|  |     	While I do not support some of the stronger attitudes of the
    L5 Society, it is almost a fact - based on the past history of
    humanity's explorations - that, barring a major disaster, we will
    almost certainly colonize the other planets and moons, and eventually
    the other stellar systems.
    
    	You may find colonizing Antarctica an unpleasant thought, but
    it is already evidient that thousands of people have thought otherwise;
    and traveling to an entirely new world is even more interesting.
                        
    	Larry
    
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|  |     I recommend the National Space Society and/or the Planetary Society,
    depending on where your prejudices lie.  The NSS is soon to merge
    with L5.  This does not thrill me, but perhaps it will merge the
    "solid citizen" credibility of the NSS with the activist fervor
    of L5 and come up with something better than both.
    
    NSS is a very large organization which does the standard educational
    things, has local chapters, etc, and also testifies before Congress.
    It makes an impression before committees to say that our society
    represents nn-thousand people who freely put their money where there
    mouth is, and we think...
    
    The Planetary Society has gotten some bad press from people-in-space
    enthusiasts lately as a mouthpiece for Carl Sagan, anti-people in
    space, etc.  I don't find this true.  They have presented both sides
    of the people issue fairly, in my view.  One of their advantages
    is that they actually fund things.  For example, SETI research,
    asteroid searching, etc.
    
    Burns
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|  |     I've been a member of the Planetary Society for some time and have
    enjoyed their mag and invites to events in California, (not exactly
    local to Boston.) I have received solicitations from the amateur
    space telescope group, but could not obtain a phone number, or a
    listing for them in the town they mailed from. Are they for real?
    Sounds like a nice project..but??$$??
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