What can we learn from space that will advance our global civilization?

In late January of 2011 the Saudi Arabian Investment Authority hosted an event called the Global Competitiveness Forum and asked a panel that very question.

Several notable speakers were invited to discuss their views on the future of human development. These speakers included physicist-futurist Michio Kaku, nuclear physicist and ufologist Stanton Friedman, former UK Ministry of Defense officer Nick Pope, and multidisciplinary visionary Jaques Vallee.

Michio Kaku spoke on the subject of civilization types. Type I: Planetary, Type II: Solar, Type III: Galactic and Type IV: Omni-dimensional (think Doctor Who or Q from Star Trek). As it stands we humans have yet to achieve even Type I civilization. Earth is still mired in Type 0; belligerent divisions of tribal groups whose main energy source comes from burning fossil fuels. Kaku cites the Internet, soccer, English, and the European Union as respective examples of Type I communications, Type I sport, Type I language and a Type I economy. Only by working together as a planetary whole can we advance and garner respect from higher civilization types.

Stanton Friedman discusses his involvement in the development of advanced energy generators and propulsion systems. He believes that if humans can develop smart energy technologies then surely our closest galactic neighbors can do the same…and have. Friedman also has a feature length film called Flying Saucers Are Real that documents all the evidence he has collected in the last 35 years of research.

Nick Pope formerly worked behind the UFO desk at the UK’s Ministry of Defence. In this video he discusses the economic benefits of space tourism and mining. He believes that the search for alien life can have beneficial results for global economies.

Jaques Vallee rounds out the panel by discussing the importance of making capital investments in the search for extraterrestrial life. Vallee elaborates on the correlation between UFOs and current research in ‘weird’ physics.

On a similar note a new treaty has been drafted that would ban the weaponization of space for earthlings and ET’s. The treaty will be presented to the U.N. and all ‘cosmic cultures’.