Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Day 184: The Relationship between Ecology and Economics in Equal Money Capitalism




 The Problem

One of the major fundamental problems of the current economic system is its relationship to Ecology. What has been forgotten or not considered, is that both the words 'ecology' and 'economy' have their origins in the same word: the Greek word 'οἴκος' - which means 'house'. The ecology is the study of the house, or the environment - where ecology studies what conditions and principles require to be in place in an environment for species to flourish in it. Economy, then is the management of the house or the environment. Knowing this, we would expect that both work very closely together and that, economics is in service of ecology - because what's the use of managing the environment if it's not in service of making sure that the conditions and principles in place are those that provide optimal support?

Though - in today's world, the opposite happens - the economy is seen to be more important than ecology. It's okay to try to establish an optimal environment, but only in so far as it does not harm the economy. Whaaaaat?! That's, like, the world in reverse. And then the environment is attempted to be valued in economic terms by placing a price on it - instead of looking at the basic value of a forest in terms of what its role is within the ecosystem that we all benefit from.

The Solution

In EMC - we place everything back in its rightful place - where first the conditions and principles are studied in terms of what is required to be in place for the environment and in an environment for species to flourish together as part of the same ecosystem - the same house. In this, we look at all the different kinds of environments - like nature, like a family, like your human physical body, like a school, like a company like a community. Once those conditions and principles have been identified, we can look at how to manage the resources the Earth provides in a way to satisfy these conditions and principles. The same approach will be applied for all Life - not only the human species - because animals for instance form part of an ecosystem and a balanced ecosystem is the one that is most supportive.

So studies like ecology, physics, sociology, education, psychology will form the basis of economics and not the other way around - where today, economics determines science in terms of what is currently being researched as that which is the most profitable.

Rewards

The idea that humans are more than the environment will be disengaged, as we will realize that both require to support each other if we're going to attempt to effectively share the same planet. The human, then, will transform from a parasite to an expression of Life.

Living within supportive environments will allow us to flourish as individuals, as communities, as a species, able to explore and expand ourselves to reach our full potential as a part of Life on Earth.

We will no longer have to break our heads about how to mitigate all the damaging effects of our economy and feel guilty about passing on our mess to the next generation - because we will bring children into a world that is already effective, that is already balanced, that is already equipped to adequately support itself and them.

Most problems that are created as a consequence of inadequacies within environments will be eliminated. This means - an extensive reduction in health problems, an extensive reduction of stress and midlife crises as a result of counter-supportive work-environments, an extensive reduction of psychological problems, an extensive reduction of extinctions of animal species, an extensive reduction of abuse in families - because within correcting the foundational problems within all kinds of environments, we eliminate the root causes of much of the dysfunctional behaviors on a physical, social and psychological level that we are faced with today.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Day 95: When Less is More

Two of the major problems we are facing today as consequences of our current capitalistic system are:
- The depletion of Earth's resources at a rate that is faster than what the Earth can replenish
- Job-related issues - such as unemployment, stress and depression due to pressure at work, insufficient retirement funds, etc.

The Equal Money System proposal suggests to correct both points in a very simplistic manner.

Firstly - all goods that are produced, should be long-lasting goods that last a lifetime or as long as possible, as well as being of the best possible quality.

Secondly - Labour should be voluntary, except for a 4 year internship each youngster must complete as part of their education. All goods and services you require to live a dignified life are given as it is your right to have access to these goods and services.

Let's take a practical example to show how these two simple points will solve many of the problems we are facing today and that future generations may face.

In our current system, goods are produced that last for a very short period of time, not because we can't make proper stuff - no, they are deliberately designed to break in a specified time-frame, so that when the stuff breaks, you have to replace it, by buying new ones.

Take a mattress. Affordable mattresses retain their support and shape for about 1 year these days. Because affordable mattresses are usually still quite a big expenditure for an average household, we'll 'put up' with the degrading mattress for another 4 years, until it is so bad that you wake up in pain every day. So, say that after 5 years, each household replaces their mattresses. Have a look at what is involved:
- The resources used that make up the mattresses
- The energy used to power the manufacturing process of mattresses
- The resources used in transporting the mattresses
- The labour involved with producing the mattresses
- The labour involved with transporting the mattresses
- The labour involved with selling the mattresses
- The cost to labourers' well-being as stress due to the need to continuously outperform the competition.
- The cost to each one's health by sleeping on a bad mattress

Now - consider that each mattress is made according to the highest standards in terms of support for the body and the use of long-lasting materials and designs. These high quality mattresses will last each person a life-time. We have the ability to do this, at the moment it is just not being done, because there is no money in it. How does this change the situation?
- The resources that make up the mattresses are cut down to a fraction of the previous amount. Because we only make one mattress for every person and that's it.
- The energy used in transporting the mattresses is cut down to a fraction of the previous amount, because mattresses won't be transported very often.
- The amount of labour required to produce and transport the mattresses will be reduced to a fraction of before.
- The labour involved with selling the mattress will be eliminated, because each person simply requires the best mattress, and so that is what they will receive. There is no need to manipulate people into believing that your mattress is the best buy, because this is a given.
- Labourers' will actually be well - because there is no threat of losing your job if your boss thinks it's your fault the competition is doing a better job. There will simply not be competition, and each one will have the satisfaction of participating in the creation and distribution of high-quality goods that make a real difference in people's lives.
- The health costs are eliminated, because the mattress will continue to provide the body with excellent support, allowing each one to have a good night's sleep, every night of their lives.

This is now only one example, as a mattress. Now, consider that every single good that is produced is made according to the same principles! The reduction in pressure on the environment will be HUMONGOUS - and any job-related problems will be eliminated. There is simply no need to rape the Earth to make money and there is no need to make everyone work their entire life in order to be able to survive. Come on! We can do better than this fuck up. We have everything we need - all we need to do is put it into practice. Out of pure greed, selfishenss and stubbornness, we are driving the world to its destruction and most people are already extensively damaged, either physically or mentally, by the pressures of the economic system. And guess what, no-one has the time to take care of themselves, because most of our time is absorbed by having to work. Takign a holiday for two weeks a year while you're under constant pressure for the rest of the time is not taking care of yourself - it's manipulating yourself into believing you are.

And really - you're not doing anyone a favour by accepting this situation - you're not doing anything that is in the best interest of the whole - you're not contributing an important part to the well-being of society - you're not actually doing anything that helps anyone.

We can turn this world around, and you know it. You owe it to yourself and the next generation, and you know it. You're just making up excuses and justifications to not have to stand up, and you know it. You're wasting your life away, and you know it. You have nothing to show for yourself, and you know it.

But also know this: it's not too late... yet.

Investigate the Equal Money System proposal - follow this blog to educate yourself - become involved and spread the word.