By Lubna Abdel-Aziz We have forever gazed upwards to that vast, dark, endless, wilderness above and wondered. Mystical and mystifying, the lure of this wild wasteland continues. We have yearned to fathom its dim, doleful secrets, but could only manage to dream, to fancy and fantasize about what lies beyond. We dreamed of the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, but always and evermore we dreamed of the Moon. We danced and romanced by its lustrous glow, we wrote it songs in every tongue, We loved, rejoiced, grieved and wept, sought comfort and solace in its company. Its many subtle colors change from pearly pale blue to bright yellow orange, comforting and soothing, or chilly and foreboding, but always alluring, always hypnotic, beckoning, beckoning! Even in the children's jingle "the cow jumped over the moon" so why not man? Man landed on the face of the moon July 20 1969. Americam astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped out of his Lunar Module to a rocky lunar plain the, Sea of Tranquility, at 02.56 GMT. "The Eagle has landed" came his announcement to the inhabitants of Earth. At 03.15 GMT Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin joined Armstrong while Michael Collins, Astronaut No. 3 piloted the mother ship "Columbia." Like two schoolboys Armstrong and Aldrin pranced and floated around, performing exercises, collecting data, filming the landscape. Before departing they placed a plaque that read "Here, Men From Planet Earth First Set Foot on the Moon, July 20, 1969 AD. We Come in Peace for all Mankind." Since then, ten more astronauts and several missions have visited the Moon, the last landing, Apollo 17, was completed December 1972. Now what? Do the dreams continue or have we cooled off towards exploration of the heavenly body of this "magnificent desolation." Space science owes much to the founder of present day astronomy, Nicolas Copernicus of Poland (1473 -- 1542) who believed the earth was a moving planet revolving around the sun, and to Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564 -- 1642) who through his many telescopes made his most sensational discovery concerning the moon. He saw no man in the moon -- no woman either. He saw rocky plains and craters, mountains and valleys. Mathematician Johannes Keppler (1571 -- 1630) of Germany, the first to uphold openly Coppernicus' theories, discovered the three laws of planetary motion. So the history of travel is half a century old. Sir Isaac Newton also published his laws of motion in 1687 which forms the cornerstone of space flight planning. In the last 50 years Space Exploration became a reality. While the pursuit of knowledge is a noble cause, costing billions of dollars, rubles, and euros, there could be a nobler cause right here on planet Earth, eradicating hunger, disease, ignorance - the greatest menace to our humanity. There must be formidable reasons why more than 80 countries today, prefer to be involved in space exploration rather than feed their hungry or cure their sick; They believe this can render even more benefit to their societies. No longer is it considered a race between the US and Russia. The International Space Station is the largest international science collaboration in space between the US, Japan, Canada, Russia, and eleven countries represented by the Europeans. Space Agency is considered one of the most incredible accomplishments in history in order to improve life on earth. The dawn of a new space era lies ahead. Earthlings will soon look through telescopes and see humans and robots working there to benefit people everywhere. Over the next several years many nations besides the US, will embark on a lunar journey, like Japan, India and China. Now that we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of man's first steps on the moon, moon mania has become our newest epidemic. The world has become moonstruck! Are we by any means contemplating living on the lunar surface? Why not? There is every good reason to leave this aging, polluted, over-heated planet and move to a better place. Scientist say "our sun will die, swallowing the earth as it turns into a giant red giant." How will the human race survive? The answer is the Lunar Republic of course -- no joking. In fact if you hurry you can get a good deal, because prices for lots on the moon surface are rising fast. They range from $18.75 to $34.75, depending on location, location, location. The Sea of Tranquility is thee primo uno neighborhood. Is it legal to own property on the moon? Believe it or not, The United Nations has found it necessary to intervene. Under the provisions of its Moon Treaty of October 10th 1967 entitled: "Treaty on Principles Guiding the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies" covers every nook and cranny. That is the title, leaving nothing uncovered in its provisions. Under the provisions no nation on earth, nor any individual or commercial enterprise, would be permitted to claim the Moon as its own property. Ratified into law in 1984 the United Nations Moon Agreement, further stipulates that only the nations interested in exploring, colonizing and developing the Moon, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs should be responsible for determining its future. The creation of a Lunar Republic was legally organized as an International Business Company. Who are the rulers of this new republic? Two hundred companies around the globe led by the US, UK, Russia, Japan, China, India, Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Does it ring a bell? The only difference is, unlike the Republic of Earth, there will be no politicians, no campaigns, no promises, no elections. Moreover it will be less crowded and the environment is cleaner. Check your websites for Lunar Real Estate. Of the 9 billion acres of land, only 100,000 million are for sale on Luna. Two to 31/2 million loonies already own over 300 million acres of Luna Land. Who are they? Hollywood stars, two ex-US presidents, NASA employees and 250 celebrities. Are the sales legitimate? No! But it does not seem to matter. Fortunes are being made by lunar real estate developers. By the time the hoax will be discovered, Planet Earth will enjoy the wealth of several more real estate billionaires, and why not! Do we not all crave a piece of the pie, or the sky or the moon? I, for one, have no illusions about the moon. Neither craters nor Rocky Mountains have robbed me of my original vision of its luminous glow, its million songs, its infinite romance. Still, I tip my hat to Copernicus, Galileo, Keppler and Hubble, to Columbus and McGellan, to Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to all the men and women who dare to dream, who desire to explore, and who have the courage to make their dreams come true. Is this not an integral part of our humanity? Slowly, slowly, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon Walter de la Maire (1873-1956)
