- Specialized GAIASHIP Activity Centers
-
- The Gaia Globe
- © 2002 Gaia Ship Foundation
- GAIASHIP Ocean Center
The GAIASHIP
Ocean Center will be the headquarters of
the proposed Ocean Society, whose principal objectives will be:
- To focus on trends and developments concerning the marine environment and other ocean-related events and activities that are likely to have a major impact on the way we live now and will live in the future.
- To act as a neutral clearing-house for information and a forum for debate and education for individuals, organizations and other bodies interested in the present welfare and future sustainable development of the global marine environment.
- To spread serious, factual information about the condition of the world's seas and oceans. The Society will inform and educate, helping to increase concern for, and encourage better management of, the worldwide marine environment.
- To campaign for the creation of a Nobel Ocean Prize to be awarded each year to the person or persons who have contributed significantly to the well-being of the seas and oceans and the sustainable development of the world's marine resources.
- GAIASHIP Cross-Cultural Center
- To strengthen cross-cultural relations and increase popular understanding of multi-cultural values is the main philosophy behind the establishment of the GAIASHIP Cross-Cultural Center. The Center will undertake a number of on-going projects with the aim of improving communication between people of differing nationalities, races, cultures and religions throughout the world.
- The types of project and the areas in which the Center can contribute to better mutual cross-cultural understanding are exemplified by the following topics:
· The art of meeting other cultures
· The ABC of multi-cultural relations
· Culture shock: emigration and foreign postings
· The voices of cultural diversity
· Cross-cultural trends in future society
· Appreciating multi-cultural arts, music, cuisine, etc
- Sir Arthur C. Clarke Future Studies Center
- International Media and IT Center
- This Center will support all the activities on board the ship and will include the following functions:
A proposed joint activity
of the World Future Society (WFS) and the Sir Arthur C Clarke Space &
Communications Center, this on-board center will study Sir Arthur's many
futuristic ideas, but principally his major life-long interests of future
space and communications technologies. The Center can also host some of
the existing WFS functions. Sir Arthur has been a strong supporter of this
project, and he has given GAIASHIP
his
enthusiastic support. Read his letter of support here.
- On-board GAIASHIP TV station with full production facilities
- Internet café
- GAIASHIP website, with links to the many webcams on board.
- TV satellite uplinks
- Press office, archive and photo library
- The IMITC will also publish the GAIASHIP Magazine, for distribution worldwide.
- GAIASHIP Global University
- Planetarium and Observatory
- ArtAsia Health Spa
-
Based on the principles
first established by the Open University and since adopted by many other
similar institutions worldwide, the GAIASHIP
Global University will offer 'distance learning' facilities specializing
in subjects related to the activities on-board the vessel. These could
include cross-cultural studies, ocean environment studies and future studies.
This facility can also help to arrange student exchange programs, scholarships,
etc.
At sea, well away from
the light pollution and atmospheric pollution of most land and coastal
areas,
GAIASHIP
offers an excellent base for astronomical studies. The ship's observatory
could participate in activities of interest to other on-board centers,
such as the SpaceGuard program strongly supported by Sir Arthur C Clarke.
SpaceGuard looks for near-Earth objects that might threaten our future existence.
In addition, for the entertainment
and education of passengers and visitors, the ship could also be equipped
with a planetarium. The top level of the globe seems the obvious place
for this facility.
This facility will not
only offer exercise and relaxation for the passengers, but also a range
of complementary and traditional eastern treatments for a number of conditions.
The spa will organize seminars, lectures, etc in order to inform visitors
of what they can do to improve and safeguard their health - both physical
and mental/spiritual.
