Government response is a matter of layers. In a dramatic First Contact scenario, such as an extraterrestrial craft landing in the United States, many government agencies could be involved in the response. Military reaction is a given. The question is what sort of reaction could you expect and to what degree? Most metropolitan areas are within a quick flight of an Air National Guard base. They are among the first responders one could expect on the scene. An example of this rapid response is the case of a Turkish flight student who stole a plane in Canada and flew it … Continue reading First Open Contact with Aliens: How will the US military respond?

English.news.cn by Rob Welham BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhuanet) — Despite increased calls to step up efforts in finding extraterrestrial life by sending signals into space, some scientists believe such a strategy may prove dangerous. In Britain Dr Marek Kukula, public astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, said, “Part of me is with the enthusiasts and I would like us to try to make proactive contact with a wiser, more peaceful civilisation.” But he is concerned at the risks. “We might like to assume that if there is intelligent life out there it is wise and benevolent,” he said, “But … Continue reading Scientists warn about attempting to contact aliens

Scientists may be making a colossal mistake by deciding to contact extraterrestrial life rather than just listening Anjana Ahuja <!– –> One of my favourite films is Mars Attacks!, the 1996 science-fiction comedy from Tim Burton, in which Martians with Blairite grins swoop to Earth and pick off the suited earthlings that have assembled to welcome them. “Nice planet. We’ll take it!” they snigger, as the body count rises. Science doesn’t work like the movies, though, and the idea of hostile aliens, armed with metal and malice, seems laughable. Or does it? Fifty fruitless years of scanning the heavens for … Continue reading What if the aliens decide they don’t like us?

In search of Frenchness Faïza Guène guardian.co.uk, The nationwide debate on national identity launched in November by Eric Besson, the minister of immigration, national identity, integration, and co-development, has now been raging for several weeks. I’m actually not that surprised by all of this – we have grown accustomed to these diversionary tactics used by the government, sort of like when a magician distracts you with a dove in order to better conceal the ace of clubs hidden up his sleeve. David Copperfield might as well go back to where he came from now that Nicolas Sarkozy’s government is in … Continue reading The Sarkozy government’s debates on national identity peddle the same old story about the enemy within – French Muslims * faiza

Our new centre for the study of Muslims in Europe will look past the fear-mongering headlines, to real lives Jonathan Githens-Mazer and Robert Lambert guardian.co.uk, Today, we are proud to launch the European Muslim Research Centre (EMRC) at the University of Exeter. We hope that the EMRC will be part of a wider process of voices and perspectives which are too often being ignored, or buried under a tide of negative portrayals of Muslim communities and Islam by vociferous sections of the media and populist politicians. What good is an academic centre on these kinds of issues? The EMRC has … Continue reading Muslims in the UK: beyond the hype (my comment: I wonder how much grant money these guys are getting and from who?)