Ending a long, hot day outside on the newly painted deck (the sealant used has an odour akin to that of the bilges of a Kalk Bay fishing boat), gazing out into the universe. The Southern Cross is overhead, with the blurred patches of the many star clusters in Eta Carina to the west and familiar Orion heading towards the horizon. If you stand there long enough, you will see satellites sweeping across the blackness before passing into the Earth's shadow and becoming invisible. Tonight a series of 60 Starlink satellites will be launched to add to the debris encircling our world and perhaps increasing the barrier between life on Earth and whatever else may be out there. In February, I was part of a group who chanced to see a string of 30 Starlink satellites stretched across the sky in a very low orbit just after launch and to say it was a surreal experience doesn't quite describe it. I don't know if I will ever see such a thing again - science fiction in real life.
The purpose of these satellites is to bring 5G to the whole world and this very controversial technology has caused heated discussions between the factions on each end of the 'what I believe in' spectrum, with nobody producing an entirely satisfactory argument either for or against. Much is made of the anti-5G brigade as being misinformed about its effect on people, but I would venture to say that the concern should rather be directed at its effect on birds and insects, who are in effect the lifeblood of this planet. This is the aspect that needs to be proven one way or the other and I have yet to find someone who has the answer.
We, the human race, are currently being taught a valuable life lesson by Nature - whether we learn anything from it or not remains to be seen. Previous diseases (the Black Plague, Spanish Flu) and ongoing wars throughout history have wiped out millions of people, but this time it seems Man wants to beat Nature at its game. What are the chances?
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