Mars One is an audacious plan to colonize Mars — the first group of four humans are supposed to start their one-way trip in 2022 and arrive in 2023.
Some people think Mars One is a scam, others think the idea is impractical, but over 200,000 people showed interest in going. And over a thousand applicants made the first cut.
I hadn’t heard of the project until I read about the fatwa prohibiting Muslims from going — it would be risking death for no “righteous reason” and thus be equivalent to suicide. Mars One asked the clerics to reconsider, but I think it’s good publicity for the project. It shows the clerics believe the trips will take place. Also sometimes prohibiting activities makes them seem more appealing. Do you agree?
March 9, 2014
Oddly [and it is a little odd], the concept you touch on, that of ‘forbidden fruit’ making something more enticing, has never applied/appealed to me. I don’t know why. But I am glad: Makes life easier in many ways when you are just not tempted. Ain’t I a saint?
Mars? Makes me smile. I hope those who have already signed up have booked a return ticket.
U
Sorry, it’s a one-way trip. Once you’re on your way there’s no coming back.
Of course you’re a saint. Who would doubt it?
“Ain’t I a saint?” You know she’s joking of course.
Errrrrrr, I mean she knows & you know she’s no saint. She’s joking 😀 & you’re pretending she thinks she’s a saint. Be your usual accommodating, kind self. I love Ursula.
Now some Mullah will issue a fatwa against me for sharing this great piece of news with you and your other readers.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26319170
Great article, thanks. It explains why some people want to do it.
Well, I have to admit that if leaving a legacy behind is of any concern to someone, being on board for the first trip to colonize Mars would certainly address that issue.
I’m sure that there are those who would relish the publicity of going on the trip against the wishes of whomever, whether on religious grounds or something else. Going to Mars won’t ever be on my ‘bucket list’ whether someone objects to my going or not. On second thought, if you opt to add going to Mars on a list, I suppose it would be more appropriate to call it your “kick the bucket list”! 😕
“…kick the bucket list” — 😆
That fatwa is from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment (GAIAE) of the United Arab Emirates, a relatively small federation of seven emirates. The Huffington Post article makes it sound like the GAIAE is talking for all of Islam, but a fatwa is a legal opinion or learned interpretation that any qualified jurist or mufti can give on issues pertaining to Islamic law.
So far as to whether it’ll make a difference on this or not so far as Muslims participating, I don’t know. I don’t think it will have much of an impact overall as there will be plenty of other people interested in taking part or contributing funds.
Not me, though. I’ve already spent plenty of time in isolated, enclosed situations with limited opportunities for interaction — 6 patrols for a total 15 months under water away from family & friends (except for those friends there with me). That was enough and it wasn’t forever.
Yes, I know the clerics issuing the fatwa was a small group, but it tickled my funny bone. Especially the “Protecting life against all possible dangers and keeping it safe is an issue agreed upon by all religions and is clearly stipulated in verse 4/29 of the Holy Quran: Do not kill yourselves or one another.” Wish they and other clerics would issue more fatwas prohibiting killing and suicide bombers.
I can well understand why you wouldn’t want to go. I’m not sure how well I would have coped with being in a submarine.
What would you eat? Would you even have enough food for the year in flight? I’m not sure if there is water there. You’d miss your bed & clothes, etc.
The 200,000 people interested are either joking for have a death wish.
We’ll have to see if they can raise the money and solve the technical problems. I think some people think they would be doing something significant with their lives. That said, I think I’ll pass. 😀
Look at your picture of Mars. How can technology solve that?
wow.
i had two thoughts reading the post and watching the video.
i would hope they do a long test in one of this world’s deserts first…
with all the same people who will be going…
living in their little cubicles just like they will on mars.
that way if any of them go beserk all they have to do is just go back home.
unlike how it will be on mars.
and second thought i had . . .
i wonder how long it will take us to garbage up mars the way we’ve garbaged up earth.
It won’t take that long, I’m sure. Years ago Ray Bradbury wrote a story about how we junked up the moon or some planet.
The cost of providing adequate health and education for everyone on earth compared to the price of this project?
If they could do it for $6 billion it would cost a lot less. That would be true even if it cost $100 or $500 billion. There aren’t as many pockets to be lined in this project.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics: “Total expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools in the United States amounted to $638 billion in 2009-10….”
That’s just one country and just for education.
Yes, most of it wasted. I think high schools should be closed and replaced with something worthwhile.
“School pokes your eyes out, and uni teaches you to read Braille” – Fred Emery
I just clicked the link to your latest blog. Thank you for the video. It’s a story worth sharing, and it was also good to see Carmen and you. I’m glad you found one another.
Thanks Jean
I looked at Carmen’s story video. Very moving. She’s cute as a kid, & a pretty adult.
Thanks bhb, yes she is.
Prohibiting activities in my opinion – seem to me to be when you already have an activity and it is forced into an underground scenario.
But I guess flitting off to Mars for some would be an adventure, they would dearly want to undertake, then to find it’s prohibited “want it even more”
I am not interested in the trip, one way or return! Nor do I want to really go back in time…