Operation Greenspace: A Proposal to Develop a Series of Hotels Devoted to Promoting Science Education, Human Exploration, and Ecologically Sustainable Living
Paul F. Justus
ecoark@hotmail.com
In this paper we propose that "Space Activists" join forces with "Environmental Activists" in furthering mutually shared goals. We believe that there exists a large area of overlap between the two groups. For example, there are many Environmental Activists who dream of developing small ecologically sustainable communities on Earth to help promote a continuously livable planet for future generations. Space Activists, on the other hand, look forward to the development of ecologically balanced habitats for humans on the Moon, at L-5, and on Mars. We suggest that these two important groups work together on a project to promote both goals. This project, we call Project GreenSpace, would consist of the development of a hotel chain that incorporates the latest "space age" technology for ecologically balanced, resource conserving living. These "GreenSpace Hotels" , designed to simulate a variety of potential space habitats, would have a number of purposes such as: a space exploration and ecology education center, a miniature theme park, a testing and demonstration site for smart technologies, a district neighborhood center, a virtual reality planetarium, a place to explore the interface of computer and biological technologies, a co-housing living quarters for the staff, and a conference and tele-conference center for space and environmental activists. Project GreenSpace should be seen as a "hands-on" project that ordinary people can enthusiastically get behind and take part in its creation. This paper maintains that the time for Project GreenSpace has arrived. Furthermore, the paper suggests that interested individuals form a strategy and implementation team to help formalize and carry out such a worthwhile project.