If a superior species of beings was to invade our planet, as was depicted in the science fiction novel by H.G. Well, War of the Worlds, it is likely that that species of aliens would decide that, to save the planet, it would have to annihilate humanity. Such invasions, however, are always depicted as a means by which human beings are forced to band together to defend their great planet against some marauding band of evil space aliens, bent on taking over our planet for themselves and doing with it into whatever they want. It never occurs to most people that such "aliens" may simply be trying to do what's best for the planet.
In truth, however, if you read the book by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee, Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe, you'll find reasons for why the true treasure of this planet is its ability to sustain complex life. Although there are those who disagree with the premise that Ward and Brownlee put forward in their book, one thing that is obvious is that we should not take our little Eden of Earth in this Garden variety Universe for granted.
In fact, if there was a species of aliens that was out trolling the universe for a planet to inhabit, as has been the theme of movies from Superman to Battle star Galactica, it would probably be for the same reasons Noah had to build and ark, and why we may have to consider moving to Mars in the not too distant future. Such a species would be looking for a planet that could support complex life, and probably because something had caused them to loose the planet they had previously called home.
But upon arriving to Earth, any such species would soon discover that our systems of beliefs - from religious and political fanaticism, to economic "profit motives" that seek to bleed the entire planet dry, hunt and fish every other living species into extinction, and ultimately threaten to either nuke the planet or destroy its ozone layer - would soon convince such aliens that the only way to protect the planet itself, would be by killing that species of animal that, like a cancer, appears to be heedlessly destroying everything else.
That is, any alien invasion that the Earth would be likely to encounter would lead those aliens to the conclusion that every other living thing on the planet, needed to be protected from the ravages of us. And like Avatar, given the accelerating speed with which we are butchering every other species of animal on the planet, it's easy to assume that, if such a species could communicate with those other species (and if they were smart enough to reach earth, who knows, maybe they would have the intelligence to do so), they would rouse them all to rise up against us. I mean, if you were the leader of an alien species who needed a viable place to call home, wouldn't you do the same thing? For God knows we sure as hell would!
In truth, however, if you read the book by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee, Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe, you'll find reasons for why the true treasure of this planet is its ability to sustain complex life. Although there are those who disagree with the premise that Ward and Brownlee put forward in their book, one thing that is obvious is that we should not take our little Eden of Earth in this Garden variety Universe for granted.
In fact, if there was a species of aliens that was out trolling the universe for a planet to inhabit, as has been the theme of movies from Superman to Battle star Galactica, it would probably be for the same reasons Noah had to build and ark, and why we may have to consider moving to Mars in the not too distant future. Such a species would be looking for a planet that could support complex life, and probably because something had caused them to loose the planet they had previously called home.
But upon arriving to Earth, any such species would soon discover that our systems of beliefs - from religious and political fanaticism, to economic "profit motives" that seek to bleed the entire planet dry, hunt and fish every other living species into extinction, and ultimately threaten to either nuke the planet or destroy its ozone layer - would soon convince such aliens that the only way to protect the planet itself, would be by killing that species of animal that, like a cancer, appears to be heedlessly destroying everything else.
That is, any alien invasion that the Earth would be likely to encounter would lead those aliens to the conclusion that every other living thing on the planet, needed to be protected from the ravages of us. And like Avatar, given the accelerating speed with which we are butchering every other species of animal on the planet, it's easy to assume that, if such a species could communicate with those other species (and if they were smart enough to reach earth, who knows, maybe they would have the intelligence to do so), they would rouse them all to rise up against us. I mean, if you were the leader of an alien species who needed a viable place to call home, wouldn't you do the same thing? For God knows we sure as hell would!
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