The next frontier: 'Seasteading' the oceans

CNET ^ | 2-2-2009 | Declan McCullagh

[Cacique]

A rather novel idea, who's time has come? I am sure that governments will band together to stamp out this movement as fast as you can say Obama. Isn't there a law of the sea treaty that says what doesn't belong to nations belongs to the UN? Which navy do you think will sink them first? Ours or the Chinese? Maybe the Somali pirates will figure out a way to hold them all for ransom.

[Cacique]

ping

[marron]

"They may need to establish some sort of sovereignty of their own

They could probably get some appeals court to agree with them, maybe. The catch is defending it. Not against established countries, but against other non-state actors.

Meaning, brigands, somali pirates, al qaeda types. They aren't there to take your sovereignty, of course, they're there to rob you or kill you, and you're safely beyond the jurisdiction of any country's coast guard. Dial 911 and no one's coming.

A few years ago I wouldn't have given this a second thought. In the current world as it is, a ship, a floating platform, whatever, will have to provide for its own defense at least against any reasonably likely threat. I would suggest a robust "right to bear arms" for anyone planning to live out there. Or hire gurkhas. Or both.

[wxgesr]

I like the concept, but the world is not free enough to try this now. The UN would want control. After all, we can’t just let a bunch of wierdos run willy nilly thinking they are free can we?
There are physical problems with location, only a few places are out of hurricane alley around the US. The city could not be too far offshore for MEDIVAC, resupply, protection, etc.
Although offshore rigs in the GOMEX are sustainable during hurricanes, they are abandoned ahead of storms after they are shut down.

[wxgesr]

But what I am really impressed with is this guy’s lineage. No wonder he isn’t at Gagmeoogle anymore. A free thinker!!!

[rednesss]

""In a prosperous, comfortable society, it might be hard to get people to take those kinds of risk," he said, referring to "the risk aversion of a wealthy society.""

Enough said. Sign me up.

[gridlock]

In the novel Snowcrash by Neil Stephenson, there is a huge drifting aggregation of ships, boats, tanks called The Raft that are lashed to an abandoned US nuclear aircraft carrier, that supplies power to run the whole thing. The Raft drifts from one part of the Pacific Ocean to another, destablilizing the terrestrial countries wherever it goes.

[Starfleet Command]

Floating around on top of the sea is fine, but the real action is beneath:

This is a 501c(3) organization dedicated to colonizing the sea. Privately. Very, very excellent people in every way (scientifically, ecologically, spiritually), dedicated to shepherding the ocean as God has given us dominion over it. Go have a look. See if you can help. Buy the book "Undersea Colonies", it is *fascinating*. Anything and everything is sincerely appreciated, and you will never encounter a more efficient or amazing use of your materials or funds.

[listenhillary]

Interesting.

This made me laugh out loud.
An engineer named Norman Nixon has been trying for years to find investors for a so-called Freedom Ship, which would be a colossal project three times longer than any existing ship, with 25 stories above the waterline and a fully functioning airport. Nixon acknowledged last July that the project was on indefinite hold because his business partner "turned over our entire bank account to a man who promised him a 'Peruvian Gold certificate' worth a billion dollars."

[Starfleet Command]

Oops, I messed up the html. Let's try again. The website is:

www.underseacolony.com

[Sarajevo]

It looks like a small hotel complex on an oil rig.

[listenhillary]

They need to make a floating island made of pykrete.

http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/7/floatingisland.php

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Nothing new. Forty years ago there was an attempt to colonize the ocean and call it “Aqualandia”. the old boy that started the scheme was a guest on the JOE PINE SHOW. They even “sang” the Aqualandia national anthem.

[wideminded]

An engineer named Norman Nixon has been trying for years to find investors for a so-called Freedom Ship, ... Nixon acknowledged last July that the project was on indefinite hold because his business partner "turned over our entire bank account to a man who promised him a 'Peruvian Gold certificate' worth a billion dollars."

Kind of funny since he was promoting it as a haven for people with conservative values.

[GSWarrior]

[jriemer]

Great someone wants to make Kevin Costner’s “Waterworld” into an amusement park.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Since there’s no open land left to retreat to as communism advances, this might be the last chance for freedom.

Best of luck to the pioneers who take the first steps off dry land seeking liberty.

[Disambiguator]

"I think people are a lot better at inventing technology than changing human nature or changing social organizations.

This kind of thinking is what brought us collectivism in the first place. You can't change human nature.

[RJR_fan]

In the novel Snowcrash by Neil Stephenson,

people can purchase ad-hoc citizenship in "pocket sovereignties" as convenient. The funniest chapter is a US government decree regulating the toilet paper fund.

[tbw2]

If they offered illegal genetic engineering / fixing, they would definitely risk eco-terrorism.