[net.space] destroying planets?

crm@duke.UUCP (Charles R. Martin) (01/15/84)

What is the difference between "destroying" an environment and 
"changing" an environment?

I suspect that what I see as "controlling my environment" and thereby
ensuring the survival of my progeny (and thereby, the human race)
might very well be something like the sort of desctruction others
have derided.

I believe that humans are more valuable than uninhabited planets.
I amke no immediate claim that this is logical, and in fact suspect
it is at essence a religious question.  However, anyone who believes 
that mankind shouldn't change things to suit themselves is cordially
invited to stay the hell outa my garden.

Charlie Martin

jss@rochester.UUCP (Jon Stumpf) (01/16/84)

	I have nothing against making the environment in which
    we live in (or an environment in which we WILL live in) more
    suitable for our existence within it, but I can not see any
    correlation between terraforming a planet and, let's say,
    weeding a garden.  Just because our race decides to colonize
    a planet does not give us the right to terraform it (since
    this would be to our benefit(?)). Because there is no intelligent(?)
    life on this planet to say, "What do you think your doing?",
    does not mean it is fine and dandy either.
	"Since it benefits me, it's ok" is not a good enough reason
    (to me) to play with something as delicate as a planets environment
    nor would I want someone with that attitude to make the decision
    to do so.  Like I said before, I have nothing against making the
    environment in which we live in more suitable for existence within
    it, but I think we should worry about our own environment for now
    before we start abusing another one.


			a concerned, spacebound observer,

					Jon S. Stumpf
					U. of Rochester
					rochester!jss

andree@uokvax.UUCP (01/21/84)

#R:duke:-390800:uokvax:5600002:000:830
uokvax!andree    Jan 19 23:20:00 1984

What right does humanity have to terraform a planet because it makes
our life more comfortable/better/etc? The EXACT same right that a
beaver has to damn up a stream to make his life more comfortable/better/
etc.

The beaver needs to rearrange part of the environment to live. If we
feel we need to rearrange the environment to live, why shouldn't we?
If something looses out because of it, well - that's to bad. Unlike the
beaver, WE would consider such things before making the changes, whereas
the beaver doesn't.

However, I also prefer space stations/whatever - constructed, controlled
environments (further input could change this - so no flames about them as
environments, please). Planets are a LOUSY way to turn mass into living
space.  "Terraforming" should consist of taking the things apart for raw
materials.

	<mike