End of Economic Growth

It is commonly said that we cannot have infinite growth on a finite planet. This this is clearly understood, at least intellectually, by most people. The implications and consequences, however, are often ignored. On the one hand, we have physical limits imposed by the planet that prevent infinite expansion, and on the other we have only a finite amount of resources, especially energy, without which continued growth cannot be maintained.

Our current economic system, which is primarily measured in terms of GDP, depends on continual growth, year after year, over time. There can be temporary periods of economic contraction, which are called recessions or depressions, and are something to be avoided as much as possible. Interestingly, contraction is often referred to as "negative growth", which reinforces the idea of how much the idea of "growth" is implicit within the system. Other than these temporary setbacks though, for the system to survive, a long term trend of increasing growth is required.

Future of Space Exploration

Human spaceflight, and space exploration, took off dramatically half a century ago. Shortly after World War II, during the height of the cold war, there was an explosion in technology, practical knowledge and experience in launching spacecraft and operating in space. The technological advances required during WWII were further built upon during the rivalry of the cold war and led to rapid and dramatic advances, far beyond most people's expectations. In the past couple decades, however, we have lost much of our practical knowledge and ability to explore space, as well as the drive to do so.

When President Kennedy first made his speech in 1961 declaring that the US would land on the moon by the end of the decade, few thought it possible, including many at NASA itself. Yet, through competition with the USSR, determination, sacrifice, and strong funding, technological leaps were made on an almost yearly basis leading to a triumphant landing by Apollo 11, on July 20, 1969. Kennedy's outrageous goal had been met.

African Union

The idea of a politically united Africa, Pan-Africanism, has been around for over a hundred years. While the pan-african movement has been involved in anti-slavery and anti-colonial struggles and the fight against Apartheid South Africa, there has never been any significant movement towards a political unification. However, recent historical events, quite unexpectedly, may provide an impetus in this direction.

During colonial times, there was a common goal in Africa of trying to gain liberation from European masters. Even while such successes were being achieved, however, division was also being created by the alignment of various countries with either the Soviets or Americans during the cold war. Each side would provide aid and assistance to certain countries, in return for their governments siding with either the Eastern or Western blocs, in other words becoming client states.