from of US rover Spirit, the red planet is set to become another piece in the game that will shape 2004: the US elections.
Bush wants to go there, but hopefully most people will see this as just another step in his re-branding campaign. In today?s Editor?s Cut, Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel, warns that Bush should put the needs of the blue planet first. She references the folks at Apollo Alliance, who have a more realistic ten-point plan that should be driving the future:
The Ten-Point Plan for Good Jobs and Energy Independence
1. Promote Advanced Technology & Hybrid Cars
2. Invest In More Efficient Factories
3. Encourage High Performance Building
4. Increase Use of Energy Efficient Appliances
5. Modernize Electrical Infrastructure
6. Expand Renewable Energy Development
7. Improve Transportation Options
8. Reinvest In Smart Urban Growth
9. Plan For A Hydrogen Future
10. Preserve Regulatory Protections
It may seem like a list of lofty goals, but it’s nothing compared to the effort it will take to get to Mars. Visit their site for more details.
Enough talk of Mars, let’s talk planet Earth first.
