Foreclosures Unleash the Powers of Nature in Action and Causes Rethinking
Foreclosures have unleashed the powers of Nature in action and caused rethinking of polices. There is talk about shrinking cities and towns while Nature has swung into action in a dance of destruction breaking down impediments to the march of concrete jungles and attendant misery.
It is posing many questions about capitalism – an ‘ism’ that has survived the longest in modern times. The driving force behind capitalism is unbridled exploitation but whenever it becomes too much and immobilizes the majority there is a crisis. Despite this some people on the right tracks are skeptical about the use of so called development funds for the welfare of the deprived. Only 14% of the funds actually reach the targeted masses. The rest is swallowed up by ‘infrastructural costs.’ The much touted development funds are mainly invested in profit-making works without which capital would not accumulate. This would lead to the collapse of the entire system. Actually development is an investment policy that has little to do with the improvement of the living conditions of the masses. It merely sees to the minimum needs without which the masses would become immobile.
The working population cannot be permitted to fall below a certain point when it can no longer produce. Its active participation is a prime condition for capitalistic growth. Their skills too have to be upgraded. The children must live to serve again in the future. That is why $6 billion, $9 billion and $13 billion are spent on basic education, water and sanitation and basic health respectively. Meanwhile Europe splurges on $11 billion on ice-creams, $50 billion and $105 billion on cigarettes and alcohol respectively.
The scenario is uncomfortable and has been going on for years. But suddenly in the middle of it all, Mother Nature has decided to stage demonstrations and protest! It is refusing to provide unending stock of materials or allow herself to be used as a safe dump for unlimited pouring of rubbish and waste. Capitalism now does not know what to do with this kind of revolt.
There are two types of exploitation – of man by man and of Nature by man. Historically this has been going on from civilization dawned. So far it has been unchecked but now the battle lines are drawn. Today it has become imperative for man not to change Nature but to honour some limits upon exploitation. The writing is sharp and clear on the wall – conserve or perish.
