Straight to the CORE: Capitalism is the Issue (all the rest derives from it)

The words are starting to be said aloud.

Past are the days (almost ^_^) when saying that changing the system is the only way to go would earn you ridicule, when uttering such idea would cost you a tag of "anti-capitalist spinster".

The system we live in is killing the planet and killing us. There, it's been said on TV so it must be true. And don't dare label me as conspiranoid.

I don't always agree with what Monbiot writes (or says) but I find him to be a good channel to voice many of my own ideas to the greater public. Important ideas. And I definitely agree with what he is saying here. Watch the video HERE.

Let's not get hung up on plastic straws, leather made from potatoes and plates made from grass. Not even "green" fuel and renewable energy.

Let us Get to the Real Bottom of the Issue:
C A P I T A L I S M

Missing in this intervention are two issues.

1. Natality. Having children might be one of our main biological imperatives, but it's not one of our rights. Apart from all that, think in which reality they will be living in 30 years and don't take a decision based on what YOU want, take it thinking of THEM. This is real. Children born today will live in a very different world by they time they are your age. Bringing them to life in that reality is YOUR responsibility.

2. The Main Solution. Well, now that we have pinpointed the core problem, what can we do? Easy: REDUCE YOUR CONSUMPTION. Yeeeeah... easy might not be the right word. In fact, reducing consumption (which is the ONLY REAL way to fix the problem) is the main reason why this has never been proposed. Because by reducing our consumption at a global scale would disintegrate capitalism. The system has no way of surviving if we start consuming only what we REALLY NEED. In fact, it will crumble waaay before that (and we KNOW it). This means the dreaded loss of jobs and consequently an upheaval of unseen proportions to our way of living. We were born in the capitalistic system (yes, even communist countries), we have no idea how it will feel when it disappear.

And... what will happen once capitalism is dead? No idea. I usually say that, if I knew how to structure global economy post-capitalism, I would either have a Nobel on my mantle or a bulled in my head. I guess we will have to wing it as usual: trial and error. The only thing that's clear is that capitalism brought us here and, whether you consider it a positive or a negative thing, the time has come to let it go. We either do it as a conscious choice, in a way controlling the process, or it will happen all by itself, inevitably. The choice is not whether to keep capitalism or not, the choice is how much control we will have in seeing it go.

Reforesting the planed and allowing the oceans to recover MUST be done and it's easier than we thing: if we stop eating marine creatures fishing will stop, and considering that 60% of the world arable land is used for animal agriculture, stop consuming meat, eggs and dairy will leave plenty of space for forests. But this will take a long time to make a change, and it is not something YOU and I really have much of a say about.

Going vegan and reducing consumption
is what ANYBODY can do,
RIGHT NOW.

Yes, it would be unreal to pretend that we can all change our diets and drastically reduce our consumption immediately after watching this video and reading these lines.

What's perfectly feasible NOW though, is starting the transition.

Let us all think about what we put on our plate, and let us make an habit of asking ourselves the basic question: is what I am buying right now REALLY NECESSARY?

Have a good future.

Laura Paglia