Well, according to the article Nigeria has some existing solar production with more on the way. Probably there are better methods than an outright ban, but many countries are boosting local manufacturing with subsidies, tariffs or regulation.
I think this is actually one of the more clever points Banks makes, although not explicitly.
Fundamentally, the Culture believes that living things (and their definition in this regard is remarkably broad) have a moral right to exist. Therefore, as a society they are not expansionist. In order to remain non-expansionist, the population must be kept stable and this has implications either in childbearing or lifespans. The average Culture human mothers about one child but that means they can’t, on average live forever. Why they choose to have children at all perhaps also boils down to the future generation’s moral right to exist, but also because they recognize that a renewing population means a renewing culture and Culture.
In this light, I believe it’s easy to see immortality as a sort of childish self-aggrandizement comparable to wanting to become the ruler of some backwards planet. Skaffen-Amtiscaw (an artificial entity and citizen of the Culture) even remarks on Zakalwe’s immortality as childish in Use of Weapons.
The Culture never appeals to nature – how could they, they are ruled by their Minds!
(Mind is a sort of very powerful artificial intelligence).
There is a lot of similarities between the Culture and Trek, they are both visions of post-scarcity humanity made impossible by the simple fact that humans could never be that nice.
With the assumption I can choose who I am, I would argue that Banks’ Culture would be my choice. The Culture as a whole is much less vulnerable due to its size and scale and their technology is more advanced. Want cool space adventures? Join Contact or just go travel around in another civilization. Magic adventures? The sleep games and VR is like holodecks but on steroids. Want to live forever? No problem (although it’s frowned upon).
I was reading the Hail Mary Project by Andy Weir. She finished it on her own, so I must assume it was my reading.
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I tried doing this for my wife but she called the experience strange. I kind of enjoyed it though.
For 2. I feel also like arriving with shields up and then bringing them down is a strong message too, when communicating peaceful intent. Familiar races would also come to recognize that this is how starfleet does things and not consider the default aggressive.
I wonder how this can be such a universal experience…? When people turn on the lights on the back seat it barely bothers me, even in pitch black darkness.
Ah, the gentleman’s fuck around and find out.
I think Picard is no stranger to speaking softly and carrying a big stick
Except with the borg.
I love these stories, they make me happy.
You encountered a situation most would consider an inconvenience but which to you represents an external confirmation of your identity instead.
I guess you need a new passport though…
I was even more surprised when I found out Lwaxana and the enterprise computer had the same actress.
Hey, I had been searching for a reasonably priced NC hosting for a while. I even considered a VPS from Hetzner but somehow didn’t find this. Thanks for pointing it out.