Tim's blog

Do we as humans own earth? Does a country own the part of earth which is generally accepted to be part of this country? How much sovereignty does a country actually have?
To answer these questions, first of all a reminder the concept of owning and possession: A car I rent I possess for the time of the rental but I don’t own it.
Now about earth and humans: Here a fictitious situation to clearly demonstrate our part in this.
To a surprise to all humans, an alien ship suddenly arrives at earth. The visitors are superior in technology and apparently in all. Mankind is threatened and the communication with the other kind is starting. It becomes clear the aliens are not really friendly towards us. Well, looking at what we do with earth I would not be surprised with that. The aliens express the wish to get a small part of earth.
Now it gets interesting. There is no overall force or power of earth. Each country does its own thinking about this request. Even such a global organisation like the UN does not help as we as humans do not really have any options. Our technology and power is much smaller comparing to the aliens. 1 country steps forward and offers a deal: half of its country is given to the aliens for the condition the other half is untouched forever by the aliens. Obviously this country wants to buy freedom and sovereignty.
All other countries in the world disagree because the superior alien race would be then “legally” staying on earth and the threat is increasing, the whole planet is being taken over by them.
Is a country actually having the right to do such a deal? All other countries disagree with the argument any part of earth does not only belong to the country but also to all other humans as it is part of earth as a whole and only the whole earth is possible to exist in one as it does currently.
This argument shows it clearly: a country is in possession of its space but does not own it. It is like with the rented car: we humans do not “have” earth forever. Historically, humans are on earth just for a rather small time. We have not been here from the beginning and it is pretty sure we will not be able to stay until the end of earth.
So what rights do we have as we just have the permission to “rent” the space we possess? Also here the rented car gives a clear answer: If I destroy the car, I must pay for it. But how could we as humans can be taken responsible for the damage we do to earth? We do not own anything else besides the time we were given and that means the only way to pay is giving this time. If we would be in the situation to pay for earth or damages we caused, we would be as humans only in the position to give our time, so it means our lives.
It would be like forced labour as a single human does not have any rights anymore. It would be slavery. So what we do currently with damaging earth is to sell our future generations. That way of saying it is already generally understood as truth. In the one or other way of watching it: we as humans do not have the right of the things we currently do. Suddenly, the religious concept of a doomsday is fitting in. It would be the day we pay for our sins. I don’t share this point of view as I do not believe in a doomsday or the visit of aliens to this planet but philosophical speaking we are guilty and somehow we will pay for it. Not with slavery of hell but somehow we will.