Posted on 09/08/2011 8:08:15 PM PDT by cold start
India Pakistani border
This picture shows the illuminated man-made border between India and Pakistan,the line snaking through the landscape, as seen from the International Space Station on August 21, 2011. Of the hundreds of clusters lights, the largest are the capital cities of Islamabad, Pakistan, and New Delhi, India. Credit: NASA/Ron Garan
There is an oft-repeated and perhaps beautiful saying that you cant see political borders from space. Well, it turns out that saying isnt true; not anymore. ISS astronaut Ron Garan took this image recently which clearly shows the border between India and Pakistan. Since 2003, India has illuminated the border with Pakistan by floodlights in attempt to prevent ammunition trafficking and the infiltration of terrorists.
Since the beginning of human spaceflight fifty years ago, astronauts have reflected on how peaceful, beautiful, and fragile the Earth looks from space, Garan wrote on his Fragile Oasis blog. These reflections are not clichés that astronauts say because it feels good. It is truly moving to look at the Earth from space.
But seeing this clearly visible political border was sobering for Garan and his crewmates.
Realizing what this picture depicted had a big impact on me, he said. When viewed from space, Earth almost always looks beautiful and peaceful. However, this picture is an example of man-made changes to the landscape in response to a threat, clearly visible from space. This was a big surprise to me.
Garan added, however, that the point here is not that we can look down at the Earth and see a man-made border between India and Pakistan. The point is that we can look down at that same area and feel empathy for the struggles that all people face, he said. We can look down and realize that we are all riding through the Universe together on this spaceship we call Earth, that we are all interconnected, that we are all in this together, that we are all family.
Garan said he believes our world is a place where possibilities are limited only by our imagination and our will to act. It is within our power to eliminate the suffering and poverty that exist on our planet, he said.
So India lights up their border. Sounds like a good idea. If India can do it, why can’t we?
So India lights up their border. Sounds like a good idea. If India can do it, why can’t we?
So India lights up their border. Sounds like a good idea. If India can do it, why can’t we?
Sorry about the triple post. FR is dragging. It looks like China is also dark.
So the Indians can build a big long lighted fence, but the Americans are too incompetent to put one on their own border?
“So India lights up their border. Sounds like a good idea. If India can do it, why cant we?”
It would take 32 thousand people to seal the border at 1 per every 300 feet.
How many Jobs can be created by that? I like it!
“Pakistanis dont really make very good neighbours.”
Or how about:
Muslims don’t make very good neighbors.
None. They’d be public service jobs.
32,000 jobs with millions on welfare
I am really impressed with the way they have done this fence. And one of our own bears discussion for the Mexican border.
Again, 32k jobs paid for by the public.
If you want to force welfare folks to guard the border, by all means. I’m just saying that that might not be the best idea.
Again, 32k jobs paid for by the public.
If you want to force welfare folks to guard the border, by all means. I’m just saying that that might not be the best idea.
You’ve been watching too much tv.
Nice one. :)
Freegards.. :)
Which side of the Rio Grande do you want your fence?
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