Earth Photography

As Squarzoni’s girlfriend points out, the image of the Earth taken in 1972 by the last Apollo mission is the one recalled every time we want to see our planet. I find it fascinating that she says we use the image that fits our mindset, and that it is flawed in the sense that half of the Earth is always dark. The photo is established in our minds as what Earth looks like all the time. This is not the case. Photographs freeze time. This specific moment is immortal because it is the only image that we have where Earth is accurately shown as round. However, right now, it does not look the same. Forty years later, the ice caps have melted tremendously and pollution has worsened. If this image was repeated today, it would look much different. In fact, if there was a video taken, one would see how unstable the weather is and how out of balance water is distributed. The fact that people still see the world as one photo shows just how unaware they are of the constantly changing atmosphere. They are unaware of the damage being caused.

The part about water scarcity reminds me of Memory of Water. I didn’t think that by 2025, even first world countries, and even cities, would have droughts. By that time, it won’t even be reserved for the first world countries–people will probably be fighting over the water and starting wars. The governments could even seize the water supply just like in Emmï Ataranta’s novel. I envisioned the book coming to life.

I can already see some of Squarzoni’s panel in real life. I’ve heard of droughts in America, even. Farmers can’t grow their crops and that sucks for the economy. We see the increase in precipitation with constant storms. I have noticed more rain than usual in recent years. (Although New York weather is usually pretty bipolar anyway). It’s crazy that warming will be accompanied “by an increase in precipitation of about 5% to 20%” overall. This is changing water on Earth. It’s changing the very structures that sustain life.

It also sucks that we use so much gas and oil. I feel that there is a real demand for engineers to come up with something good, and something good quick. We need efficiency and energy conservation. We cannot let civilization crumble due to our own stubbornness and greed! We must be persistent. Sheesh, reading this book gets me really riled up.