The Center For Planetary Identity
Do We Understand What It Means To Live On A Planet?
Global Crises Require Planetary Awareness and Identity
What Does “Planetary Identity” Mean?
Planetary identity is the felt experience of a sense of belonging to the whole of planet Earth which includes the entire natural environment as well as the intricate web of life that weaves together humanity and its built environments and nations with all of nature and Earth’s entire biosphere.
Presently, the world is faced with increasingly global-scale threats to the very sustainability of modern civilization. World-scale problems require world-scale solutions. But, at this same moment there is also a rising tide of separatism and partisanship that is dividing identity groups into tribal conflicts.
Yet research shows that there is today little felt sense of awareness of our planetary existence, and virtually no sense of planetary identity to influence our decisions and support for planetary issues. Exclusive national identity and sovereignty minimizes efforts at global solutions to global threats.
The mission of the Center for Planetary Identity is to bring Planetary Awareness, and eventually, a greater sense of Planetary Identity into world culture as one way to bring about greater unity in dealing with world-scale threats to civilization. We invite all concerned citizens to join us in this effort.
See How We Can Change The World Together
The Problems & Solutions of Planetary Identity
Why We Exist
We live on a planet; a fact known throughout the modern world. Yet day to day it rarely enters our minds or shapes our choices, let alone our identity. People identify with family, community, religious, ethnic and cultural groups, but on the world stage, national identity is dominant, supported by common land, history, and patriotic symbols. There is no larger, more inclusive center of world identification than nations, and their interwoven identity groups – other than the planet itself! Yet, we have little visceral sense of our planetary existence.
Overview Effect
In recent decades, space travel and the words and images of the astronauts have brought us a greater sense of the planet; termed the Overview Effect. But Earth images and verbal descriptions have far less of a sense of reality than the little bit we experience personally, combined with education, the internet, and the heritage and symbols of group and national identity, we fail to see the biggest picture.
Reasons For CFPI
And the world is currently facing ever-increasing crises and challenges to the very sustainability of our present structure of civilization; world-scale problems, which no single nation or group can solve. Yet, at this same moment, when world unity is most needed, political, cultural, and other separatist philosophies and movements are fragmenting a rather fragile world order.
Future Outreach
Over the next few months, we will outline a comprehensive three-pronged program to support the proliferation of Planetary Awareness and Identity through world culture. It will include continuing Research, Public Education, and a Media R&D Lab.
“I am advocating nothing less than shifting the worldview of our civilization to a Planetary Identity, uniting rather than subverting the identities we gain through our nations, communities, cultures, races, and religions; allowing us to achieve a common ground from which to deal with the rising global challenges we must meet to build a sustainable future.”
David Beaver, Co-Founder of The Overview Institute & The Center For Planetary Identity
