While driving to work yesterday, I heard an interesting story on the new ABC radio national program Future Tense (12/3/09) : entitled “Life on the ocean waves” about a new concept called “Seasteading” – see offical website – http://www.seasteading.org/
This is NOT really a new idea. In Halong Bay in Vietnam, in 2005, I saw whole floating villages, complete with fish farms, clothes lines and seafaring dogs.
So ….. if the recent Victorian bushfires have put you off the idea of a “tree change”, maybe seasteading is a more desirable option. If you want a new life and a new freedom, both physical and political, you could live on a huge floating city in international waters. Those just beyond the 12 mile limit would be anchored (eg off the coast of California – but don’t think too much about the San Andreas fault and possible tsunamis ). Those in the deep oceans would be floating, and possibly migrating to follow the good weather. What a bizarre concept!! Imagine a lone sailor, far from the worries of the world, coming across one on a misty morning!!!
Am I lacking in imagination and vision, if I remain a bit sceptical, even cynical about such a venture? If you read the quotes on the official website – Albert Camus: “Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better” or Balthasar Gracian: “Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit” – it would seem that I am certainly not the visionary dreamer they are looking for to people these new civilisations.
