Seeing Our Planet Whole: A Cultural and Ethical View of Earth Observation
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Beschreibung
This book shows how our new-found ability to observe the Earth from “the necessary distance” has wide and profound cultural and ethical implications. First of all, it is the outcome of speculations and investigations of human beings in relation to their home planet carried out over millennia. In particular, it reveals a split between the ancient idea of the Earth as nurturing mother and the more recent conception of the Earth as a neutral resource able to be infinitely exploited by humankind. The 1968 Earthrise photograph, showing the beauty and fragility of the Earth, helped spark a worldwide environmental movement; now the comprehensive coverage of global change provided by satellites has the potential to convince us beyond reasonable doubt of the huge alterations being wrought upon the Earth and its climate system as a result of human actions, and of the need to act more responsibly.
This book shows how our new-found ability to observe the Earth from “the necessary distance” has wide and profound cultural and ethical implications. First of all, it is the outcome of speculations and investigations of human beings in relation to their home planet carried out over millennia. In particular, it reveals a split between the ancient idea of the Earth as nurturing mother and the more recent conception of the Earth as a neutral resource able to be infinitely exploited by humankind. The 1968 Earthrise photograph, showing the beauty and fragility of the Earth, helped spark a worldwide environmental movement; now the comprehensive coverage of global change provided by satellites has the potential to convince us beyond reasonable doubt of the huge alterations being wrought upon the Earth and its climate system as a result of human actions, and of the need to act more responsibly.
Takes a uniquely broad view of earth observation, by focussing less on techno-scientific questions and more on cultural and ethical implications Provides a timely new angle on climate change and other environmental concerns by showing how satellite earth observation can transform our knowledge, understanding and feelings Looks at the implications for environmental democracy of the free and open access policy for satellite Earth Observation data
Autor*in
Harry Eyres
Themen in »Seeing Our Planet Whole: A Cultural and Ethical View of Earth Observation«
satellite climate change earth observation climate change space environmental monitoring earthrise environmental movement anthropocene earth observation climate change impacts
Stimmen zu »Seeing Our Planet Whole: A Cultural and Ethical View of Earth Observation«
“Throughout this work, Eyres urges an informed citizenry to take an active part in the care of Earth’s resources. The text contains helpful footnotes … . Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.” (M. Dickinson, Choice, Vol. 54 (9), May, 2017)
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