UKRAINE and  OUR WAY OF LIFE

At the heart of the Ukrainian conflict lies our way of life.

Our way of life is built on ever more for ever more people – replacing and updating everything faster and faster. This machine runs without interruption and must be fed continuously.

Regretfully, we are unable to look after ourselves. We do not bear the consequences of the system we have built. We cannot cater for ourselves. We do not have or we do not have sufficient quantities of petrol for our cars, gas for the heating, raw materials for computer chips, plastics for toys, wood for furniture, fabrics for clothing, flour for bread … 
We don’t even have enough qualified people for basic activities as building, plumbing, medical care or public transport.

In theory, the problem can be solved through business and trade. This obvious method does have its limits when every possible part of the machine must be fed with import, including its operators. Besides, the benefit philosophy of the capitalist system implies exploitation. I will not pay €10 for a service if I can have it for less. 

What’s all that have to do with the Ukraine? As it happens, the Ukraine has an awful lot of what we are in need of. Its soil is fertile and contains all sorts of raw materials. Its labour force is skilled and cheap (and becoming cheaper by the day). Its population may be led into temptation to consume more, its government to spend more on roads, bridges, transport, industrial plants and infrastructure. The Ukraine is a lot closer than China, more ‘reliable‘ and especially a lot less powerful. In fact, its needs assistance by us to become like us.

We are not the only ones to realize this. There are others who can use fabrics, dairy, flour and metals too, you see. As our way of life is spreading throughout the world, it does not only cause environmental damage leading to catastrophes and poverty. As our way of life is being presented as the only possible way – economically, morally and politically – and a prerequisite for trade and business, competition will become fiercer within our system as external competition diminishes. 

It would be very naïve to think that we will apply ‘fair trade’ to the Ukraine because we love them so much for being democratic, patriotic, god-fearing, courageous people. It would be extremely naïve to suppose that other countries will allow us to take the money and run. We don’t let them take the money and run in Africa, South America and India, do we?

At any rate: even if it were right to call Putin a mental Goliath and the Ukrainians as a collective brave David, it should be kept in mind that this war is about us, that’s you and me. The war in the Ukraine is directly related to our way of life.

© Eddy Bonte 8 March 2022 [First publication on this site 26Oct2023]