As I approach my 82nd birthday I often look back at the amazing changes I have witnessed in my lifetime.
I remember, as a young boy, visiting a friend’s family farm in the Sussex countryside and looking up at the clear night sky. Streaking across it was the first Sputnik ever launched. Fast forward to early 2026, there were 14,500 satellites orbiting the world. 9,900 of these are Starlink, granting internet access, plus satellites for communications, Earth observation, weather monitoring, scientific research, and military applications. If debris such as rocket stages are included, there are more than 17,000. More are launched every month and can be tracked on Pocket World.
After the Industrial Revolution there were a succession of technological revolutions that produced changes affecting our daily lives at an accelerating rate. The latest is the development of artificial intelligence to search, analyse, and use massive amounts of data to meet our emerging needs. This requires huge data stores that consume large amounts of electrical energy. Where can we obtain such power sustainably and cheaply? In Earth’s orbit or on the Moon, gathering solar power. But are we just transferring our habit of polluting our planet by doing the same in space, with no consideration of the consequences? Before we venture to colonise another planet, we must first learn to live sustainably with Earth and all its inhabitants.
This brings me to global warming. For those of you who believe this is not one of humanity’s greatest challenges, please do not choose a limited data set that supports your belief. Look at the overwhelming scientific evidence that proves human activity is changing our climate. If you do not believe that humans have become the most influential species on the planet, causing significant global warming and other environmental changes, please read the Anthropocene.
The Colombian Exchange
Global warming is not the only way humans have made profound changes to our environment. For thousands of years tribes migrated across the globe seeking better conditions for their survival. After Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World in 1492, there was a step change in globalisation by ships crossing the oceans to discover and colonise new lands. These ships carried diseases, animals and plants not seen before in the new lands. They had many unforeseen consequences that we still live with today. These were recognised and documented in 1972 by Alfred Crosby’s book “The Columbian Exchange.”
Social and Religious Revolution
Have we reached a stage in our evolution, as the most intelligent species we are aware of, that we need to transform our institutions and beliefs to cope with the scientific and technological knowledge we have acquired? Do we need a further social and religious revolution?
Social revolutions are a means to redress inequalities in the distribution of wealth and political influence by reform of governance and cultural institutions. They may involve violence or promote social welfare and legal changes. Religious revolutions may challenge the beliefs and authority of established religious institutions or introduce personal spirituality based on new scientific knowledge and philosophy. Religious wars between different higher established institutions over territory and wealth are common. For example, the Crusades by western European Christians against Muslim expansion started in 1095 and continued to the late 13th century. Their legacy affects Christian-Muslim relations to this day.
In 2024 there were 61 military conflicts across the world, a flouting of international rules, denial of humanitarian aid, an increase in global wealth held by a few individuals and global companies, a rise in extremist political views, and growing national security risks. At a time of competing superpowers with powers of veto, international organisations such as the United Nations and World Health Organisation are unable to deliver solutions and need urgent reform. Divisive, antiquated, religious beliefs and dogmas must be discarded and be replaced by a common philosophy that recognises that the future of the human species and our environment lie solely in our hands.
From space we are seen as the blue planet but if some advanced alien race visited to have a closer view and looked down on Gaza, I imagine they may decide to return in 100 years to see if we have learnt to live together or have brought about our own extinction.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability involves responsible interaction with the planet to maintain ecological balance, conserve resources, and ensure long term environvmental health for all living beings. Humans must balance their needs with the capacity of their environment to ensure that economic growth and societal development do not deplete natural resources and biodiversity excessively. At present, we are fighting wars for control of natural resources to plunder them for commercial gain.
We must recognise that we are one of many interacting organisms with our ecosystem. For example, while we clear forests, beavers are building dams. Human activities are endangering other species who share our ecosystem. We and some species, e.g. dogs and horses, have evolved a symbiotic relationship for the benefit of both. To quote Sir David Attenborough, “How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew what was happening in the world and did nothing about it?”
Friends of Bylines Network
There has never been a greater need for grassroots journalism that investigates the stories that really matter, holds power to account and champions the voices of everyday citizens. We are proudly powered by volunteers but what we do isn’t free.
STAND WITH US for independent, citizen-led journalism that makes democracy stronger, and you will even get some exclusive benefits.
If we do not wean ourselves off fossil fuels to curb global warming, we risk another wave of migration from hotter to cooler countries. Alternatively, we can stop deforestation and terraform the deserts to absorb carbon dioxide and provide new habitats for animals and plants. A skill we need to develop if we want to colonise Mars.
We are the only species we know understands evolution and this gives us a huge responsibility. We can, and are, starting to control our own evolution. Humans have always adapted to our specific environment. The Bajau people, who live in the sea in southeast Asia, have adapted genetically to become exceptional divers and only take from the sea what they need. If we travel to Mars, we need to protect our bodies against lengthy exposure to radiation. Those who colonise Mars will become Martians and adapt to a different ecosystem.
The Future
Artificial intelligence will bring radical and beneficial changes to the future, provided we learn to control and regulate it for the common benefit and prime motivation of all life forms – the survival of the species. It will change our lives in everything from medicine to defence and the way we learn. I predict that my great grandchildren will not be taught by teachers as we know them today.
Teachers teach knowledge. But every child who has a tablet has access to all the knowledge humans have acquired and will acquire in the future. Teachers of the future will teach life skills, how students can access the knowledge to develop their general and specific interests and skills, and how to monitor and discuss their own progress. Students will not need spend all their time in classrooms, but spend time in social and practical learning activities. In the later stages of education this may include placements in potential job or career opportunities. Interdisciplinary skills and international understanding should be encouraged. School examination questions must be carefully read, understood and answered. In social and political life, sometimes the answers must be questioned.
In summary, I am confident that, despite the rapid changes we are going through, we can choose a path that accepts globalisation cannot be turned back. It will require a social revolution that provides safeguards to allow a more equitable sharing of our planet’s territory and resources and a new form of governance and alliances that limits reliance on military action to resolve disputes. We leave our grandchildren and great grandchildren a great challenge to learn from the lessons of the past: always question the potential consequences of your or your community’s action.
.jpg#file){kind=link}
