BECOMING A CONSERVATIONIST IS THE BIGGEST ASSET OF ALL TIMES AND IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK

 What I am about to tell you next will be on your mind for a couple of days at least and what will, probably, make you change your mind about how you view your life and the meaning of it.

It’s a great story, a short one but with a lot of  depth and a great and inspiring lesson to teach us all just right below here.

September 16th, 2011

After spending 178 days aboard the international Space Station, astronaut Ron Gran returned to Earth carrying something far heavier than any equipment-a transformed understanding of humanity.

From orbit, Earth doesn’t look like a collection of countries or borders. It appears as a single, radiant blue sphere suspended in darkness.

No lines divide continents. No flags mark territory. From 250 miles (403km’s) above the surface, human conflicts suddenly look small- and human connections unavoidable.

Garan watched lightning storms ripple across continents, auroras dance like living curtains over the poles, and city lights glow softly against the night side of the planet.

What struck him most wasn’t Earth’s power, but it’s fragility. The atmosphere protecting all life appeared as a paper-thin blue halo-barely visible, yet responsible for everything that breathes, grows, and survives.

That view triggered what astronauts call the overview effect-a profound shift in awareness. 

The realization that humanity shares a single, closed system.

No backups. No escape route.No second home.

From space, Garan began questioning humanity’s priorities. On earth, economic growth is often treated as the ultimate goal. From orbit, that hierarchy collapses. 

The correct order becomes clear: PLANET first, society second, economy last-because without a healthy planet, neither society nor economy can exist.

He compares Earth to a spacecraft carrying billions of crew members, all dependent on the same life system. Yet many behave like passengers instead of caretakers.

From orbit, pollution has no nationality. Climate ignores borders. The divisions we defend on the ground simply don’t exist from above.

Seeing Earth from space didn’t make him feel small. It made him feel accountable.

Because once you understand we’re all riding the same fragile spacecraft through the universe, the idea of “us versus them” disappears.

There is only one “us”

After returning to Earth, this led to real changes in both his habits and life direction, including:

• Living more consciously and sustainably, being mindful of consumption and environmental impact
• Shifting priorities away from purely material success toward service and global well-being
• Dedicating his career to problem-solving on Earth, particularly in areas like clean water, sustainability, and humanitarian efforts
• Founding and working with organizations such as Fragile Oasis, focused on addressing global challenges through collaboration

Garan’s story provides a powerful message,

• Earth is fragile
• All systems (environment, people, resources) are interconnected
• Individual actions have global consequences

This moment becomes the spark for conservation values.

Garan’s realization that “we are the crew” aligns directly with conservation thinking:

• If you are part of the crew, you are responsible for maintenance
• Damaging the environment is like damaging your own life-support system
• He highlights that humans should be caretakers, not owners, of the planet.

He felt accountable.

He changed how he lived:

• He reduced waste and consumption
• He became an advocate for sustainability
• He worked to protect ecosystems and resources

You don’t need a mission to space to gain this perspective. Education, empathy, and observation of environmental damage can inspire the same responsibility.

You can join the mission HERE on Earth, as part of the crew.