In the
Darkest Seas, Hope Floats
Technology has concentrated so much power into the hands of individuals
that it is becoming increasingly possible for a single person to destroy all of humanity,
argues Joćo Pedro de Magalhćes, a microbiologist working in Belgium. We may not
be able to stuff the technological genies back into their bottles, but the awful scenarios
of doom before us may yet be prevented by increasing the controls on individuals. This
would likely require us to make uncomfortable sacrifices of privacy and freedom to ensure
greater security. (See "The One-Man Rule: What May Happen When Only One Person Has
the Power to Destroy Humanity," page 41 in the print edition.)
Such terrible scenarios were not the only threats discussed at WorldView
2002, the Society's conference in Philadelphia last July. Also on the problem-solving
agenda were numerous environmental and resource problems, as well as the broken trust in
the world's institutions--economic, social, political, religious. (Click here to
read the conference roundup article.)
While many of the speakers focused on what may go wrong next, others
focused on improving the tools we need as futurists to identify problems (and
opportunities) in time to do something about it. For example, consultants S. Dyer
Harris and Steven Zeisler described the concept of complex adaptive systems and
offered a methodology for amplifying "weak signals" in the edges of chaos that
can give us early clues to significant changes ahead. Their article "Weak Signals:
Vanguards of Change and Innovation" draws from their conference presentation. (See
page 21 in the print edition.)
Another tool that may help futurists in the vital task of
world-inspiring is the proposed Gaiaship, a floating Futures Center that is the vision of
Norwegian Cruise Line founder Knut Kloster and Danish naval architect Tage
Wandborg. The Gaiaship project was brought to our attention by veteran
journalist and project team member, Roar Bjerknes. This floating utopia will also
house a futures center, to be named in honor of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, a futurist who has
been inspiring the world for more than half a century--and counting. (Click here to
read the Visions essay, "A Maritime Utopia.")
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