The Oceanic Bridge

To begin the task of fulling one of my dreams; a dream to build a bridge that physically connects South America and Africa, I have decided to move beyond verbalization with random colleagues and confidants and move to placing and researching my idea in a more public manner. So far I realize that my idea is a lofty one and for many that I have talked to it sounds pretty impossible. But, for me, I like all the challenges it presents (physical, technical, social, political, financial, cultural, environmental, etc.) and to top it off it would be amazing for people to journey across such a structure-it will surely test us.

I began exploring this idea, in my own head, sometime around 2001/2002, and since then I have flirted with it, but now I feel that just to simply have this idea is not enough. I need to explore it fully and in some respects that exploration might be sufficient in satisfying my passion alone. So here I am, at the beginning.

I suppose the likely beginning is why a bridge and why South America, namely Brazil, and why Africa, principally West Africa. Well, my reasons are fairly simple yet the assumptions that underlay them are quite powerful. I believe that inside each and every one of us lives a motivation, however small, to experience the larger world-to migrate, move, connect, push, pull, and identify with each other. The ocean-in all its intensity, beauty, and awe, is an adventure. It is also a friend and foe and something about it gives us a sense that it may be a great equalizer when matched against all of humanities' might and intellect. For me, imagining the impossible gets me excited and it almost seems naive that earth, spanning across thousands of miles of water, rooted in vastly unique circumstances on either side can be joined. Well then, the great thinkers, builders, and visionaries of our time and time to come could certainly take a concept and make it more real--for we are all inventors and scientists. This is why a bridge and why South America and West Africa.

Here is a general outline of areas I need to explore or items I need to do in no particular order, necessarily:

-Learn about humanity's relationship with and views of bridges.
-Learn about bridges-their structure, purpose, uses, etc.
-Learn about the geographic areas where I would like to see the bridges built.
-Examine the situational realities of humanity (physical, technical, social, political, financial, cultural, environmental, etc.) that would impact/influence a project of this undertaking.
-Try modeling/building virtual bridges, structurally speaking, to see the physical feasibility and challenges of the proposed bridge.
- And on and on and so forth......I m sure the list will grow as I begin to realize the entirety of such an idea.....