 As a science journalist specialized in astrophysics and astronautics, in the 1990's I participated in TV shows on the subject of extraterrestrial civilizations. Not only journalists and scientists were in the show, but also people from religious organizations like Jehovah�s Witnesses. They had to answer the question if a hypothetical God could have created these hypothetical other intelligent beings (they believed he did). The organizers of the show also brought in some people who claim - and seem to believe - to have met extraterrestrials here on Earth. Some of them should even have been transported into space in an alien space ship. In short, they had been kidnapped in a more or less friendly or sometimes hostile way. By listening to their testimonies it became more and more obvious to most of us that those people had been suffering from hallucinations. But their stories appeared more sensational than reality and they stole the show. The scientists, astronauts and writers among us were disappointed for not having been offered the opportunity to inform the public. So I decided to write a book on extraterrestrial intelligence. It was published in October 1987 by VUBPress, the publishing company of the Flemish Free University of Brussels. Price : then some 400 Bfr, today 12,50 �. In this book I expose two viewpoints. First :If you count the stars, you must conclude the universe would be rather absurd if it only contained one civilization. There are some hundred billion galaxies in our universe and in each galaxy there are hundred to two hundred billion stars. At least half of them have planets. Second : But the story of evolution tells us that the emergence of life and especially intelligent life apparently is the result of a chain of billions and billions of coincidences. Are we the anomaly of the universe ? Did we win the cosmic lottery ?(*) a) In that case the fate of the universe is in our hands. Within us, this aware part of the universe, the universe starts to know itself. If we spoil it and perish, the universe will loose its memory and awareness. (*) I was pleased to read an article by French astrophysisistChristian Magnan in the October 2008 edition of the monthly scientific magazine Ciel & Espace in which he suggests "that we might have won the cosmic lottery". Similar suggestions are found in the October 2008 edition of Science & Vie in two articles by Serge Brunier about "Une Terre Unqie" (A Unique Earth). b) Is it really a coincidence ? Can we accept the anthropological principle, suggesting that our existence is a built-in event ? That intelligent life is a natural phenomenon probably as inevitable as a stone falling to earth ? Conclusion ? Read the book. It contains very personal ideas and contemplation. Among others, the in my view important one that we should start by understanding the life forms that surround us on our planet and treat them as our relatives. Together with them we are the thoughts and feelings of planet Earth. I�ll admit that my ideas on this matter coincide greatly with Buddhist and Jain conceptions. Or just humanist conceptions, extended to the animal world. Yes, I�m moralizing. Because, as Rabelais wrote : "Science sans conscience n�est que ru�ne de l��me" - "Science without conscience is but ruin of the soul".  The reviews of the book in the Flemish press were unanimously positive. But it has one shortage for English readers : it was written in Dutch. And to have it translated and published in English ? Well, I honestly and modestly think it�s worth translating. But in the English speaking community all over the world, there are already many books on this subject. Mine is among those of good quality, all right, but I lack the quality of selling myself - if that may be considered a quality. 
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