To join the Mars Society, just click the "Join us" link in the side menu.
This will display a page from which all levels of membership/sponsorship can be
purchased. Donations can also be made on this same page.
Exciting times are here! The Mars Society has engaged in a project to prove
out the feasibility of rotating a spacecraft and counter weight on a tether to
create artificial gravity. See the link in the side menu. This project will
be launched into earth orbit where it will separate and spin up to create
gravity. The Florida chapter is proud to be participating in this project. If
you too would like to participate, click the link in the side menu.
Going to mars is going to be expensive. Just how expensive depends on the
plan under consideration and who one talks to, common estimates range from
$2Billion to $500Billion. But where does money come from? who controls it? how
does it really work?
As we are going to need a lot of money, then it only makes sense that it would
behoove us to know the answers to these questions. The documentary "Money as
Debt" answers these questions in a very easy to understand way. I have purchased
the DVD and will attest that this is well worth the small purchase price to buy.
It can also be found for download, but as these downloads are provided by third
parties, there is no knowing if they have been edited.
Once you have seen the above video, the need for currency reform will start to
become clear. One of the better options is to start a LETS (Local Exchange and
Trade System), which is a currency, banking system, and a place to buy and sell
things using that currency.
It seemed that it would be good for the space advocacy community to have a LETS,
it is now open and ready for use. While it is intended to benefit the space
advocacy community, it is open to anyone.
What are you (yes you) doing in your own life to help get to mars?
Food for thought, some things you can do:
Get an education. All or most all skills will be needed on mars, so pick
an area that interests you and become an expert in it.
Join a space advocacy group AND be an --active-- member of that group.
Might I suggest joining The Mars Society if you have not already?
Participate in activities such as the Mars Sample Return design contest.
Join the mailing list(s) and share your ideas with others and
learn of their ideas.
Think of things to do that will work in even a small way toward
any aspect of getting to mars.
In addition to actively participating in such a group, you can send cash
donations to the group of your choice.
Public outreach:
Are you good with words? could you write articles and
solicit magazines and newspapers to print them?
Are you a good speaker? could you become the 'in the know person' on space related stuff in your
area and get on radio or TV via interviews or a show of your own?
Political outreach:
Are you a politically connected person? even if only in your own
neighborhood?
Are you willing to be an 'activist'? You do know that a
democracy does not operate from voting booths right?
Are you driven and persistent?
Can you get passed the office guards (secretary/receptionist)
and get appointments? possibly setting up appointments for someone
else to go?
Partition the FCC to reopen licensing of LPFM stations. These
stations are mostly used for community radio and could provide a
larger voice to raise awareness of civilian efforts to get to mars.
Partition the FCC to give LPFM stations a higher priority then
translator (repeater) stations (used by large companies to blanket
the country with the same signal).
Other?
Please send quesions, comments, and corrections to Terry Mackintosh.
Last updated on September 19 2008.