'The long-term survival of the human race is at risk as long as it is confined to a single planet. Sooner or later, disasters such as an asteroid collision or nuclear war could wipe us all out. But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe,' Hawking argued.

.... long term... yes! the earth has only finite rescources and one day they will all be used up. we need to travel into space in order to safeguard the human race.... that is, assuming that we dont kill orselves in some religious war beforehand!

Aslong as it's way in the future when I'm not around I don't really care where people live.

It should not be necessary. The Earth has everything the we need as long as we don´t destroy it. Some may argue that the human population is too big, but the vast majority of it live in subhuman conditions and the resources destruction has nothing to do with them, but it´s done by a minority. I think this idea of living in the space is a rubish fantasy, we will not have enought time to evolve science that much before the planet eventually colapses and our race is destroyed.