Hestia and Hermes: my little contribution to 50th (h)Earth Day (2/3)

Part 2: Achievement – Garden of Eden Back on Earth, The Relocation of Isengard

To fully enjoy reading this post, listen to Planet of Visions by Kraftwerk

As per all visions like the one described in Part 1, a related mission should follow, giving indications on how the vision can be achieved. This is the intent of the second part of the paper.

In order to figure out the way forward, we can imagine the whole Earth as a gigantic natural park, with all the rules and restrictions that such a status implies. Every human operational aspect must be considered, evaluated and modified in such scenario. In the next paragraphs, I’ll try to list and group main activities adding my considerations. Although not exhaustive, they are a potential starting point for further discussions.

Industries
Only industries able to reach zero-pollution can remain on the planet. Industries that cannot evolve in such direction must move their operations outside the planet, to places like the Moon, asteroids or to artificial infrastructures built in outer space.
Products made in space and needed on Earth should be brought back through zero-impact ways, or almost zero (see Means of Transport paragraph).
No products made on Earth can be exported out of it, unless strictly necessary to sustain human kind in space and in very limited quantity.
Products must be realized following the principles of circular economy, allowing full recyclability and zero-pollution for the entire product life-cycle.
Existing factories must be refurbished to be eco-friendly and zero emissions. If it is not possible, they have to be torn down. The cleared areas have to be reconverted back to the wild.
New factories must be built using eco-friendly and fully sustainable materials and they have to be built only in special areas.

Resources;: Mining and Harvesting
Non-biological resources that are exploited without polluting the environment and endangering life can be utilized to satisfy human needs on Earth. Other non-biological resources have to be mined from extra-terrestrial bodies to be used both on Earth and directly in space.
Only biological resources exploited without adding pollution and threatening lifeforms extinction can be utilized for human needs. Biological resources that will be grown in space can be farmed in any way to be used to sustain human life in space and even on Earth, if necessary.

Energy
Energy demands on Earth must be met only by renewable sources, they must be zero-pollution and not endangering any life form, taking into consideration the entire life-cycle of energy generation, devices production and waste management included.
Any kind of energy is allowed for extra-terrestrial needs. Its waste must not affect life, especially on Earth.

Communication
The preferred communication method on Earth must be wired, in order to keep high power antennas to a minimum, to avoid interference with life forms and any impact on the environment.
Satellite communication is obviously allowed in order to communicate with outer space, but its antennas must be confined in specific areas.
Radio communication is allowed in urban areas, but it must be kept under a minimum power level and low power protocols must be used.
In the wild, radio communication is allowed only with special permissions and must be kept to a minimum.

Means of Transport
Means of transport which are not polluting the environment are allowed on Earth. The eventual disturbance for life forms must be limited to a minimum and confined to restricted and specific areas.
Means of transport coming from and aimed to reach outer space can obviously be used, but their use must be limited to specific areas and only during daylight.
Means in outer space can function via every kind of engines or propellant, but they must not harness life, especially on Earth.

Life system
Only a 100% renewable and zero-impact life style is allowed on Planet Earth. This implies for example that food must be organic, materials and technologies allowed have to guarantee full recyclability, without altering the balance of the biosphere (see also Industries paragraph).
Existing buildings must be converted in totally eco-friendly ones. If not possible, they have to be rebuilt, but only if strictly needed. Otherwise the cleared area can be reconverted back to the wild.
New buildings are allowed only in confined urban areas without adding any disturbance to any life form. They have to be constructed using of eco-friendly and fully sustainable technologies.

Science
Studies and experiments allowed on the planet must be totally at zero risk for any life and the environment. They have to be focused on preserving life forms, eliminating residual contaminants, improving life in space and so on. Any potentially dangerous test which may produce unknown side effects must be performed in space and far away from Earth, in order to limit any impact.

This is the ideal world, the final achievement. How far are we? Let’s see in Part 3: Alignment – What’s Next to The Moon