Sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke's 90th b'day; Russian cosmonaut

(16 Dec 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Science fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke being wheeled into surprise birthday party thrown by his friends at his Colombo home
2. Tilt down of Clarke cutting birthday cake
3. Clarke and friends at party
4. Retired Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov, guest at the party, wishing Clarke a happy birthday
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sir Arthur C.Clarke, Science Fiction Writer:
"I would like to see some evidence of extraterrestrial life. I've always believed that we are not alone in the universe, but we are still waiting for ET (fictional extraterrestrial being) to call us or give us some kind of sign. We have no way of guessing when this might happen."
6. Clarke cutting cake at celebration ceremony thrown by the Sri Lankan government and attended by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan President:
"Sir Arthur has been fortunate to see many of his dreams come true. And I assure you, Sir Arthur, that my administration will do all within its powers to make a reality of your desire, (for) a lasting peace in Sri Lanka."
8.Pull out of Clarke cutting cake UPSOUND: applause
9. Leonov presenting Clarke and Rajapaksa with gifts on behalf of the Federation of Cosmonauts of Russia
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexey Leonov , Retired Russian Astronaut:
"My very old, but old is very young, friend Arthur Clarke."
11. Wide of Leonov at podium
12. SOUNDBITE (Russian with English Translation) Alexey Leonov , Retired Russian Astronaut:
"The past century went into history as an era of wars and revolutions."
13. Mid shot of Leonov with Clarke
STORYLINE:
Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke listed three wishes on his 90th birthday on Sunday: for the world to embrace cleaner energy resources, for a lasting peace in his adopted home, Sri Lanka, and for evidence of extraterrestrial beings.
"I have always believed that we are not alone in this universe," Clarke told AP Television.
He said that humans were still waiting for extraterrestrial beings to "to call us or give us some kind of sign".
The British-born author who wrote more than 100 science-fiction books, including "2001: A Space Odyssey" celebrated his birthday with close friends at home in Colombo where he lives.
Clarke also attended a small gathering of scientists, astronauts and government officials at a ceremony in his honour thrown by the Sri Lankan government and attended by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Retired Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov, who took the first walk in space in March 1965 and was a guest at Clarke's birthday party and at the celebration ceremony. He presented Clarke with a medal from the Federation of Cosmonauts of Russia.
Clarke's fiction predicted space travel before rockets were even test fired and envisioned computers dominating ordinary lives.
On Sunday, Clarke urged the world to consider switching to environmentally friendly fuels - just one day after delegates at a United Nations Conference in Indonesia agreed to a blueprint for fighting global warming by 2009.
He also said he wished to see a lasting peace established in Sri Lanka.
Clarke moved to Sri Lanka in 1954 and became a resident guest - meaning he can stay permanently without a resident's visa - in 1975.
Since then, an ethnic conflict has flared and continues to rage between government forces and Tamil Tiger separatists on the tropical island.
More than 70-thousand people have been killed in the fighting.
Clarke, who suffers from post-polio syndrome and is confined to a wheelchair, was knighted in 1998.

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