If you want to contribute to evolutionary progress in our generation, help secure the immortality of life from Earth, and become a part of changes in our universe, here is a chance. We are at a key moment in geological time in which man can technologically destroy himself (and possibly life of Earth) -- in our generation.
You can go down in the digital record of history as part of the solution (taking responsibility), not part of the problem (e.g., just another self-centered hedonistic mouse potato). "Did you *DO* something in 2004?" With the advent of the internet, you go down in digital history every day, including your opinions, actions ... and inaction when you could have. To know but do nothing about it is questionable.
You do not need to send money in order to participate in PERMANENT and be a member. We just need to get to know you and knowledge of what you may be interested in doing with us or any of our associates. We do not pressure volunteers to send us money. Our main focus is participation leading to results, not raising small amounts of money from many individuals. If you wish to become a member, you may do so by contributing time, energy, and skill in a way which you choose. The next chapter gives a "To Do List" which we've drawn up to date.
However, some people don't have time to help out, but want to support our efforts with a monetary contribution. Donations allow us to spend more time developing PERMANENT. We are quite constrained by lack of resources. Specifically what we need money to do is discussed in our Budget page. You can contact us at projects@permanent.com (just remember the first word in our acronym -- Projects to Employ...).
PERMANENT is not a tax-deductible, nonprofit 501c3 organization, and thus contributions are not tax deductible. If you would like to assist in setting up and/or running this kind of organization, please contact us. Setting up a 501c3 nonprofit entity is an item that has been considered for a long time, but has not been done for lack of time and personnel, and in view of other priorities to date. Perhaps the time has come to set up such an entity, now that PERMANENT has become established in substantial ways.
We don't want to reinvent the wheel. Our focus is on developing a sustainable business to make PERMANENT happen. Already, there are far more than enough engineers, government contractors, and political advocates. We can help them, but technical and political matters are not our focus. Creating a sustainable business to support the engineering implementation by the purely private sector is our focus.
If you insist on contributing to a nonprofit 501c3 organization, then we would recommend one focussed on technical research and development, such as the Space Studies Institute (SSI), which is entirely dependent upon private funding, as they fill research gaps not supported by the government or other private entities. They are discussed in several sections of this book. They are very technical and apolitical, not engaged in public affairs, and limited in their efforts at outreach. They are performing fundamental research that is valuable for any private sector entity that wants to utilize space resources, and work in conjunction with other organizations.
If instead you are just interested in purchasing public stock, consider the SpaceDev Corporation run by James Benson. For information on them, see chapter 8.
We're here to reach out to new people and companies, to work together with others synergistically, hopefully to prevent "reinvention of the wheel" and wastes of time and energy which occurs all too often, and to be a catalyst for new projects. There are many projects that never get off the ground for various reasons, and we are here to make a difference.
In short, we explore various ways of working with other organizations and individuals in mutually beneficial and equitable ways, and are filling some of the critical gaps in the field today, mainly in developing viable mission scenarios for the private sector, and helping new entities come up to speed in the field.
If you have too little time and availability, please visit our Budget page for ways you can contribute in substantive ways quickly.
