Difference between revisions of "Spiral of Destruction"
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==2010-2015== | |||
After the asset price collapse of 2007, the global economic outlook was bleak. The start of a new decade is usually a time for excitement and hope. Yet, in 2010 the aroma in the air was one of fear and uncertainty. People were questioning the effectiveness of government stimulus packages | After the asset price collapse of 2007, the global economic outlook was bleak. The start of a new decade is usually a time for excitement and hope. Yet, in 2010 the aroma in the air was one of fear and uncertainty. People were questioning the effectiveness of government stimulus packages; an economic meltdown of catastrophic proportions. The great depression of the twentieth century would be renamed the other depression. | ||
Governments acted quickly and decisively to counteract the economic downturn, but they never imaged, like a Shakespearean play, the fiscal stimulus would end as a tragedy. 2010 was the beginning of truly turbulent times, the economy was in shambles and the planet began to fight back at its unwise caretakers. Humankind had been misusing resources for too long, incremental and rapid ecological change | Governments acted quickly and decisively to counteract the economic downturn, but they never imaged, like a Shakespearean play, the fiscal stimulus would end as a tragedy. 2010 was the beginning of truly turbulent times, the economy was in shambles and the planet began to fight back at its unwise caretakers. Humankind had been misusing resources for too long, some saw incremental and rapid ecological change, but the masses were not focused on reducing carbon emissions. People were unemployed and needed to first fix the economy. | ||
In 2010 the number of climate refugees was at 20 million. The displaced were mostly victims of the earthquake in Haiti, flooding in Pakistan, and droughts in Africa. The newest round of disasters increased the total to 23 million by the end of 2012, but little did the world know that the worst was yet to come. Continued deforestation, rising sea levels, increased number of wildfires, and more frequent occurrences of extreme weather events increased the number of refugees to 50 million by the end of 2015. Refugees seeking shelter from the storm | In 2010 the number of climate refugees was at 20 million. The displaced were mostly victims of the earthquake in Haiti, flooding in Pakistan, and droughts in Africa. The newest round of disasters increased the total to 23 million by the end of 2012, but little did the world know that the worst was yet to come. Continued deforestation, rising sea levels, increased number of wildfires, and more frequent occurrences of extreme weather events increased the number of refugees to 50 million by the end of 2015. Refugees seeking shelter from the storm migrated to cities around the world. This mass migration further strained the global economy, as funds to care for the displaced citizens were not available. Yet, governments acted as best they could the total spending on humanitarian aid increased significantly, law enforcement agencies were supported to keep the peace, and military spending was enhanced to quell border conflicts resulting from migrants moving across country borders. | ||
The increased spending did little to stimulate economic activity because spending was not used to create jobs, but to sustain a starving mass of people. | The increased spending did little to stimulate economic activity because spending was not used to create jobs, but to sustain a starving mass of people. | ||
The economic crisis bankrupted many companies. The poster child for the great recession Lehman Brothers became the catch phrase for each failed company | |||
Vacated building we being transformed into social hubs; bars, cafes, | Vacated building we being transformed into social hubs; bars, cafes, nightclubs, and residential living became the norm. The city center looked vibrant and lively, but underneath the lights and sounds was an economy struggling to survive. Listening to patrons of city establishments discuss the daily grind, one could put their finger on the economic pulse of the city. The talk of the day was of unemployment, economic woes, and fear of being laid-off. | ||
[[File:refugee.jpg]] | |||
==2015-2020== | |||
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2019 did not have an auspicious start. Anti-government protests and riots among refugees and inhabitants of the cities became as common as wind in Rotterdam. Governments were beginning to fail as angry mobs demanded change. Coups were instigated in less developed nations and new political parties formed in developed nations. This new wave of political fury hit the world at a bad time. | 2019 did not have an auspicious start. Anti-government protests and riots among refugees and inhabitants of the cities became as common as wind in Rotterdam. Governments were beginning to fail as angry mobs demanded change. Coups were instigated in less developed nations and new political parties formed in developed nations. This new wave of political fury hit the world at a bad time. | ||
Mother Nature was already sending a warning the world, but without | Mother Nature was already sending a warning the world, but without cooperation the change would not occur and chaos would become the new norm. Around the globe tremendous pressure was placed on new political parties to bring the economy back on track and to provide humanitarian relief to its affected citizens. Yet, a plan to achieve this goal was nowhere to be found. | ||
[[File:riot.jpg]] | |||
[[File: | |||
2020 became the year the tipping point was reached. Students defaulting on student loans, falling home values, high unemployment, and an ever widening budget deficit cause the United States to default on its loans. World stock markets crashed the following day and March 12, 2020 became a day of infamy around the world. | ==2020-2025== | ||
2020 became the year the tipping point was reached. Students defaulting on student loans, falling home values, high unemployment, and an ever-widening budget deficit cause the United States to default on its loans. World stock markets crashed the following day and March 12, 2020 became a day of infamy around the world. | |||
The depression caused by the crashed created a race to arms. Dollars no longer were seen a storer of value, only resources had value. Major global players around the world began securing their borders and engaged in arm conflict to secure oil, food, fresh water, and other resources. Climate change no longer was discussed globally as the climate summit was scraped. | The depression caused by the crashed created a race to arms. Dollars no longer were seen a storer of value, only resources had value. Major global players around the world began securing their borders and engaged in arm conflict to secure oil, food, fresh water, and other resources. Climate change no longer was discussed globally as the climate summit was scraped. | ||
frequently, and violent storms increased. The number of climate refugees increased from 50 million to 130 million by 2025. With the closing of borders and increased security measure those affected by disaster were left without help and suffered unspeakable pain. Migration of displaced citizen occurred within country not across borders. Refugees moved to city centers and joined the refugee camps. Soup kitchens were strained for resources and food and water rationing was instigated. This meant many went to bed hungry. This hunger quickly turned to hunger as children went to bed hungry. Yet, little could be done to help. Unemployment reached 35% globally and everyone was looking for a handout. | |||
Life in | Life in most cities got worse. Slums over ran what once used to be a vibrant city filled with life, laughter and joy. Now it reeked of pain and suffering. Cities that were not affected or destroyed by war or packed with climate refugees tried to return local economies to agriculture. Suburban open spaces were converted to farmland. Yet, yields were low as fertilizer and other resources were not available. | ||
City centers that once housed shopping malls, corporate offices, upscale apartments, restaurants and cafes now housed run-down apartment buildings, and a thriving alcohol and an adult entertainment industry. People were looking for artificial ways to escape the thorns of reality. | City centers that once housed shopping malls, corporate offices, upscale apartments, restaurants and cafes now housed run-down apartment buildings, and a thriving alcohol and an adult entertainment industry. People were looking for artificial ways to escape the thorns of reality. | ||
A few cities were able to protect themselves from this spiral of destruction, as a minority of still wealthy people paid (and fed) guards to secure the citadel they had built to stay away from the view of misery. Few privileged could therefore enjoy "peace" and high living standards in this secured artificial environment. | |||
An overburdened, barely functional legal system did little to maintain the peace. Mankind returned to his natural state, selfish. In wise words of Thomas Hobbes, without a proper functioning government, life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." | An overburdened, barely functional legal system did little to maintain the peace. Mankind returned to his natural state, selfish. In wise words of Thomas Hobbes, without a proper functioning government, life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." | ||
[[File:handout.jpg]] | |||
==References== | |||
http://climaterefugees.com/ | |||
Environmental Justice Foundation (2008). No place like home: Where next for climate refugees. Refugee Camp Picture. Retrieved on August 20, 2010 from http://www.ejfoundation.org/pdf/climate_refugees_final.pdf | |||
Giannakouris, Petos/AP. Riot Picture. Greece protests: Riots erupt in Athens, 3 bank workers killed. Retrieved on August 24, 2010 from http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0505/Greece-protests-Riots-erupt-in-Athens-3-bank-workers-killed | |||
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/ | |||
Reuters/ Raza, Mohsin. Food handout Picture. Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/scenes_from_pakistan.html on August, 24, 2010 | |||
[[http://www.scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Future_of_the_City_Centre_2025]] | [[http://www.scenariothinking.org/wiki/index.php/Future_of_the_City_Centre_2025]] | ||