Different values?
Life looks so much more pleasant when spring arrives for real, with lots of sun, as it does here in Middle and
Northern part of Europe. Problems seem to retreat or be less heavy, and everyone is enjoying the different season,
with new life sprouting everywhere.
We can also read that in the US people look with more hope and positive expectation to the economy and the future, as
another spring has arrived there as well, in the form of what seems to be a “different” president.
But has something changed for real, or is it all in the eye of the beholder?
When we read that the top 5 banks in the US hold together a staggering 200 trillion dollar in probably worthless assets, that 95 % of the media there are in the hands of 6 companies, all governed by a close-knit-grouping that also has deep links with the banking- and finance-sector, and that at the G 20 there was a lot of upbeat talk and smiles but when it came to the meat of the matter, control over the finance-pirates, nothing of substance was allowed, we know that whilst the sun is shining, not much has changed for real.
The words at the G 20 were that the finance-system had become a-moral and therefore rules needed to be set. But can
you make rules against a-moral behaviour? Can you make rules for a system that has lost any sense of greater
responsibility other than its own bottom-line, no matter the cost to the planet, countries or people? Yes, we can, if
we can and want to.
But that is the crux of the matter.
Is the political will present to push through some simple regulatory matters, even when it is only simple
registration and oversight, so as to control the abuse and manipulation? Time will tell, but it probably will make
the difference between total collapse in a few years or the chance for “just” a depression.
On the oil & gas front things seem relatively quiet. A lot of projects have been halted, postponed or delayed and the expectation for the oil-price in the current environment of excess supply-capacity and continuing downward demand-revisions is that the price will stay low for quite some time. There is an expectation that quite some small independents will be snapped up by bigger companies and therefore another concentration will take place in the industry.
What is interesting to see, is that different kind of deals are starting to emerge; deals in local currency, so as to be less dependent on the dollar, deals that trade oil or gas against goods and services, and deals between countries that are new to each other, but find themselves in a position to be able to help each other in these times. All have one thing in common: becoming more independent from the “free-market”-system and its fangs.
And whilst we are approaching the Easter-period, which for many is also a time of reflection and family-values, we may also take the time to see what could be different in the world, better, with more morale and value. We are approaching different times, as can be seen in the US, where already one in every ten people is dependent on food-aid, and a stronger community-sense and strong human- , family- and community-values may be the thing that will make life very different and more worthwhile in the times to come.
Have some rest, if you can, and spend some thoughts on a more positive future.
Alexander
