Framing planetary geographies: a geographical reading of Sagan's Pale Blue Dot

Abstract

This reflection piece explores what can be learned from Sagan’s book Pale Blue Dot (1994) when viewed through a geographer’s lens. From this perspective, three themes are identified: (1) the view of nature, (2) urban and rural dimensions, and (3) environmental change. These themes are examined in relation to contemporary Nordic examples, highlighting societal challenges linked to changing natural environments due to climate change. Sagan urges us to understand events in specific places and how they interrelate with other places - whether locally, globally, or on a planetary scale. Building on this, I propose to revisit the question: Why like this, right here? As a starting point for capturing Earthly multitudes.