ALTHOUGH technology death. What if we again fail to Assuming that ‘humans WHILE coloniza on can be doesn’t provide a cost-eff ec ve make this new place survive can colonize ’, the symbio c in certain cases or prac cal solu on for forever? Thus it is best, to make ques on boils down to: such as in a coral reef, history good of what we already have. “Should we?” I ask: “Why not?” is replete with instances that Shrijita Das Such an a empt, if successful, portray that coloniza on by KV No 1, Ishapore (WB) will herald a new renaissance humans hasn’t been frui ul. OUNTERPOINT in the history of human The deleterious eff ects of ********

C human interven on on the COLONIZING Mars can save environment can be seen in the future of earthlings as various forms—accumulated well as . Mars can be the non-biodegradable pollutants OINT new hotspot for civiliza on on the Earth, ‘space junk’ P development. Being close to li ered in space, etc. While colonizing Mars, s ll one of earth it has the best chance fulfi lling the food, water and the benefi ts of colonizing Mars of breeding humans as it has energy security needs of human would be increased land area the most suitable climate a er existence. A Mar an colony beings may prima facie project for the survival of humans with earth. Mission Mars, a non- can serve many purposes. It the necessity for establishment basic necessi es of life as the profi t organiza on, has been can be used as a research base human popula on is booming set up for establishment of for furthering our know-how at a higher rate. Mars is full human se lements. On the on space. We can also observe of rich elements like , earth, precious resources such the behavior of several earthly dioxide, and . processes in low gravity which The planet also provides ice can be indirectly benefi cial to caps which can subsequently colonists of the earth. provide water as an important Mayukh Bagchi necessity for human survival. B.Sc., St. Paul’s College, Kolkata Akansha Sharma of new residen al areas in other Chhindwara (MP) ******** planets, sustainability in the COLONIZING Mars would universe doesn’t call for such an ******** as coal, petroleum products and basically mean playing act. As Mahatma Gandhi said— SEEING the rapid growth of even water are running scarce. with ecological balance, there is enough in this universe popula on in modern mes, And then there is uncontrolled environmental stability and for man’s needs, but not for it would be a wiser step to growth of popula on. Mars laws of Mother Nature, which man’s greed! make Mars a place for human can be the new Earth or we can could have far-reaching Vitthal Joshi se lements. It will reduce call it the Earth-II. Colonizing consequences, beyond our Dehradun, Uttarakhand the extreme pressure on the Mars can also lead to muta on imagina on. Trying to explore ******** resources of the earth. It will be of human species as human and discover new methods for commercially benefi cial. beings would adapt to a new our be erment is undoubtedly EARTH is a much safer place Abhishek Ankit climate they would gradually a benevolent step for mankind. for living. It has an Class-X, Takshashila Vidyapith evolve into a new species. Mars But in doing so, one must not that protects us. We know how Deoghar, Jharkhand can act as a trial ground for necessary oxygen and water nuclear tests for earth’s safety. is for us to survive...and Mars ******** Sai Siddhartha lacks it. So, we should make Grade XI, Johnson Grammar School earth as our fi rst priority to HUMANS have been colonizing Hyderabad places since me immemorial, ******** resul ng in massive changes in the place they inhabit. Most of LET me start with a bigger these changes are devasta ng, ques on: “Can humans colonize destroying the originality of Mars?” The answer seems to forget that we are not more that place. Our planet earth be in the nega ve, considering powerful than nature, which was diff erent, before human the advances of present day can make us perish if we try to beings colonized it. As me science and technology. With upset its balance. went by, we humans went on it comes another ques on: Saumya Ranjan Jha making this place more suitable “Can such a day come?” Being Burnpur, West Bengal make it be er, and a pollu on- for living but we have pushed ardent believers in science, we free place for living and then the earth to a slow and painful should always remain hopeful. ******** a er that think of colonizing SCIENCE REPORTER, NOVEMBER 2014 22 POINT COUNTERPOINT any other planet...like Mars. be an expensive aff air. Inspite about four decades Mars will Mars to Stay, and Shafquat Majid of this the space powers a ain strategic and economic Mars to Drive have made Class 10, Infant Jesus School con nue with their ac vi es to importance. We are lucky that us believe that the idea of Patna, Bihar impress others in the fray. The we are living in a period when colonizing Mars is possible. Recent studies show some ******** money thus squandered can science is breaking the shackles be eff ec vely used to provide of gravity and penetra ng into diff erences in condi ons ACCORDING to Charles educa on, healthcare, etc. deep space. In the solar system on earth and Mars. Every Darwin’s “struggle for There is also the probability Mars is the most appropriate Mar an summer, there is a existence and survival of the that human ac vity may rob planet for manned/unmanned higher chance of global dust fi est”, once the earth was Mars of its pris ne beauty and visits and subsequent storms which last for weeks. crowded with diff erent types contaminate it irreparably. coloniza on. Science stands to for a longer of organisms best suited to and , which are benefi t from this venture. It is term may lead to bone de- the environment at that me. aplenty on humans, in an laudable to note that our own mineraliza on, muscle atrophy, Likewise, in the near future due alien environment, may grow Mangalyaan is par cipa ng in weakness and to the eff ect of global warming wild and acquire dangerous various scien fi c experiments. other complica ons in the and there is a pathogenic characteris cs. In Dr Shiv Kumar human body. great chance of collapse of the view of the lack of appropriate Jaipur Hence, I would say that earth due to rising sea levels. technology, and the inherent ******** colonizing a new planet is a For the survival of the human risks it is dangerous to embark marvelous idea but we should civiliza on we have to fi nd out on this foolhardy venture. EARTH’S popula on is fi rst conduct all necessary another planet where humans Shashi , Indore (M.P.) increasing con nuously. So, if researches and be sure that a can survive, and that planet is humans colonize Mars then it human se lement will be an ******** Mars. So as soon as possible will not be bad as we will get absolute success. humans should colonize Mars. HUMANS cannot survive on Ujjaini Sengupta Prakash Chandra Dalai Mars. The planet has no water, Class - XI, Kendriya Vidyalaya CRRI, Cuttack air, appropriate temperature, IOC Haldia, West Bengal ******** and weather forma on that are the most important aspects of ******** COLONIZING Mars is not an life. But let us hope it is feasible IT would not be a jus fi ed easy task; even if possible it because there is a sky-rocke ng decision that we should se le will require huge expenses and demand for land due to the on Mars although it can serve a lot of resources aff ordable burgeoning popula on. Due to as explora on and inves ga on by a few only. What about the heavy industrializa on there is mission. Due to our greed rest? li le available land for farming many problems such as global We are thinking of which is the only source of our more space to live on. If some warming, climate change, colonizing Mars because of food. So, it will be a boon for us people shi to Mars then we resource extrac on at alarming our irresponsible and selfi sh if survival of humans on Mars will not have to cut trees for rate have occurred on earth, deeds on our planet. As becomes feasible. building ci es. Instead, we same can be predicted in case a consequence, nature is Nipun Kumar can plant more trees and save of Mars. punishing us now, a recent Class 10, St. Paul’s School our Mother Earth from global Rohan Ashish example of which is the Jammu Begusarai, Bihar warming. But the coloniza on Hazari Bagh & Kashmir disaster. So let’s must be such that people on come together to save our own Mars shall not take decisions on ******** ******** their own and work according beau ful planet fi rst. YES, humans should colonize to the Earth, and thus Mars Abdul Rahman THERE is no reason why Mars. It’s an incremental idea. remains under Earth’s control. I Faizabad (U.P.) humans should remain ed It doesn’t include moving a am really feeling good to think to the earth. About a century large por on of civiliza on ******** that we will go to Mars on a ago a Russian space scien st, to Mars. It’s about laying the vaca on trip once in a year. THE ques on whether “Mankind will not remain founda on for a future that Sarthak Sengupta one should have human on the earth forever, but in will need to incorporate living Class V, St. Augustine’s Day School se lements on Mars is a pursuit of light and space will alterna ves. The human race Barrackpore, Kolkata per nent one, since several fi rst midly penetrate beyond will not survive the next 1,000 countries have ambi ous the limits of the atmosphere, years unless we spread into space programmes. But what and gradually will conquer all space. ******** is the point in the mad race for the regions around the Sun.” Ghanasyam Gouda the Red Planet, when several In a similar vein he wrote, TILL recent years, establishing Bhanjangar, Odisha places on earth and the deep “The Earth is the cradle of human se lements on other ocean beds are yet to be mankind but one cannot live planets was only a fi gment ******** explored? The Mars sojourn in the cradle forever.” Dr A.P. J of science fi c on. However, and se ng up of colonies will Abdul Kalam believes that in organiza ons like ,

23 SCIENCE REPORTER, NOVEMBER 2014