An activist launched a $200,000 crowdfunding campaign to pay for a ticket on the first manned mission to Mars.

Trip to Mars [by Richard Milburn]Skye, aged 23 and currently living in Brighton, explained her motivation, “At the moment it’s only rich people from corporations who are going. Who will raise awareness about environmental issues and ensure the rights of Martians are protected?”

Skye has a long history of activism at university and has been working for environmental and human rights groups since. She’s been on more marches than she’s had hot breakfasts (she became a fruitarian aged 16, so has not cooked anything since then), and proudly displays the wooden placard she has used for the last 5 years.

“I’m going to take it with me to Mars. We must be able to protest, and waving wooden placards is the best way to do that. But I’m going to have to modify it, there’s no pens and paper on Mars – I’m going to attach an etch-a-sketch to the top so I can make lots of signs for all the issues I’ll need to protest about.”

When asked if she was concerned about the carbon emissions from her trip, she admitted she had lost sleep over it. “It’s difficult, but I think in this case the ends justify the means. We need activists on Mars.”