#three-state

Evolving Cellular Automata

Another project from Loren Schmidt, this is a rule-generator for cellular automata.

Cellular automata are handy, compact examples of emergent effects. The most well-known example is Conway’s Game of Life, which is a two-state cellular automata with the rules “B3/S23″. Cells are Born if they have three neighbors, and they Survive if they have 2 or 3. Other rules are possible: “B36/S23″, “B36/S125“, and “B4678/S35678“ are a few of the more interesting known rules.

This rule generator creates three-state automata, which opens up even more possibilities. It also uses evolutionary algorithms to create the next generation of rules: click on a pattern and get a set of rules similar to that pattern.

You can also save the rules you like in a numerical format you can use elsewhere, or go back to a saved rule and try evolving down a different path.

When people say they want a two state solution to the Palestinian Question what they are in fact calling for is a three state solution - Israel, West Bank and Gaza (and indeed that is effectively what we now have).  The study of how nation-states formed, sustained themselves or failed suggests that logistically, physically and politically, the concept of one nation-state of Palestine separated into two geographically distant parts and with a hostile nation between them is not a recipe for long term stability or viability.  Returning to the 1967 borders, even if Israel respected those borders, would seem at first like some kind of belated justice but where is the justice in re-establishing a nation divided from the onset?

I used to call for a 'One-State Solution' but now I realise that the only way to make that work would be to neutralise Jerusalem as a symbolic capital of Israel or Palestine.  Jerusalem would have to be its own independent nation-city-state as I have depicted in this image.  If Jerusalem is separate then what I am proposing becomes a two-state solution of Palestine, State of Israel and Jerusalem, International City of Faith.

However, for this solution to work, Israel would have to accept a new name, the Palestinian right to return (if not to original homes then at least to the country as equal citizens) and would have to write a new inclusive constitution that guarantees equal political and legal rights for all citizens regardless of faith, colour, origin or ethnicity.  It would mean new laws, new passports and new infrastructure such as changing signs to be at least bi if not tri-lingual (Hebrew, Arabic and maybe English)