The Blue Marble and the Global Imaginary
The “Blue Marble,” “Earthrise,” and the “Pale Blue Dot,” each one a photograph of our planet Earth (taken from successively further distances), are striking and dramatically beautiful.
“From space I saw Earth — indescribably beautiful with the scars of national boundaries gone.” This sentiment, spoken by Syrian astronaut Muhammad Ahmad Faris, echoes those of many other astronauts upon viewing Earth from space. Astronauts have continually been fascinated and stirred by their views of Earth while in space, returning from their travels with a new sense of appreciation and love for the place we all call our home. The deep blue hues of our oceans juxtaposed with the lush green of landmass, combined with swirling white clouds and the signs of urban development stand in stark contrast to the chilling black emptiness of space. This sight is often a reminder of our unique loneliness in our observed universe, that we as humans all share our collective histories and livelihoods on this planet regardless of our background or nationality.
Global citizenship, to me, is an understanding of the mutual responsibilities we all hold to our world — or, as Carl Sagan once wrote, “the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” We live in an age in which we face the incredibly global threats of climate change, but also have common goals for human development.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to have traveled to a handful of different countries, instilling in me a wanderlust and an itch to explore what lies beyond the familiar. By the conclusion of each trip, I make an effort to have gleaned some new information about the culture or history of a place I have visited — and I have never left not feeling fascinated by the stories I’ve heard and the sights I’ve seen. Each experience has left me caring more deeply about the place I’ve visited and what it has to offer.
In a similar vein, I recognize that my actions can and do have an impact on places other than my city or country, perhaps the very places I have visited. Our potential for problem-solving need not be restricted by our nationality. I identify as a global citizen primarily because of my belief in our shared commitment to preserving our world for future generations, a desire to understand and interact with the richness of our cultural and societal diversity, and an understanding that our best work can be accomplished through collaboration.
Seeing myself as a global citizen certainly does not diminish my ties to the country I live in and the culture I inherit — I take pride in my Indian heritage and American citizenship — and I am aware that I can likely contribute most directly to the communities I am inherently a part of. However, I don’t believe this to be incompatible with global citizenship. I see myself as a global citizen to push myself to think beyond these boundaries so I can strive to be an active participant in work that maximizes our potential and ultimate goal — to preserve and nurture the only Earth we live on.
Citation:
Eichstaedt, Johannes et al. “The Overview Effect: Awe and Self-Transcendent Experiencein Space Flight.” American Psychological Association, 2016. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/cns-cns0000086.pdf
