7 Reasons To Be Worried in 2018
Barak Peled
Founder & MD at DR-Ventures Early-stage Capital Raising Advisory #raisingcapital #growth #investorrelations
Or, why this is not another Happy New Year!
It is during these Festive days of celebration, relaxation and family movies that a warm feeling of optimism seems to wrap everything we see or do. From award ceremonies to office parties, it is almost rude to suggest something is wrong. Afterall, we have crossed out another year and have made it so far. Well, let's moderate the congratulations for 2017, and the optimism about the year to come.
If I can get your attention in between prosecco sessions, I'd like you to contemplate these carefully arranged pressing issues with me, as we only have a few days left and a whole new year is upon us.
Environment
From climate change to soil loss, pollution to depletion, 2018 will be a year in which we can expect the further extinction of over 10,000 species, and the unabated increase in pollution-related diseases and phenomena such as hunger aggravated by extreme weather. You will need to figure out for yourself what to eat, what to buy and perhaps where to live as these choices become ever more practical, not merely moral ones.
To keep tabs, follow @GeorgeMonbiot
Poverty
Whilst global economies continue to grow, less than 5% of this growth reaches the 20% of the world's poorest people. At this rate, it will take 200 years to bring the entire human race to a minimum of $5 a day wage. Can the billions of hungry wait this long?
Over-population
In 2018, net world population will grow by over 85,000,000. This is the equivalent of say, an entire new Germany. Only that these millions will be predominantly born in India, China, Brazil and Egypt right at the bottom end of human-rights, education and prosperity charts.
Populists and Autocrats
Not so long ago, it felt like you needed to take a trip to the museum to seriously dwell on words like fascism, racism, nationalism, propaganda and state-police. However, in 2018 we can expect these ugly monsters to make a comeback embodied in a line of 'elected' dictators such as Temer, Erdo?an, Putin, Trump, El-Sisi, Jinping, Netanyahu, Kurz and you name it.
Right-wing demagogy is back in vogue. What are you going to do about it?
For the full picture go to Freedomhouse.org
The collapse of the State
It has taken Neo-liberalism less than 40 years to completely strip-off states of their responsibilities towards their citizens - replacing the provision of absolute taken-for-granted basics such as health, employment, education and transportation with 'free-market' services. As citizens, we are left with little more than the duty to obey, and the right to die. Come 2018, riots, warmongering, and intolerance are back on the menu! Want to find out more about the how power and money intercourse? Look for the initials of PFI
Money mechanisms and Cryptocurrencies
A last bastion of the Nation is its Central Banking system. Well, it too will be torn down in 2018. Cryptomoney and blockchain already account for nearly 0.5% of the global economy and have seen nearly 200% growth in 2017 alone. This money isn't going anywhere so if you can't afford to buy any cyber-money now - you are condemning your future generations to poverty. Unchained from the finite nature of resource-based currencies, digital money is set to further expand the rich-poor gap. To learn more read this in Crunchbase.
AI, Automation and Machine Learning
The hot words. I am not a neo-Luddite so why am I concerned? well, because history teaches us that newly acquired capabilities usually spell upwards discretion and downwards oppression. We still haven't figured out how to provide good customer service via real people but we already have it dished out by learned machines. Is it better? no. Is it cheaper? Yes. And, it is always a concern when organisations and increasingly governments delegate and sub-contract these protocols they have hitherto failed to perfect themselves.
So, without further ado. Happy 2018.
VAALstudio
6 年thoughtful writing which hopefully will serve as a positive discussion and encouragement towards nurturing the science, protecting the nature and positive changes for social and climate sustainability
Global quantum cyber readiness capability lead at Deloitte
6 年Cryptocurrencies didn't go up 200% but more than 1000%. Why is that a bad thing? They are trying to solve real problems ado why would you be against that?
Service Team Lead for Northern Territory
6 年I'm sorry that you are so triggered as you see the thinking world reject socialism and "One World-ism". What you are sensing, Chicken Little, is the raining on the parade that George Soros and his ilk have been planning and the US, Israel and others standing up to the United Nations and true despots of the world. The Al Gores of the world are seeing their climate change money-making scheme fall apart as the lies and omissions in their doom predictions are coming to light. Their greed is showing itself as they preach to the civilized world to be ashamed of using more than one square of toilet paper per use from the comfort of their private fossil-fuel burning jets, hopping between the highly paid speaking engagement to their massive temperature controlled estates which are empty much of the year as they can't seem to find enough time to spend in them without neglecting their yachting responsibilities. Don't get me started as to how dangerous your Central Banking dream is! Your mixed metaphors are showing when you conflate free-markets with liberalism, Neo or otherwise. The state's only responsibility to it's people is to ensure that upper level concerns are addressed so that the PEOPLE can continue to work hard, innovate and support the agriculture, manufacturing and commerce that make the world go round. Keep the roads clear, the water and electricity flowing so that the People can EARN the wealth that is available via equal opportunity. Then do as this country does better than the rest of the world, GIVE to those less fortunate to lift them onto the same playing field so they too can work for their own livings. Live the way that mankind was intended to live, cooperative but self sufficient. If you take a break from your Debbie Downer role and REALLY look at the world outside your own bubble, you might see things differently. Or maybe not. 2018 WILL be a great year. Just watch.