Who do we want to be?
As you know, we don't believe in the discount thing.
But in education we believe. Knowledge is the basis for new ideas – for progress. The foundation of new, better stories.
Can you see the tiny spot of light in the picture? Just a little right of the middle of the picture, in the foggy beam of light? Like a broken pixel?
This is us. Earth. Humanity.
The only place in the cosmos, we know of, that supports life.
A galactic speck of stone and metal. Full of life. Supported by air, soil, and water. And only protected by a thin layer of gas. A closed system, like a spaceship.
Maybe it's time to rethink our role? Maybe it's time to ask: Who do we want to be? Time to find out what our common goal as humans could and should be?
Is it about having ever more? To keep up a system that destroys life on earth?
Or do we want life to flourish? This random creation in the debris of the universe?
Isn't it worth taking care, that everyone benefits of the fulness of our tiny spaceship earth? Permanently?
Maybe take a longer look at the picture. One "Pale Blue Dot" – between billions and billions of other dots. This is the final photo from NASA's Voyager mission. Taken from six billion kilometers away. Composed of 43 individual images.
This image was planned by Carl Sagan. A fascinating person. An admirer of life. A scientist who has pushed the boundaries of what is conceivable. And thought and expressed the science beyond borders – also beyond those of earth. In other words, a wonderful representative of the human species.
At a celebration of his 60th birthday, 28 years ago (sadly he passed away soon after), at his alma mater, Cornell University, he gave a lecture about us: humans.
We transcribed and translated his presentation and the best of the Q&A that followed. Because we believe what Carl Sagan said in his incomparable way is just as valid today as it was then.
But never was it more urgent. Enjoy!
