Terraforming or extinction?

Posted by Javier S. Burgos

In his Essay on the Principle of Population, Thomas Robert Malthus reasoned that the population tends to grow in geometric progression while food can only increase in arithmetic progression, so we have a problem sustained over time unless misfortunes, such as natural disasters or war conflicts, that by reducing the population give us a break and generate a population with a surplus of resources.

And it seems he was right. If Malthus raised his head right now I'd give him hell. We have already surpassed seven billion inhabitants in this blue rock of a solar system lost in the confines of the Milky Way.

So we have reached a point where as a race we have to think about more or less imaginative solutions outside of random catastrophic adjustments. For some time now, astrophysicists have been immersed in the search for exoplanets, and although they are having some success in identifying them, these planets are still out of our control. Since it seems unlikely that we will soon be able to travel to a new Pandora, humans are starting to think about other, closer alternatives. In this sense, even scientists of the stature of Stephen Hawking have warned that the fate of the human race must be taken very seriously, since if a true space race does not develop in the next hundred years with the aim of colonizing other planets, humanity will be condemned to imminent extinction. So since for now we cannot reach the new exo-Earths hundreds or thousands of light years away, it has occurred to us to reform the nearby planets to make them habitable for human beings. In fact, the English astrophysicist believes that in fifty years we will be living on the Moon and by 2100 on Mars.

Without a doubt, the Terraforming of our red neighbor would rescue the primitive dreams derived from the observations of the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. The dream of new explorers traveling interplanetarily towards a new world is most suggestive, but believe it or not, there are even more daring alternatives that we should not rule out at the first opportunity.

One of these novel ideas that circulates on the Internet as an extravagant invitation, but of which there are already thousands of followers, is the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (or VHEMT, in English). This movement is based on "the slow disappearance of the human race through the voluntary cessation of procreation to allow the terrestrial biosphere to regain health." Without doing much more research, it already sounds absolutely wonderful.

For those who have doubts about signing up for such a curious initiative, there is a website that answers some logistical or operational questions. Here are a few FAQs (by the way, it is as shocking that these questions exist as it is that they are considered common):

"Are they serious?" Although it may initially seem like an obvious question, it is perfectly clarified on the website. But the answer is even more cryptic, since after stating that they are completely serious, they also warn: "we are really vehement." So not only do they want to become extinct, but they are very angry.

"Do volunteers expect to be successful?" Answer: VHEMT volunteers are realistic. "We know that we will not see the day when there are no human beings on the planet." Bright. An overwhelming logic can be deduced from the answer: it is difficult for the volunteers of this curious initiative to be able to see a planet on which there are no longer human beings. This is assuming by default that the volunteers are human beings. In the end.

Let's continue with the doubts on the web: I am very intelligent. Shouldn't I pass on my genes? Yes, of course, and that is why you are reading this web page.

We reach the critical point: "Should we stop having sex?" Answer: "Sex is how most babies get started, but is intercourse really the primary cause of human reproduction?" Not only the question but the potential answer is disturbing... Maybe intercourse is not the cause of reproduction? What would Woody Allen say in this situation?

And now some more practical clarifications for those interested: "How do I join the movement?" To which they themselves rightly respond: "Being a volunteer is a state of mind." Of course, there is not the slightest doubt.

Once the key questions to enlist in such a reductive project have been clarified, it is advisable to study the entry modalities: Volunteers (convinced of the need to become extinct), Sympathizers (who are only determined not to have children), and Interested (still undecided, but wanting to know more). Perhaps there may be a connection between the second group and the current priests of the Church with a penchant for celibacy. Or maybe not.

Although it seems that there are still places for those interested, we cannot predict much future in an initiative in which its followers themselves ask themselves: "Will the VHEMT not become extinct when all its members die?", or what is the same. : the extinction of extinction. Come on, it seems like they don't have it all together. This black destiny of voluntary human extinction.

If we consider that this is not the best initiative to solve the problems of planet Earth and the human race, there are others that are more or less attractive. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, "if you don't like these principles, I have others." So if this movement seems a little lazy or prudish, there are more rock-oriented alternatives like the Church of Euthanasia. The only commandment of the Church is "Thou shalt not procreate." Well, in this it coincides with the previous one. In addition, four pillars or principles are also provided, such as suicide (obvious), abortion (even more obvious), cannibalism (allowed for non-vegetarians who want to continue eating meat) and sodomy (or any other non-vegetarian sexual practice). oriented towards procreation). Not to be hesitant, but despite its strong message, this initiative seems less professional than the previous one. In fact, on the Internet they say that this movement is led by an Illuminati with a certain grandiloquence who should not be paid much attention to. This is the transvestite Chris Korda, who, emulating the Holy Trinity itself (duality in this case), poses as his own daughter (Michael Korda in his role as father). Their main motto is "Save the planet, murder yourself." Applying mathematical logic, and more specifically the modus tollens, it follows that this project is not very serious. If it were, it wouldn't have a single living follower. Even so, let's study how to sign up. As indicated: "if you decide not to procreate, you are already a member." Be careful again with the voluntary religious celibates. Of course, if he procreates he is automatically excommunicated. A tough hand for those deviated from a promisingly extinct future. And the best thing, one can even get elevated to the altars. To be a saint there are three steps: join the Church of Euthanasia, commit suicide and leave a note blaming said church for your death (this beforehand, of course). You can even make membership in such a church official, since for just ten dollars they send parishioners a beautiful certificate home. The exchange rate is phenomenal, it does not reach nine euros.

But there are other alternative options to this type of churches and the destiny of the human race. At least they are more scientific alternatives, such as the case of Martian terraforming, which sounds better a priori. Among the best-known initiatives is the Mars One project, a kind of extraterrestrial Big Brother that aims to send a colony of astronauts to Mars never to return. The first volunteers, according to this dreamlike adventure, will leave for the red planet in less than a decade, which we will surely be able to follow in the largest reality show in the history of humanity, and which will exceed millions of viewers (in this case Internet users) who saw how Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo XI module. According to the promoter of this trip, businessman Bas Lansdorp, colonization will be financed thanks to the media spectacle. Let's hope that the system for selecting participants is quantum similar to its reference program on this side of the Solar System.

And, already starting to imagine a promising and joint future for all these projects, what would happen if while our Martian colony flourishes, here on Earth movements like the VHEMT or the Church of Euthanasia triumph? Could it be possible that within a few decades, already Martianized humans could return to Mars to form the deserted Earth? Would we experience a Charlton Heston-style scene finding the half-sunken Statue of Liberty on the mythical Planet of the Apes?

Anyway, let's hope that in the not too distant future interplanetary ships loaded with humans will go out there to conquer new worlds. And although stupidity continues to be closely linked to the human species, we will continue to be pioneers, explorers, adventurers and dreamers. So, as Dr. Brand said in Interstellar, "We are not meant to save the world. "We are destined to leave it."

Otherwise, the Last Judgment will be around the corner.

The preceding is a translation. The original language is here.