April 6th - The myth of development

Globalisation - the spread of industrial capitalism to predominantly land-based agricultural lands - is sold to the so-called 'underdeveloped' countries with the promise of the good life.   The promise,  which is introduced to the local populations primarily through the media of television, shows the 'American dream' with its lavish life-styles, Hollywood-style fashions, houses and cars and plenty for all.  And this is where I begin to feel that things really have gone wrong and that lots of people have been sold a dead duck. Of course it can be easily argued that development has lifted millions out of poverty. It can be argued that the miracles of modern medicine has seen-off fatal diseases which were widespread in past times.  It can be argued that services which make life tolerable, water and power, have lifted the day to day lives of millions.

BUT as I read about globalisation I come to realise that development is much more to with capitalism's need for growth than it is to with meeting the needs of humanity across the globe.  Very sadly I also come to the conclusion that in its ambition to straddle the world industrial capitalism is imposing a lifestyle which is destroying the many diverse human cultures which have survived millions of years.  

My thanks for helping my understanding of the impact of globalisation go to the Institute for Ecology and Culture's study programme 'Roots of Change' which exposes the myth of development and the damage which is being done by the imposition of industrial capitalism's  'one size fits all'  template on all the peoples it touches worldwide.
Next I'm going to try to find examples of cultures which have been wiped out by the onslaught of globalisation ...