A fantastic video has been created by Globaïa that shows all the transportation routes around our planet Earth, including all the roads, shipping lanes, and flight paths, linking the continents together.
The animation was created by Globaïa for the short film ‘Welcome to the Anthropocene’ commissioned for the Planet Under Pressure conference. At this conference, scientists discussed the possibility of starting a new geological era, called the Anthropocene. This era encapsulates the period of geological, environmental, and biological transformation of the planet by humans.
Understanding the Anthropocene
The name Anthropocene has been created from “anthropo,” which means human, and “-cene,” meaning new, and refers to the effect of humans on Earth’s ecosystems. Wikipedia explains:
“The Anthropocene is a recent and informal geologic chronological term that serves to mark the evidence and extent of human activities that have had a significant global impact on the Earth’s ecosystems. The term was coined by ecologist Eugene F. Stoermer but has been widely popularized by the Nobel Prize-winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen, who regards the influence of human behavior on the Earth’s atmosphere in recent centuries as so significant as to constitute a new geological era for its lithosphere.
In 2008, a proposal was presented to the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society of London to make the Anthropocene a formal unit of geological time.”
Implications of the Anthropocene
The concept of the Anthropocene has profound implications for how we understand our impact on the planet. It suggests that human activities, from industrialization to urbanization, have fundamentally altered the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. This era is characterized by significant changes such as increased carbon dioxide levels, widespread deforestation, and the mass extinction of species.
For example, the extensive network of transportation routes depicted in Globaïa’s video highlights the extent of human connectivity and mobility. Roads, shipping lanes, and flight paths not only facilitate global trade and travel but also contribute to environmental degradation through pollution and habitat destruction.
Moreover, the Anthropocene concept encourages us to rethink our relationship with nature. It calls for sustainable practices and policies that mitigate our impact on the environment. For instance, adopting renewable energy sources, promoting conservation efforts, and reducing waste are crucial steps toward a more sustainable future.
The video by Globaïa serves as a visual reminder of the interconnectedness of our world and the collective responsibility we share in preserving it. By understanding the Anthropocene, we can better appreciate the urgency of addressing environmental challenges and work towards a more harmonious coexistence with our planet.
Source: Gizmodo
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