Open Letter to the World's Billionaires and Reflections on the Future of Our Planet

Dear Billionaires,

Brilliant minds, indeed you are—it's undeniable. I acknowledge and admire the brilliance and innovation each of you, individually, within a team environment, or within a collective structure, has undertaken or simply brought to this Earth, this World. However, I would like to highlight a few issues which may or may not be of the utmost importance: the urgent need to reconsider your and our collective priorities concerning our human behaviour and our environment. Not ours as in ownership nor to keep but ours in the sensible management and protective sense.

With great power comes great responsibility—the ability to respond. You possess the resources and influence necessary to drive significant changes. Nature desperately needs less destructive human intervention, more protection, and regeneration.

I would like to share a profound reflection regarding the influence and impact that the world's richest and most powerful individuals exert on our planet. The list of the 50 richest people in the world, led by, I repeat, undeniably brilliant minds—especially as many or perhaps just some of you on the list of the world's 'financially' richest people began your journeys from humble beginnings or with relatively modest means and if what I hear is correct, you?often leveraged your intelligence, skills, and determination to build successful businesses from. Your stories are truly?inspiring examples of how innovation and perseverance can lead to great human success, regardless of initial financial status and it is why I write, brilliant minds, indeed you are, it is undeniable and?demonstrates the immense focus, power, and capital that you hold. However, I question, or rather, I would like to know or understand the other side of the ‘story', the other perspectives on the direction in which time, resources and energies are being channeled.

List of the Top 50 'Financially' Richest People in the World:

(Forbes Billionaires List and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index)

1. Elon Musk - $234.0 billion - Tesla, SpaceX (USA)

2. Jeff Bezos - $197.7 billion - Amazon (USA)

3. Bernard Arnault & family - $180.2 billion - LVMH (France)

4. Larry Ellison - $170.3 billion - Oracle (USA)

5. Mark Zuckerberg - $159.2 billion - Meta (USA)

6. Larry Page - $139.0 billion - Google (USA)

7. Warren Buffett - $136.3 billion - Berkshire Hathaway (USA)

8. Sergey Brin - $133.2 billion - Google (USA)

9. Bill Gates - $130.6 billion - Microsoft (USA)

10. Steve Ballmer - $124.0 billion - Microsoft (USA)

11. Mukesh Ambani - $116.5 billion - Reliance Industries (India)

12. Amancio Ortega - $110.8 billion - Zara (Spain)

13. Michael Bloomberg - $104.7 billion - Bloomberg LP (USA)

14. Jensen Huang - $98.5 billion - Nvidia (USA)

15. Michael Dell - $93.1 billion - Dell Technologies (USA)

16. Carlos Slim Helu & family - $91.1 billion - Telecom (Mexico)

17. Jim Walton & family - $89.1 billion - Walmart (USA)

18. Rob Walton & family - $87.7 billion - Walmart (USA)

19. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family - $87.2 billion - L'Oréal (France)

20. Gautam Adani - $85.2 billion - Adani Group (India)

21. Alice Walton - $82.5 billion - Walmart (USA)

22. Julia Koch & family - $74.6 billion - Koch Industries (USA)

23. David Thomson & family - $69.5 billion - Media (Canada)

24. Charles Koch & family - $67.8 billion - Koch Industries (USA)

25. Changpeng Zhao - $60.3 billion - Binance (Canada)

26. Prajogo Pangestu - $59.9 billion - Petrochemicals, energy (Indonesia)

27. Zhong Shanshan - $48.0 billion - Beverages, pharmaceuticals (China)

28. Colin Huang - $45.7 billion - E-commerce (China)

29. Giovanni Ferrero - $43.4 billion - Ferrero Group (Italy)

30. Zhang Yiming - $43.4 billion - ByteDance (China)

31. Li Ka-shing - $42.0 billion - Diversified (Hong Kong)

32. Lee Shau Kee - $41.8 billion - Real estate (Hong Kong)

33. Tadashi Yanai & family - $40.2 billion - Fast Retailing (Japan)

34. Susanne Klatten - $39.5 billion - BMW, pharmaceuticals (Germany)

35. Dietrich Mateschitz - $38.8 billion - Red Bull (Austria)

36. Vladimir Potanin - $38.5 billion - Mining, metals (Russia)

37. Dieter Schwarz - $38.2 billion - Schwarz Group (Germany)

38. Phil Knight & family - $37.5 billion - Nike (USA)

39. Ma Huateng - $36.8 billion - Tencent (China)

40. Vladimir Lisin - $36.3 billion - Steel, logistics (Russia)

41. Masayoshi Son - $36.0 billion - SoftBank (Japan)

42. R. Budi Hartono & Michael Hartono - $35.7 billion - Banking, tobacco (Indonesia)

43. Hui Ka Yan - $35.5 billion - Real estate (China)

44. John Mars - $34.7 billion - Mars Inc. (USA)

45. Jacqueline Mars - $34.7 billion - Mars Inc. (USA)

46. David Tepper - $34.5 billion - Hedge funds (USA)

47. Joseph Safra - $34.2 billion - Banking (Brazil)

48. Len Blavatnik - $34.0 billion - Diversified (UK)

49. Azim Premji - $33.8 billion - Wipro (India)

50. Daniel Gilbert - $33.7 billion - Quicken Loans (USA)

Concrete Suggestions:

1. Stop Investing in Material Ventures: Redirect focus away from ventures that require physical resources, factories, and machines please.

2. Cease Industrial Expansion: Halt the development of new industrial facilities that contribute to environmental degradation please.

3. Discontinue Resource Extraction: End investments in mining, drilling, and other extractive industries please.

4. Abandon Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects: Avoid projects that require significant land alteration and habitat destruction please.

5. Focus on Preservation: Prioritise?the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems without human interference please.

Another Reflection

We live in an era where technological advancement and wealth accumulation have reached unprecedented levels. There are Billionaires who are still investing billions in grand, grand projects such as space travel and technological innovations, which are undoubtedly visionary and futuristic. However, it is crucial to reflect on the environmental and social impact of these initiatives.

Nature, with its rivers, forests, oceans, and biodiversity, has long been suffering, but today it suffers even more, and without wanting to be a killjoy, it will undoubtedly suffer much more, and so will all of us. The excessive extraction of natural resources, industrial pollution, and mass production are direct consequences of the incessant pursuit of material progress and profit. Emissions from factories, vehicles, and airplanes significantly contribute to climate change, affecting not only the environment but also the lives of billions of people around the world.

Brilliant minds, possibly humble pasts, but the rest, the Earth’s house, the garden we should be taking care of as if we were the most magical, powerful, and beautiful Gods and Angels in the entire Universe?

The future of our Garden, Earth, and Planet depends on the actions we take today. A truly brilliant mind not only innovates but also preserves and protects life in all its forms.

I hope this reflection and open letter serve as an invitation for introspection but, more importantly, action. A massive change in consciousness. May we work together for a future where innovation and prosperity coexist harmoniously with nature and sustainability.

Yours sincerely,

Com os meus melhores?cumprimentos,?

Miguel??