I write this as I return to our SCI FI offices at 30 Rock in NYC from a getaway vacation in Indonesia. For those of you unfamiliar with Indonesia, it is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands with a population of more than 200 million, scattered over a land area of some 2.02 million square kilometers. I spent two weeks in Bali which is so picturesque that you could be fooled into thinking it was a painted backdrop: rice paddies trip down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soar through the clouds, the forests are lush and tropical, and the beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
But the truth is that Bali is far from free of serious criminal activity. Yes, the people are incredibly friendly and the place is stunning. But there have been two terrorist attacks on tourists there in the last few years. Two suicide bomb attacks targeting tourists at popular beach resorts in 2003 and 2005 by a Muslim terrorist group called Jeemaah Islamiyah (with probable links to Al Quaeda) have killed over 200 tourists and locals.
So, although I had a fantastic time, terrorism is always in the back of your mind. Even while on an idyllic getaway, it is easy to let pessimism creep back in.
And now, as I sit here looking forward to my morning catch-up at the SCI FI offices, I am first hit with the morning newspapers. Headlines jump out from war and nuclear testing to environmental degradation and climate change to AIDS and pandemics to poverty and worsening income inequalities. The need for optimistic visions of the future has never been greater.
As a genre, sci-fi has always stepped up to this challenge. From Jules Verne and Frank Herbert to Star Trek and The Lord of The Rings, science fiction literature, television and film have informed, influenced and inspired generations with dreams of bright and exciting futures. We’ve all been fascinated by the phenomenon of what was once sci-fi becoming reality. The “Star Trek” communicator isn’t all that different than today’s cellphones. And what about space travel, robots assisting in heart surgery, the internet and the new Kindle? So sci-fi and SCI FI Channel will continue to do its part in championing an optimistic outlook of the future, empowering individuals to meet the challenges ahead and inspiring unique solutions to global dilemmas and challenges.
But it doesn’t take a company or a government to save the world (though, admittedly, it helps). People—individual people—are making a better future right now, and we’ve got a passel of the best. Brilliant minds from art to science, entertainment to government to technology and points in between are writing for SCI FI’s new online blog, howyoucansavetheworld.com. SCI FI has called upon each contributor to share his or her unique perspective on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. The blog will draw upon their distinct and visionary reflections — voices that represent the choices that we as a society will be making to help shape our own future choices.
Howyoucansavetheworld.com will serve as a platform for some amazing ideas from the frontiers of innovation and will, hopefully, help set forth some first steps in helping solve some of the challenges we face today. Check back here often, catch up on some unique visions of tomorrow, and then go forward to bring your own visions to life.
Read on and join the conversation.
Dave Howe
President
SCI FI Channel
Marvelous post. The essence of the best science fiction is always the hope brought by i
By SCI Fan at 3:34 AM ON 06/20/08
Marvelous post. The essence of the best science fiction is always the hope brought by innovations in technology and in understanding ourselves.
By Jared at 1:41 AM ON 08/01/08
Great post. The scenery I'm sure is as picture perfect as the way you've described.
In envisioning the iniquities of the Jemaah Islamiyay confining it's credits to religious based targets coinciding with the F.D.I.(Front to Defend Islam) and their raids on bars, massage parlours, karaoke lounges & gambling dens in Jakarta, it's kind of a bassackwards solvency program.
However, the Nahdlatul Ulama & The Mihammadiyah with a proposed combined 63 million members, do condemn these attacks while consulting government support against radical Islamic militants, and that should at least provide some sense of transparency for the continuing vacay attractiveness of Bali & Indonesia.
In extension reaching down the barrel a bit, Ba'asyir is traced back to the Komando Jihad in 1978 well before bin-Laden's uprising almost 20 years later, and since Jemaah Islamiyay, ie;(Ba'asyir) is traced linked to Al-Quaeda, it really does paint a bigger trade route picture than what we are all led to believe.
As for the SCI FI part of this conversation, there has to be some very ancient connection to these radicals insisting they have the freedom to do what they will while not willing the allowance of any other freedoms than a bran-washing kamakazi solution awaiting for IMAM the conqeurer. From the way these people talk, IMAM is supposed to be the Gengis Khan hero of these militant cowards.
So there's the canvas, a little paint, and alot of background effective for the affectas.
Ousty...
By fordchange at 7:52 PM ON 08/03/08
If we keep thinking that people in power,or millioniers, or Big companies are going to save the Planet, them we are dowm.
This is an idea that can save billions of trees from been cut. If we use Digital Disc to do our Publishing,then amaount of information will be 50 times or more, in space, multilanguages, with Internet, cheaper, without the need for a computer.
Here is another one I have a design for a construction system that is 20 times stronger that any of the usual, and It does not need any good to build a house that can be done in half a time.
I'm a nobody will anyone press attention to me? not I'm not a millionaire, them there is no hot to save this Planet.
If you really want to do something, start looking in people like me.
Rolando Fabars
By anonymous at 1:09 AM ON 08/18/08
I personally can barely read or join any forums due to having become irradiated by computer fluoresence which is ionizing. The so-called "experts" claim that LCDs are radiation free, but as usual, that too is bunk.
As for how to save the world? I think alot of the school massacres and contemporary terrorism are due to people having become hyper and nerved up from the proliferation of high-tech irradiating products ESPECIALLY fluoresence, but also cellphones, and other EMFs.
By Yours Truly at 6:43 AM ON 08/25/08
I don't really have any great ideas. Only thang I can come up with at the moment is this : be nice to those around you. Your immediate family members, your colleagues at work. Even the guy who clears the garbage in your neighborhood.
Human affection is something VERY LACKIN' in these megacities where we live in these days.
Everyone too caught up with earning their keep & their own petty issues.
The "anythin' goes" sorta attitude is the easiest way to start conflicts. Maybe those highschool shootings are a result of those kids feelin' alienated from the rest?
We have seen the enemy & it is US.
By bobbyr54 at 6:33 PM ON 09/02/08
Of all the movies that have been told we should watch,
I am surprised that no one made the suggestion to watch the first movie that comes to mind for me. It was the first movie I have seen that really addressed the issues that have been discussed here. That movie was: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. The scenario was that man had hunted the hump back whales to extinction, and as a result the probe was destroying the earth trying to find these animals we hunted until none existed.
This is the movie I had said Green Peace and WWF and others should have jumped on the bandwagon and heavily promoted it for the message it brought.
By 1informedguy at 3:25 PM ON 09/05/08
http://www.mpwhi.com/aspartame_news.htm To yours truly check this site probably had something to do with the school shootings. Makes sense to me. This modern day Arsenic should be removed from the market immediately!!!
By Wholeo at 8:40 PM ON 10/03/08
There is the Buckminster Fuller Challenge (challenge.bfi.com) and the Google Project 10^100. Now I find this, sounding quite similar. My challenge is to meet them all.
By Brina at 12:39 PM ON 10/28/08
People should read this.
By Dore at 5:43 AM ON 11/07/08
Well written article.
By Lanai at 2:43 PM ON 11/09/08
Well said.
By Nostradome at 10:54 PM ON 11/10/08
Save the Earth from ABOVE the Earth
I want to say very seriously, I have the best Airship on the planet at this time. Saving the planet is the goal !!!
An Airship uses less fuel in a week than a 747 does just taxiing on a runway.
My work will put someone on the Forbes 400 !!!
Given the green trend of late and the necessity to save the planet, my work introduces very practical answers to safe and efficient Air Travel, Package Delivery and Homeland Security. The impact of a perfectly functioning Airship is very far reaching.
This Airship will land on a dime, turn on a dime and have virtually no problem going in and out of a hanger. My ship is impervious to wind up to about 89 miles per hour. The advanced design allows for human safety factors unheard of in aviation history. Advanced materials, hybrid design and control surfaces add to a ship that is elegant, fast and safe. With that said I can design for each of the three main markets, Air Cruises, Package Delivery and Surveillance. Moreover, with a few minor adjustments I can redesign the original ship to match each market's need. There are many more than three areas of business to address, but I will focus on the above three.
Air Cruises: There is no gondola on my ship. I would not put you on the front bumper of my car. I would never put you on the underside of my airship, as is done on a standard airship. The first thing that hits the ground would be you. Now that is very poor design. The passengers on my ship will be well protected and have accoutrements unheard of in present day engineering. Passengers ride inside the ship and yet have access to deck space equivalent to that of a cruise ship on the ocean. State rooms are a standard on my ship - of course - there will be different classes as on airlines and cruise ships. Passengers are not confined to a small and limiting gondola.
Package Delivery: For package delivery this ship is designed differently. There are no passenger rooms, which allows for a cavernous environment for shipping. Fuel economy, speed and time make up the differences in how a future delivery service will be run. No trips to the airport, less trucks and an average speed - even though slower than the competition - will beat them economically and ecologically. Fred Smith creator of the Fed Ex system uses a hub. I too have a system which allows for the fact that airships are not as fast as airplanes. I make up for speed by using a system which drastically limits trips to the airport for both trucks and Airships.
Homeland Security: The French have been utilizing Airship surveillance for years. America has a greater need since 9/11 for cost efficient surveillance. From a standard surveillance blimp to the first fighter attack Airship which can reach up to 225 mph, my ship will demonstrate its superiority in any arena. Whether we use a tethered Airship or a fighter our military will be more efficient and have more endurance to secure our borders.
It's a Natural Evolutionary Process: In the year 2008 we have the engineering ability to create high quality Aircraft that will never fall out of the sky. In the future we will supplant most standard Aircraft and have many of our citizens living on platforms in the sky. Evolutionarily speaking it is the same as the progress from boat to ship to yacht, from car to truck, to mobile homes. With the advent of Nano Solar Cells, advanced wind power generators and advanced battery systems, a new age of airships is at hand. We already have battery powered cars which are faster than a Ferrari and a Lamborghini in a quarter mile. Utilizing the above new technologies we can save energy and severely impact the negative consequences of using fossil fuels. Having Solar Cells, battery power and new control systems of course save weight, provide clean energy and therefore allow our children to breathe easier in the future.
Observing tons of wasted fuel in the airline, cruise and shipping industries we can clearly see waste and pollution far beyond what new technology should have advanced us toward. Let's not forget the Exxon Valdese and other disastrous accidents where fossil fuel was involved. From explosions and fires to spills and unnecessary exploitation, man must learn to use new technological resources.
In the Brazilian rainforest they used and still do use Airships to study the rainforest canopy. They hover, and lower a platform for scientists to live on while studying the ecosystem of the rainforest. These great behemoths (Airships) of the air can also be used to deliver food, medical supplies and power generators to remote locations and third world countries.
I have dedicated a great portion of my life toward the study of Airships and their design. From 3 dimensional AutoCAD designs to spending many years in Libraries and on the internet I have designed a strong and practical evolutionary and revolutionary Airship. Just as other great aviators such as Howard Hughes, the Wright brothers and Glenn H. Curtiss have brought forth timeless and priceless advancements to human life, I am hoping to achieve similar results.
Due to legal and technical reasons I am not at liberty to speak about every aspect of my fully controllable Airship with out divulging great secrets about my Airship's design and flight characteristics. In the event that I am confronted with the opportunity to build my ship and create a new industry, I obviously will divulge the appropriate information to investors and other interested parties. http://www.myspace.com/nostradome
By Nostradome at 1:08 AM ON 12/26/08
Thank you for posting my blog,I hope you have read it.
Merry xmas,Happy new year to ALL...
Steve Nostradome
By Reality at 10:09 PM ON 01/03/09
Question: How is mandating "optimistic visions of the future" going to "Save The World"?
It would seem to me that if one were to take seriously the idea of "saving the world", one would first have to discuss, if not understand, the problems that currently threaten that world. But that would involve acknowledging that those problems, if left unchecked, would lead to inevitable consequences that would not be, by definition, “optimistic”.
How does “championing an optimistic outlook of the future” “empower individuals to meet the challenges ahead”? If the outlook for the future is already “optimistic”, doesn’t that serve as a *disincentive* to “meet the challenges ahead”? Who wants to solve problems that won’t exist in the future? Everything will be peachy, so man your battle stations – doesn’t make sense..
I just can’t follow your logic here. It would seem to me that whether someone’s opinion of the future is “optimistic” or “pessimistic” should, and indeed, must depend on the content of that opinion. That much would seem obvious. So your mandate to exclude any “pessimistic” visions of the future must necessarily exclude all valid opinions of what may happen if we make the wrong decisions. How is that going to help us make the right ones?
By Sb at 3:33 PM ON 01/21/09
I’ve often wondered if we could reduce the rising temperatures by: (1) Making all road ways white in color instead of black, (2) all roof tops should be white in color and the side of all building That face the sun the most should be white in color as well. (3) all cars white in color only…