What's the one thing you'd like to see happening during your lifetime?

[aurynne]

Following on from a chat with a friend the other day, we were discussing climate change, and war, and politics, and trying to solve the World problems over a coffee. During the conversation, we also acknowledged how privileged and fortunately we both were, two women born and living in countries where we had choices, freedom, food and clean water.

Late in the convo, we talked about one thing each that we would really like to see happen before we die.

For me, it would be finding life in another planet. Nothing would make me happier and more fulfilled than the news of a life form found outside of Earth, even if it is just a microbe. Complex life would be astounding and awe-inspiring beyond belief. Knowing we are not alone, and that the Universe may be teeming with life, would fill me with joy, and perhaps reduce a bit the despair I feel about humans destroying this planet.

What would you like to see happen within your lifetime?

Cure for cancer
Cure for dementia
The Not Proven verdict abolished in Scotland.

Not as exciting as yours op but personal to me.

Hmmmmm... OP why would that make you happy? Have you ever heard of the Fermi Paradox? A funny (as much as something so frightening can be funny) explanation of it here.

waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html

Hovercars! Weren't we promised them in the Seventies? 😉

@DramaLlamaStampede I am familiar with the Fermi paradox, but it only affects the finding of intelligent life. I agree that making contact with other intelligent, highly developed life is very improbable, because we would have been contacted already if they existed.

However, early-developing life would be much more likely to be found in planets/asteroids close to us. Have you heard about the NASA Europa Clipper and Lander missions? If you like space exploration, I recommend you to find out about it.

The reason it would make me happy that life was found outside the Earth is that I have been fascinated by space and alien life since I was a child. All we know about life, we have learned it from our own placet. Life is so incredibly varied and complex within the Earth, and every day we are discovering new things we didn't know. Imagine how mind-blowing it would be to find a completely different organism which has originated and evolved in a completely different environment! It may not even contain anything similar to DNA. it may not even be based in Carbon-Hydrogen-Nitrogen-Oxygen. The possibilities are so endless!

Since I was very small, the highest level of awe I have achieved has been through studying and observing the natural World, both living and inert (space, for instance, or learning about subatomic particles and how physics laws change when referring to the too big or too small). Knowing the capacity of feeling awe-stricken by things on Earth, i cannot imagine how amazed i would feel by finding life in another planet. I recognise that not everybody is so obsessed with these subjects as I am, so I don't expect others to share it.

Going back to the Fermi paradox, actually if there was intelligent life out there, finding it could be less than desirable for humans. If a more-evolved and intelligent life form found out what we are doing to each other and the planet, I think it would be highly likely that they considered us a parasite/malignant virus and decided to get rid of us in order to save millions of other species and natural habitats on Earth.

I completely agree with most of your post and have been the same, always in awe of the natural world and particularly the magnitude of space, since I was a small child. It is mind boggling.

The thing is, if there is even microbial life on other planets it makes it vastly more likely statistically (if not virtually certain) that there is also other intelligent life elsewhere and then we are back to the Fermi Paradox and my brain starts to hurt.

But I am absolutely with you on the wonders of space. And FWIW I find it crazy to imagine that there isn't life elsewhere, although I don't think we will find it in my lifetime due to the distances involved.

My hope it a bit more modest, but maybe as unlikely. That people be kind to each other.

And maybe abolishing religion. And Manchester United.

Yes absolutely, if there is more than one place with life, and close enough for us to find it, then there will be a hughely higher likelihood that there are plenty of other planets where life has evolved, and some of them will have reached high complexity. Even if we never find them, the almost certainty that they are there would make me happy.

By the way, I am going through your Fermi paradox link, I love their interpretation and explanations of possible options, it's hilarious!

For euthanasia to be legalised in this country. What some people have to suffer through because we don't yet have it is horrific, and I know it's not a straight-forward matter, but at this point a number of other countries have developed systems that appear to work.

For everyone in the world to be able to live safely in their own country. But that won't happen.

@PowerslidePanda I live in New Zealand, and later this year we are having a binding referendum to enforce/reject the End of Life Choice Bill which was passed by Parliament late last year. I agree with you and I certainly hope the Bill passes into law. if it does, it can be used as an example for a similar Bill of Law in the UK. Here is the link if you're interested. I hope you see it happening during your lifetime, although I hope you never have to make use of it.

@aurynne Snap, I was going to say exactly that. However, I have far grander plans and would LOVE to be here the day some aliens arrive. My theory is that they already walk among us anyway 😂

I want equality of opportunity.

I want it to be just a likely for a child from a poor council estate to become a high court judge as one from Eton.

Life on other planets it is then!

I'd like to see a complete reversal of the medicalisation of gender-questioning children, and a move towards compassionate listening/counselling instead of hormone blockers.

A complete ban on pornography and prostitution.

A move towards a more socially-aware political and economic system.

A massive redistribution of wealth.

I would like some cold cases to be solved - Madeline McCann, Claudia Lawrence, Andrew Gosden, Debbie Linsley and many, many others. I would like the families of Helen McCourt and Danielle Jones to find their children's bodies.

All of the above, pretty much.

Peace in the Middle East.

I'd like to see exploiting children on social media banned. For example filming for youtube / posting invasive images on social media platforms.

The children either cannot consent, or have no idea of the implications of agreeing to it. I feel sorry for those who have had their entire lives shared under the guise of entertainment or family vlogging. The truth is they're just being exploited in order to make their parents / carers money.

Life on other planets. That would make hardline believers wriggle a bit trying to explain it.

Tight controls on dog ownership and massive penalties for animal cruelty

I'm loving reading your wishes. Please keep them coming!

"A move towards a more socially-aware political and economic system." --> yes to this one too

It’s aliens arriving on earth as long as they come in peace. They could sort out climate change issue as presumably they are more advanced than us if they Finsbury us first.

@BeardedMum the problem is, they may fix climate change by getting rid of humans

An end to the Monarchy.
A more equal world but God knows how we achieve that with all the different political views out there.
An end to the link between religion and State in this country.
Something happening that can unite the whole world and make us see we have more in common than divides us

I’d like to see peace and equality in Northern Ireland.
The restoration of Stormont in the last 48hrs is a huge deal - we’ve been 3 years without a government and this really matters. I wish I could say that I have hope and optimism about it however, I wish I could say it felt as momentous as GF 1998, but it doesn’t. We’re all too jaded for that. I’d love to see a time when the past is genuinely the past in this wee country and we are living confidently in a secure, positive, inclusive society.

In the words of Lyra McKee
Northern Ireland is a beautiful tragedy strangled by the chains of its past, it's a place full of darkness and mysteries, but it's also my home

What does a complete ban on pornography mean?

For clean, safe water to be readily available worldwide.