Happy Earth From Space Day

Earth Day seems like a great occasion to honor my friends from Biosphere 2 who taught me to see Earth from the bigger perspective of space. B2 scientists realized 30 years ago that the Earth was in peril and we needed an exit strategy that included colonizing other planets. To export life on Earth, you first have to understand it.

I haven't seen them in many years so I did some Internet research and I'm thrilled to find that the B2 folks are still true adventure scientists with a 10,000 year mission statement. Long after the human part of B2 was squelched by its corporate underwriters, the visionaries who created it are continuing their personal missions of bringing humans, Earth and space into closer relationship. John Allen, former head of B2 and Dr. Gaia Alling, Biospherian and oceanographer, formed the Biosphere Foundation "to inspire intelligent stewardship of the Earth's biosphere."

With Biospherian Mark Nelson and B2 publisher Deborah "Tango" Synder, John runs Global Ecotechnics, an ecotechnology and biospheric design company with fascinating projects around the world.

The Planetary Coral Reef Foundation, which is establishing a global database for coral reefs, includes John, Gaia, Mark, Tango and Biospherians Sally Silverstone and Mark "Laser" Van Thillo. Captain Rio Hahn still sails the incredible and gorgeous Heraclitus, the Chinese junk ship with an unparalled 34-year sailing record that was a training ground for the original Biospherian crew. Working with PCRF, Hahn explores the cultures and ecosystems of the world with a courageous research-in-action approach.

Biospherian Linda Leigh is president of the board of directors for the High Plains Institute for Applied Technology, an education research arm of Global EcoVillage Inc. Biospherians Taber MacCullum and Jane "Harlequin" Poynter co-founded Space Development Corp. Their current projects are as amazing as their purpose statement: "Paragon is a hard charging company with an adventuresome spirit that was formed by Biospherians and Space scientists and engineers who wanted to change the future by creating life support that would allow humans to expand beyond their limits."

Sadly, Dr. Roy Wolford, the oldest Biospherian and a pioneer in the field of anti-aging, died in 2004 of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was almost 80 and made great contributions in the field of nutrition research.

They all dreamed of living on another planet and they basically did that. On Earth Day, I am grateful for all the pioneers who risked their lives and reputations to take us one step closer to understanding Biosphere 1 (Earth) and reaching the stars. Happy Earth Day.