I'd like to flood the zone with this. It's a significant development, considering all of the disparate groups that they got to this consensus, but unfortunately it's really bad timing to get much attention. Once things start getting mopped up in Iraq, it would be nice to make a serious policy push for it, though.

It'll take a few months to hammer out a public policy proposal in any case, by which time Iraq will be free and Dubya will be basking in the afterglow of victory.

I must say that a miricle has already occured, considering who was in the room without fist fights breaking out. Next to that, building space settlements should be easy.

No exploration without colonization.

It's time to make the case that "space science" requires people to be there. And "be there" means moving there and making it a home.

What concerns me is that the Antartic model might get extended into space, where commercial development is restricted or prohibited, in order to "preserve" it for a privileged few. Make sure free access and freedom to make a buck off of space is at the top of the list of requirements. With the demise of the UN as a credible body, this might be the time to push the such principles.

The fact that they've been meeting that long ago and are planning further meetings is a good sign. I just hope they don't try and institutionalize it. Its getting enough play on space sites but as I've said before, we really need to bring this up with others somehow. I really like that "No Exploration Without Colonization" meme. Should we start being more aggresive about spreading this meme around blogosphere? How should we do that?

Well, for one thing, wait until Iraq isn't sucking up all the media oxygen.

Someone posted a blog (possibly on spacedaily IIRC) complaining how the space community could not organize a couple of weeks ago. I am glad to see things may not be so bleak after all.

All I can say is...Its about F***** time.
It was then need for colonization and econmic expansion that drove the exploration of the new world. (Sad to say that indigenous peoples paid the price but we know there are no Indians in Space.)

Anti-space people always come up with the same old arguments that space is only for the rich and that the money should be used to feed the poor. When asked about how Earth's overpopulation and finite resources should be handled, they say.."Uh I don't know but space isn't it." Or talk about population control (ummm you mean like China?). I'm not so sure about the players in this Pro Colonization movement (one worlders and such) but the idea needs to spread, now is the time.