09/07/2009

It was arguably the greatest event of the 20th Century - man walks on the moon. The goal was political - an attempt to display superiority by one global superpower over another. But the ultimate outcome may have been far more profound than the scientists and politicians every thought possible - an appreciation of the remarkable world we live on.

In this week's One Planet, we asked our space expert Richard Hollingham to explore the idea that the Apollo space missions spawned the environmental movement. By going to the moon, and taking photos of its barren, grey landscape, and then looking back towards our vibrant blue planet, humans were presented with the most striking proof that we have a unique home.

Listen to Richard's piece, and then view our slideshow of pictures taken from the Apollo moon missions. You've likely seen them before, they are after all, truly iconic images. But is it possible to ever tire of seeing the Earth from space?

Also in the show, we have an interview with the Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, and we explore the dilemma between securing economic growth and protecting the environment.

As ever, tune in or download, have a listen and then let us know what you think. Email us at [email protected], or join the team on Facebook if you're a member. There you'll find us debating key environmental and development issues with our listeners throughout the week.