"The experiment begun in 1492 was accompanied by a new relationship with the world and with each other, based on the novel idea that the prosperity of human societies lay in the submission of a wild and free nature to the rational act of exploitation. From then on, the entire living world was put to work, and in this first planetary empire, people, plants and animals became commodities circulating from one corner of the hemisphere to the other."
wrote Sylvie Laurent in her book "Capital et race : Histoire d'une hydre moderne"
The two authors explain how European consumption and tastes were changed so that plantation production could deliver to a huge and ever-growing market. ‘As the supply of sugar grew, so did its popularity,’ the authors summarise. Between 1700 and 1783, sugar production in the British West Indies quadrupled.
This phenomenon came about through two channels that are familiar to the current mechanisms of capitalism: the appeal of luxury consumption that has become affordable and the addiction to the product itself, which becomes a ‘necessity’.
The imposition of sugar in the diets of Europeans, including the poorest, during the 18th century was, in a way, the first victory of marketing in support of mass production. It reminds us that demand and consumption are often the consequences rather than the causes of production choices.
The authors note, ‘the desire for a new variety of goods led to gradual changes in the behaviour of ordinary households in Western Europe’. Gradually, in order to afford the now accessible luxury of sugar, the subsistence economy was abandoned in favour of wage labour. People accepted working longer and harder to acquire these goods, which, according to accounts from the late 18th century, had become essential needs.
I've lived in #Britain for 25 years. Sometimes I wonder about my adopted homeland, and if I belong here. And then something like this comes along, and everything is right with the world. 🇬🇧
A pyramid entitle British hierarchy of needs. From top to bottom it has: cup ot tea ; cup of tea and a biscuit ; cup of tea, a biscuit and a nice sit down ; cup of tea, a biscuit, a book and a nice sit down.
For the past four days, a yard crew has been working on raking leaves, picking up fallen limbs, and collecting pinecones. Initially, a husband-and-wife team arrived without tools, borrowed a rake, and made limited progress. On the second day, more people came but had to leave due to a family emergency. The following two days saw better progress with the boss's wife leading the effort. Despite the initial instruction to move leaves to the edge of the property for easy mowing, the crew bagged the leaves instead. However, they lacked transportation to remove the approximately 20 bags of leaves. The husband/boss, who is working offshore until next week, will provide his truck to remove the debris upon his return.
“The true measure of a society’s greatness is how it treats its most vulnerable members and how it works towards fulfilling their basic needs.” – Mahatma Gandhi
The image shows a stunning sunset over a vast body of water. The sun is partially obscured by dark clouds, creating a dramatic effect with rays of sunlight streaming through the gaps in the clouds. The sky is painted in shades of yellow and orange, reflecting beautifully on the rippling surface of the water below. The horizon is visible in the distance, separating the sky from the sea. The overall scene is serene and captivating, highlighting the natural beauty of a sunset over the ocean. There is no math or homework problem present in the image.
KStars is a feature-rich free astronomy software that caters to a wide-variety of use cases. Whether you are a student, an educator, an amateur astronomer or an astronomy enthusiast, you will find tools in KStars that are useful to you.
Trump attacks FBI director Wray for saying 'some question' over whether struck by bullet - ABC News ( abcnews.go.com )
Wray said it's not clear yet whether it might have been shrapnel
KStars 3.7.0 is Released ( knro.blogspot.com )
KStars is a feature-rich free astronomy software that caters to a wide-variety of use cases. Whether you are a student, an educator, an amateur astronomer or an astronomy enthusiast, you will find tools in KStars that are useful to you.