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 identifying with, or having a sense of belonging to, the whole of planet Earth. This includes identifying with the entire natural environment and the intricate web of life that weaves humanity and its built environments with other species, habitats, and Earth's biosphere.

Vitally, such an identity honors the diversity of nations, cultures, and religions while at the same time connecting theses aspects of human experience into an increasingly cohesive whole. Planetary identity shifts the peoples of the Earth toward harmonious co-existence with one another and with nature. Planetary identity enables humanity to unite more easily around what we all have in common – the planet – and to address the global challenges of the 21st century.

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. 

 

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. 

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.  

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.