“We’re living a lie,” he stated. The astronaut also pointed out how problems like global warming, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity are treated as isolated issues when, in fact, they are symptoms of a larger problem: human disconnection with the planet. “From space, it becomes clear that we do not see each other as part of a whole.” “As long as we do not change this mentality, we will continue to be in crisis,” he said.

The solution, according to Garan, is a radical change of priorities. Instead of thinking about “economy, society, planet”, we should reverse the order: “planet, society, economy”. This simple exchange reflects the need to place environmental health as the basis for all other decisions.

~ Ron Garan, a former NASA astronaut

Earth from Apollo – photo by NASA