Jun 7, 2024 04:07 PM
(This post was last modified: Jun 7, 2024 08:53 PM by C C.)
IOW, the anti-space movement is merging with decolonization of knowledge, where traditional cultural beliefs and sometimes more recent stripes of fashionable nonsense (if anti-Western) can be exalted to the level of affecting policymaking and science as long as they are of non-Western origin or a former victim of Eurocentric (and Christian) colonization slash oppression.
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Welcome to the age of space scepticism – and a growing revolt against elites
https://theconversation.com/welcome-to-t...tes-231504
EXCERPTS: Over the past decade, a new form of scepticism about human activities in space has emerged. It seems to be based exclusively in the western world, and centred around the idea that increasingly ambitious space plans will damage humanity and neglect the Earth.
[...] Western scepticism about human activities in outer space isn’t actually new. There were space sceptics before there were even astronauts....
[...] Things are seriously heating up now though. The new era of space scepticism is at its core anti-elite. This is hardly surprising given a widespread cost-of-living crisis, and the fact that billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are among those most vocal about the benefits of exploring, mining and colonising space. Musk’s decision to launch a Tesla roadster to space was met with criticism from many people, including scientists.
There are other concerns too. Many scientists are worried about a rising amount of satellites and space debris blocking the sky, and that sending objects to space that could contaminate alien worlds.
There are also concerns about the environmental impact of focusing so much attention away from our own world. In 2021, Greta Thunberg and the environmentalist group Fridays for Future published a mock advert (see below) in which they recommended that “the 1%” move to “Mars, an untainted planet”. This was followed the words “For the 99% who will stay on Earth, we’d better fix climate change”.
The advert conveyed a sense that the billionaire elite have no special attachment to our shared planet.
Academic scholars have also raised concerns. The book Dark Skies by political scientist Daniel Deudney argued for a centuries-long postponement of space ambitions. And the philosopher Bruno Latour’s more populist analysis Down to Earth says we need to learn new ways to inhabit the Earth and to focus our attention here.
This new space scepticism movement also aspires to link up with the cause of indigenous peoples. In January 2024, there were protests from the Navajo nation about landing human remains on the Moon as part of the Peregrine mission, a place they consider sacred.
Their argument is increasingly being supported by space sceptics and others... (MORE - missing details)
Greta Thunberg ... https://youtu.be/Xk-jfAg1F3A
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Xk-jfAg1F3A
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Welcome to the age of space scepticism – and a growing revolt against elites
https://theconversation.com/welcome-to-t...tes-231504
EXCERPTS: Over the past decade, a new form of scepticism about human activities in space has emerged. It seems to be based exclusively in the western world, and centred around the idea that increasingly ambitious space plans will damage humanity and neglect the Earth.
[...] Western scepticism about human activities in outer space isn’t actually new. There were space sceptics before there were even astronauts....
[...] Things are seriously heating up now though. The new era of space scepticism is at its core anti-elite. This is hardly surprising given a widespread cost-of-living crisis, and the fact that billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are among those most vocal about the benefits of exploring, mining and colonising space. Musk’s decision to launch a Tesla roadster to space was met with criticism from many people, including scientists.
There are other concerns too. Many scientists are worried about a rising amount of satellites and space debris blocking the sky, and that sending objects to space that could contaminate alien worlds.
There are also concerns about the environmental impact of focusing so much attention away from our own world. In 2021, Greta Thunberg and the environmentalist group Fridays for Future published a mock advert (see below) in which they recommended that “the 1%” move to “Mars, an untainted planet”. This was followed the words “For the 99% who will stay on Earth, we’d better fix climate change”.
The advert conveyed a sense that the billionaire elite have no special attachment to our shared planet.
Academic scholars have also raised concerns. The book Dark Skies by political scientist Daniel Deudney argued for a centuries-long postponement of space ambitions. And the philosopher Bruno Latour’s more populist analysis Down to Earth says we need to learn new ways to inhabit the Earth and to focus our attention here.
This new space scepticism movement also aspires to link up with the cause of indigenous peoples. In January 2024, there were protests from the Navajo nation about landing human remains on the Moon as part of the Peregrine mission, a place they consider sacred.
Their argument is increasingly being supported by space sceptics and others... (MORE - missing details)
Greta Thunberg ... https://youtu.be/Xk-jfAg1F3A