The
World Affairs Council of Wilmington |
Understanding |
World Image Info |
|
POSC/COMM444-011 & 080 |
|
Updated 1/7/02 |
The image of the world
shown on these pages depicts the world at night as seen from
space. It is a composite satellite photograph taken by NASA,
probably over many nights (to avoid cloud cover) and
stitched together digitally. The lights you see as you
peruse this image are actual lights on the earth,
illuminating dramatically the portions of the world which
are "developed" and those which are not. Presumably, the
Arctic and Antarctic continents, and some countries in the
north Atlantic are illuminated by moonlight reflecting from
ice and snow. I chose this image for
Global Agenda because it helps explain, in one way, why
foreign policy makers and media generally focus their
attentions on certain regions and ignore others. (It doesn't
justify that; it only explains
it.) You will find it
interesting to carefully examine the enlarged image; it is
extremely detailed. See if you can identify pockets of
"civilization" as defined by the limited criterion of
electric lighting. To learn more, directly
from NASA, click
here.
Back to the
top