London and region may be told the unemployment rate is 8 - 9 per cent but it’s very likely higher when you consider that many people are under-employed, doing part-time work when full-time is needed to keep the proverbial wolf from their door.
Many who think 8 per cent means 8 per cent, that 92 per cent are doing quite well, have been lulled to sleep by the calm, reassuring voices of men like PM Stephen Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, who together will only speak calmly for fear of causing more unrest than there already is in the hearts and minds of a growing number of Canadian citizens.
They’ll say, soothingly, “We’re not as bad off as other countries. Look at Greece, for Heaven’s sake.”
“Our fundamentals are sound, our heads are above water, all is well, invest in Canada,” they’ll add in hushed tones.
Please don’t believe all you hear from such men. While they hope and often infer the markets and economy will recover they ignore many indicators that their high-cost Market First philosophy is fast approaching its expiration date, like an expensive bottle of almond-flavoured homogenized milk in a dairy case that many pass by for lack of funds or a decent job.
[“The road is long. And we have many miles to run.”: photo by mojo]
There are too many critical global trends they say nothing about - yet greatly shape our lives - but can no longer ignore just for the sake of an inflated lifestyle.
In Dr. Ron Nielsen’s book, The Little Green Handbook, seven trends are examined in detail. They are as follows:
The population explosion (7 billion as of Oct. 31)
Diminishing land resources
Diminishing water resources
The destruction of the atmosphere
The approaching energy crisis
Social decline
Conflicts and increasing killing power
Nielsen says, “Even though some global problems might already be out of our control we can identify a great number that could be resolved by rearranging priorities and changing our attitudes, aims and styles of living.” (pg. xiv, intro)
Social decline and lack of decent long-term full-time jobs may be enough reason for many occupiers to occupy streets of significant address in several counties but critical global trends may also drive people onto the streets.
If Nielsen has left any out, please let me know.
And if Canada’s political and financial leaders continue to only hope for and speak of the resumption of a “business as usual” way of life, listen for other voices.
More to follow.
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Please click here to read Occupy Wall Street, occupy Bay: “Why?” PT 2
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