We have been witnessing, over the past year or so, the effects of a deteriorating world economic system with all round job cuts and liquidity problems. The economic crisis is reminiscent of the Great Depression of the 1930s and is assuming its proportions.
The world economic system has never been so vulnerable and even more so its effects on small economies such as Malta which are totally dependent on international economic factors and developments. What occurs in America affects Europe and subsequently Malta, irrespective of whether it is of a positive or catastrophic nature.
The new world order seems to be promising a quick fix solution to all the evils besetting the world. But will the world be unwittingly placing itself under greater economic bondage as the entire world banking system collapses (as governments continue to feel the credit crunch and yearn for economic "bail outs") and slowly but surely placing itself in the hands of a few who will not be accountable to anybody because of the power they will wield?
The famous banker Rothschild once wisely remarked, "give me control of the country's monetary system and I care not who writes their losses". Money is indeed a powerful weapon. Without it, you cannot pay for communication, transportation, recreation, education or health.
The US alone has a national debt of some $32 trillion and it is impossible for debtors to pay this debt. People in the US have been buying on credit, land and property and have overburdened themselves with debt that is practically impossible to repay in the long term. The world is living in debt and servicing of debts dries up the money supply. The result has been many foreclosures on mortgages in the US because interest rates have also gone up. A whole collapse of the world financial system is being predicted because of defaulting debtors.
The state of the world economic system is indeed precarious and seems to run parallel with the gradual collapse of the ozone layer and the world's climatic changes. In the light of this and other predictions by many economists, sociologists and the religious establishments all over the world, it sounds as if doomsday is round the corner.
In the light of the above would it not be wise for the Maltese household to have a stockpile of preserved food renewable for at least one month to cater for a sudden crisis emanating out of such economic instability? We need to be well-prepared to survive given our size and vulnerability as a tiny country. It would be interesting to know what the government agencies are doing in this respect!
These days, it does not matter where one lives as everyone is at risk. The threats show that our economic and natural environment are not truly safe and yet most of the world goes about with the mentality "it won't happen to me"!