To think the UN know something we don't?

[Cortina]

Ok, the Daily Mail but why appoint Mazlan Othman as a salaried space ambassador to co-ordinate 'first contact'?

www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1315336/United-Nations-appoint-space-ambassador-act-contact-aliens-visiting-Earth.html

It seems too ridiculous for words?

[Chil1234]

Othman was already a salaried employee - 'Director of Outer Space Affairs' between 1999 and 2002. Not at all ridiculous these days when we have quite a lot going on in space. Issues of ownership and sovereignty must be pretty current. Lucrative mining opportunities? 'First contact' seems to go with the territory.

[Cortina]

Hmm. Why now though?

Read some of the comments 'Project Bluebeam' sounded interesting, like the plot of a sci fi novel!

[MrsMills]

Gliese 581g is your answer ;)

[Chil1234]

(Read 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'... it's even better). I'm pretty sure the UN have not had the heads up on the imminent arrival of little green men and that Othman will have plenty of other things to keep her busy and won't have to roll out the intergalactic Ferrero Rocher.

[Cortina]

Gliese 581g?

[Snorbs]

It's a typical Daily Mail bullshit story. Mazlan Othman is the director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. That means she heads up the team that negotiates treaties and laws between countries for the cooperative exploitation of space and that sets out policies for dealing with satellite debris etc in earth orbit.

She made a speech recently where she said that if there was any need in the future to have a spokesperson for Earth as a whole in relation to contact with aliens, then the UN would be the best organisation to handle it (which makes sense - who else should do it?) She hasn't been appointed to any "space ambassador" position though because no such position exists. She was just talking hypothetically.

[Cortina]

Just seen this:

www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8033124/Gliese-581g-the-most-Earth-like-planet-yet-discovered.html

Mrs Mills you think that the comments/UN activity is timely then?

Interesting in the comments section of the Telegraph someone suggests sending a radio (?) signal and that it would take approx 40 years to get a response if anything there.

[MrsMills]

Just prepare for the worst