16 February to 23 February

Humankind has shown insufficient foresight in the exploration of space and in the uses we have made of it. For example, we have failed to give sufficient thought to the costs - the legacy we leave for future generations, including the debris hurtling round our planet as the result of successive disasters. Rather than exploring space for the good of humankind, or simply for the joy of coming to know our world, we have done so with an eye on economic and military advantage. No longer 'the final frontier', space is increasingly viewed as a potential source of mineral resources that are fast being consumed on earth, and as a result, the so-called 'space race' has primarily been driven by political and military motives. It is often referred to as the new military 'high-ground'. The use of satellite and associated technologies for communications, intelligence gathering and battle management, have led to revolutions in military thinking.

     All of this has happened without global consultation and planning, and has led to behaviour that evokes a 'winner takes all' philosophy. The constant drive to become the 'master and possessor of nature' seems to blind us to the bigger picture, including our ethical responsibilities. 

Dave Webb, Professor of Engineering, Praxis Centre and School of Applied Global Ethics, and Gavin Fairbairn, Professor of Ethics and Language, School of Applied Global Ethics