Humans have always been a species on the move; it’s why we have presences in all but the most inhospitable parts of the planet. But we‘re also a species that thrives on connections.
That’s why technologies that make it easier for us to stay connected tend to do so well. Those which fulfil both needs tend to do even better.
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Prior to the industrial revolution the best you could hope for when it came to moving and staying connected was a cart on land and a sailing ship at sea.
Since then transportation has exploded. A stunning video, commissioned by the Planet Under Pressure conference, and developed and sponsored by anthropocene.info illustrates just how many road and water, and railways have been built since the 1750s.
The progress over the 200 years before 1950 pales in comparison to that of the 62 years since. This period is known as the “Great Acceleration” and has seen massive advances in human technology tied with massive damage to the earth.
The film charts the growth of humanity into a global force on an equivalent scale to major geological processes.
In fact, the video claims that we move more rock and sediment every year than all natural processes combined.
Whether you think what the video shows is a celebration of humanity’s achievements or shows how parasitic we are, you can’t deny that it’s beautifully put together.
Welcome to the Anthropocene from WelcomeAnthropocene on Vimeo.
There’s also an unnarrated version if you feel like something a little more Zen.
‘Welcome to the Anthropocene’ Earth Animation from Globaïa on Vimeo.
