Now, I realise the economy is indeed Very Important™ and should not be toyed with, but in this boom time of ours, I fear we’ve forgotten the other side of the economic coin: humanity itself.
Now, I’m not saying countries shouldn’t wish to develop their own economies and become better off. I just think we’ve lost sight of all those social aspects of life in the race to become hideously wealthy.
Think about it.
What, is it Democracy and Dissent Sunday and no one told me?
I applaud SBS’s “Democracy” season. Damn good idea. I will make sure to watch the one on Liberia this week. It’s a pity though that despite SBS’s efforts, the audience that needs to see these programs won’t be tuning in, either through disinterest, bad reception, no reception or maybe they just don’t like SBS.
After their show about democracy in Japan (which I didn’t watch, in spite of wanting to — The War and Peep Show were calling too loudly), they showed part three of the Decadence series, which is on democracy. (more…)
I’ve just finished Affluenza by Clive Hamilton and Richard Denniss, and it’s a fascinating read. I recommend you read it. It made me realise what it was I want to aim for in life. Although it’s mostly about Australian society, I still think non-Aussies can garner something from it.
I had a pretty good life growing up. I never went without, my parents haven’t split up, hell, they even job-shared when we were kids so they could spend equal time with us. I went to a private high school, even got to university, and am about to finish a science degree.
To put it in perspective, these things are not universal. Every kid in the world does not get access to schooling. Some kids don’t have parents. A lot of kids are going hungry. I live in a politically stable country that has never had a civil war. I have freedoms a lot of people don’t. I have a damn good life compared to what some have. (more…)