I guess I'll look seriously into starting to use Gimp, Xara LX and Inkscape. Are there any good open source photo editors / bitmap graphics applications?

<quote><p>Literally, all the tourism "goods" that Maldives can generate will disappear.</p></quote>

Except for scuba diving... In the future it can maybe even be combined with "goods" (aka "treasure") hunting. How knows, maybe it will be even more profitable? ;-P

So, let's first make mars and then the whole solar system our dumpster of overconsumption, right?

I agree with the GP's thinking, in that moderating the lifestyle on earth to sustainable levels, and developing renewable energy sources from sun and nature should be humanity's priorities over showing national muscles in the space.