We plan for the future if nothing else than imaginng putting something on the supper table as we stir the morning coffee. If it’s a Monday perhaps we set in motion what may become a memorable weekend. The average worker has some sort of perception about a dream retirement with nothing to do but enjoy each day more than the last. Each of these show how we imagine, plan and work toward a future of our making.
Some individuals in very special positions in society took this process much further. The Egyptian pharaohs had their subjects erect huge structures that still stand thousands of years later. Alexander, a Macedonian, sought to extend his influence over vast expanses of the Middle East. Christian leaders had the Cologne Cathedral built, a wondrous edifice that needed over 600 years to complete. More recently, Kennedy envisioned a space faring nation and the Apollo program placed people on the lunar surface. Then there’s Mandela who wanted freedom and equality rather than a nation with apartheid.
All these individuals were at the pinnacle of their society. All, except for Mandela, could assign vast quantities of resources and energy to whatever they wanted. For example, Kennedy was in search of a remarkable effort as a publicity stunt. He wasn’t at all enamoured by space, he choose to do it as it suited his needs.
Further, all these individuals developed a vision and then ’sold’ it to their subjects. They knew that they couldn’t achieve wondrous feats singly. Only with a sufficiently sized group could they accomplish their task.
All these tasks required effort; energy. Earth is finite, thus we have a finite supply of energy. The Sun continually sends energy to us but today many of us depend on copious quantities of non-renewable energy to power our lifestyles. And, these lifestyles please us as individuals. There’s little to no interest in using the limited stores of energy to achieve a vision. But, once we’ve consumed the energy resources, we’re left just with the Sun.
Imagine repeating the Apollo program without access to large quantities of petroleum. Where would we get the energy to loft great crafts to other planets? What other futures will be shut to us once we consume all the petroleum resources; all the stores on non-renewable energy?
 |
 |
 |
 |
| See the BOOK | SUBSCRIBE |