"I discovered that the beauty isn't out there, it's down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered." ~ William Shatner (Captain Kirk, Star Trek)

Is our Planet tiny, incredible, and threatened by human activity? This quote by William Shatner – Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek – answers yes!

SHATNER’S MESSAGE
🚀 In 2021, 90-year-old Shatner went to space on a Blue Origin-powered capsule.
😪 In his new memoir “Boldly Go”, Shatner describes his surprising experience. Surprising because he was overwhelmed with sadness and “the strongest feelings of grief” he’s ever had!
🌏 This feeling is called the “overview effect”.

WHAT IS THE “OVERVIEW EFFECT”?
🪐 Term coined by space philosopher Frank White, who describes it as “a cognitive and emotional shift in a person’s awareness, their consciousness and their identity when they see the Earth from space… in the context of the universe”.
☄️ The effect is experienced by everyone who travels to space. Each person’s reaction is unique, but some elements are shared.
👩‍🚀 Many astronauts report a greater understanding of how precious and fragile Earth is, and how its existence as we know it is threatened by human-caused climate change.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?
🌍 The dire state of Earth is a hard truth.
🤝 We can despair and give in to disaster paralysis. Or we can act toward 3P Sustainability (Planet, People, Prosperity) and be part of the solution. All of us – governments, institutions, and individuals as citizens and consumers.
🖖🏻 Joined-up, urgent action to solve the extinction-climate crisis is the only way to ensure that human and non-human species “Live Long and Prosper”!

WHAT’S HUMAN-NATURE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
🐾 Shatner’s book talks about the broken human-nature connection and how fixing it is crucial to solve the extinction-climate crisis.
👏 We agree!
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🔗 Check out our other blog posts for tips on how to boost your nature-connection!
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