Geopolitics, Globalisation and World Systems

Abstract

On 7 December 1972, an astronaut on the Apollo 17 space mission shot a series of photographs of the earth. One of these images, designated AS17-148-22727, was destined to become a symbol of the oneness of the earth. As described by Cosgrove (1994, p. 270): ‘It captured, centerframe and with perfect resolution, the full terracqueous disk without a solar shadow or “terminator.” The whole Earth, geography’s principal object of study, had been photographed by a human eyewitness.’ In the years which followed, this photographic image of the planet has supplanted the Mercator map and the cartographer’s globe as an icon of the Earth.

When you’re finally up at the moon looking back at earth, all those differences and nationalistic traits are pretty well going to blend and you’re going to get a concept that maybe this is really one world and why the hell can’t we learn to live together like decent people.

American astronaut Frank Borman, quoted in Newsweek (23 December 1968)

The only way to stop this evil is for all the red men to unite in claiming a common and equal right in the land, as it was at first, and should be now — for it never was divided, but belongs to all … Sell a country! Why not sell the air, the clouds and the great sea, as well as the earth? Did not the Great Spirit make them all for the use of his children?

Shawnee leader, Tecumseh (1810)