Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!parsec!ctvax!uokvax!andree
From: andree@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: destroying planets? - (nf)
Message-ID: <5032@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Jan-84 23:13:32 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.5032
Posted: Fri Jan 20 23:13:32 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jan-84 23:22:29 EST
Lines: 21

#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