Winter Solstice

 
Extreme weather patterns were on a notable increase throughout the world in 2005. Even in Italy, noted for its temperate weather, there has been unseasonabl fluctuations with record levels of rain and sustained cold temperatures throughout autumn and early winter. As if to end on an appropriate mood, it starting snowing two days after Christmas: much welcomed for the pleasure this has added to the festive season but unusual all the same.

After three decades of warnings, the storms and floods may have served for people to finally start realising that environmental pollution isn't caused by isolated cases of carelessness on the part of certain unthinking manufacturers or chemical companies but that it is an inevitable by-product of a global economic structure set on the ever accelerating cycle of production and consumption. Ordinary people are finally starting the appreciate the depth of complexity in the idea of economic growth. While all sorts of positivism promotes global capitalism, at the personal level, its attraction is principally hinged on the fear of unemployment, that is, ensuring that the means of accruing sufficient incomes to allow a decent lifestyle are not suddenly curtailed. People actively desire and seek financial security. Business is created these days in such a variety of ways that it is hard to distinguish anymore between what are essential productive activities and what are a peripheral service ones. The fundamental thing seems to be to to keep the money circulating as quickly as possible. The old supply and demand principle has evolved into gigantic financial systems where competition for product distribution compels massive investments in advertising and sponsorship.

Given the depths of inter-dependence between all the sectors in a functioning capitalist economy, a significant downturn in any one sector will probably result in a general recession, with the consequent spectre of massive unemployment. The process of recovering a healthier ecology is therefore destined to be perforce gradual. However in this new information age it is to be hoped, the survival of ethical principles withstanding, that individuals who are better informed and aware of the intimate ties between behaviour and economics, will reflect more seriously on how their own choices could influence the future.

Build Solidly and Happy New Year!