The three main insightful books I read recently- are Søren Mau’s: “Stum Tvang”, og Kenneth Haars’ :”Kaptalens Europe”-& Ulrike’s book “Kapitalismens Afslutning: Hvorfor Vækst forværrer Klimakrisen-Og Hvordan vi skal leve i Fremtiden”- are related to one another: precisely Capitalism as a main theme..
The book’s three main parts, with its 19 chapters, discussed in details and full documented data the huge contribution of Capitalism to the world’s development in almost all the sectors of life-mainly Democracy, Women’s rights, Welfare & health system and Education. Ulrike took its start point of analysis with the industrial revolution in the 18th century in England, and its fundamental role in changing the whole economic & financial system in the world, with its deep effects on all the aspects of life: cars, televisions, washing machines, education, smart phones, women’s’ rights…etc. the Capital- in big letters- she argued, was the main reason for this advancement, growth and development. But the consequences for nature is totally the opposite: Growth is the main factor for the human’s development; but catastrophic for nature- it is bound ultimately with the destruction of the planet, by the increasing rise of emissions of CO2 to a level that is unprecedented. Countries like India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would be unhabitable in the year 2070-fifty years from now. Even Green energy could not solve the issue, because not only the astronomical cost of it, but also there is no possibility to produce enough greenhouse gases-the author argues, with detailed data mentioned in the Notes, that covered almost one third of the books’ length. There is only one habitable limited planet and not many planets. In an interview with Rune Lykkeberg -Information- and in answering the question of her pessimism towards the difficulty to curb climate change, she said: “my mind is pessimistic, while my heart is optimistic” …repeating the motto of Antonio Gramsci.
I enjoyed reading the book, and recommend it to any one interested in knowing not only past history, but our present and future on this earth although the future seems so dark, according to the analysis of the book.
