In 2030, You’ll Own Nothing And Be Happy About It

The headline to this story is from Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. He is the mastermind behind the World Economic Forum that organizes the well-known Davos Summit.

The headline is a prediction of this gentleman from 2016 about the world of 2030. In a period when we all global feel the pains and challenges of an accelerated change at a massive scale in every aspect of our lives, such a prediction will surely relieve your anxious mind — especially when it comes from such a prestigious individual.

One thing I learned in life is to attain a positive skepticism. It means to be in an endless search for answers in this grand school of life and to challenge every answer you find. That is the only way to grow and develop a synthesis from the dance of thesis and anti-thesis.

In this sense, I would be happy to share Mr. Schwab’s 8 predictions and approach every bullet point with some comments.

1. “You’ll own nothing” — And “you’ll be happy about it.”

That is an adamant one.

Since the early humans, we wanted to own something; either a cave, a land, a flock of animals, tools, furniture, a house, etc. Humans wanted to own, like how animals mark the borders of their territory. Perhaps, this is an instinct we cannot resist. It gives us the feeling of security and stability amidst the volatile, unclear, complex, and ambiguous life characteristics. Owning is like leaning our back to a stone when fighting with an enemy. We avoid our basic fears and create a comfort zone.

However, since the end of the gold standard and the start of a global money printing experiment at a global scale in 1971, while strengthening the USD`s global reserve money status, citizens of the world have become the victims of an endless debt cycle. In this system, you can print more money than the amount of gold and silver in stock, which creates inflation and more debt. The lands, mortgages, and other financial tools gave you the riches of the old kings and aristocrats but at the expense of stealing your freedom. The current system created economic slavery, a different version of the post-Renaissance slavery that came with the colonization of underdeveloped cultures and nations by the technologically and financially developed countries. The more you buy with debt, the worse and longer slavery is in modern times.

This 2030 prediction pointing to the end of ownership means buying everything with more debt.

Moreover, if everyone will rent everything from homes to furniture, computers to clothes, there will still be some owners of these goods and services. They will surely be the giant corporations that exist today or will be a part of our lives soon.

What if they do not let you rent anymore or increase the prices?

What if you have to sacrifice your freedom to improve your credit history to continue renting.

That new system could quickly end up being a control and manipulation strategy to create a new wave of unconscious slaves who should act like good boys and girls to buy what they want. Is this not like the continuity of the Medieval Age`s feudal system?

Think about this. Would you want that?

2. “The U.S. won’t be the world’s leading superpower.”

That is an interesting and strong prediction, but it is possible.

Until WW2, the United Kingdom was the dominant global power, and the USA took over after the war. Before England, Netherlands, Spain, Ottomans, Mongols, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Egyptians, and Sumerians.

Over the last 20 years, China has been getting stronger every year and has become a global power. Switching to the Petro-Yuan system in March 2018 is an important sign of their rising power. By 2030, China is expected to dominate the AI industry and have the world’s 2nd biggest GDP. They have a lot of cash and are buying companies, mines, and properties worldwide to position them to be a global player. The world is currently a politically uni-polar arena, but it is becoming a multi-polar arena.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union Socialist Republics, Russia has transformed its financial status and pursued its global goals. European Union has become more significant but still depends on the US for military power against Russia. Brexit is a threat that can spread to other countries. However, Germany still continues to be the dominant power in the EU and is becoming a global player each day.

The world is becoming a multi-polar arena for sure.

3. “You won’t die waiting for an organ donor” — “They will be made by 3D printers.”

3D technologies are becoming more available and less expensive each year. We have started printing essential parts, meat, food, tools, buildings, and even some organs. Who knows what`s next? I am sure that it would be possible to print even the human body in the future.

Imagine a future world where it would be possible to print any human organ and transplant it to the patient. We do not need donors anymore. That means no one will suffer waiting for an organ or an organ not matching the patient.

That would be wonderful if only if that technology could be available to everyone instead of the wealthy elite.

4. “You’ll eat much less meat” — Meat will be “an occasional treat, not a staple, for the good of the environment and our health.”

3D printing could help us print meat and avoid killing animals. I am sure scientists will fix the taste.

Recently, in Israel scientists printed meat but at a very high cost — $3,000. That will surely reduce. Remember the high price of CD writers 20 years ago and now they are not only an old technology but also cost less than $50 to buy a good one.

As food sources become more limited, we could easily be forced to eat less and compensate with alternative ingredients and beverages.

5. “A billion people will be displaced by climate change.”

This one is an alarm signal.

Since the global temperatures were first recorded in 1881, the world`s temperature has increased by 1.2 Celcius centigrade. The last 5 years were the hottest years since 1881. The annual average global temperature plot shows a significant increase over the previous 20 years, unlike before.

This trend suggests that global warming will end up with 2 Celcius centigrade by 2030, which means significant climate change. As the weather patterns change, our civilization will be impacted seriously. If global warming exceeds 3 Celcius centigrade, then it is the point of no return for major climate changes that will devastate our lives.

Scientists are trying to keep it at 1.5 Celcius by 2030, which is already a big challenge. For some, the 2020 pandemic is a human-made catastrophe to cool the world down by lowering carbon emissions, accelerating eco-friendly technologies, and reducing fossil-based fuel consumption.

If the 2030 global warming prediction comes true, then drought, hunger, and poverty can quickly push people to the limits, mobilizing millions of people to immigrate to other parts of the world where they can survive with their families.

Many of our Homo-sapiens brothers and sisters will definitely try to avoid innocent people immigrating to their countries because of their fear of losing what they have. Therefore, we need a new type of humanity with higher consciousness — Homo-Noeticus, the self-knowing human, or the wise human.

6. “Polluters will have to pay to emit carbon dioxide” — “There will be a global price on carbon. This will help make fossil fuels history.”

This 2030 global warming threat is severe. If a company or country pollutes our only home in the universe, it will be penalized for sure in a new world and soon be forced to even close and shut down.

A significant portion of Tesla`s profits this year in 2020 result from carbon emission licenses they earned and sold to other companies. The trend has already started.

7. “You could be preparing to go to Mars” — “Scientists will have worked out how to keep you healthy in space.”

Elon Musk seems to have made this a big dream of him, and the progress he has made with his companies so far could open the path to Mars a possibility for a limited number of astronauts by 2030. Mars colonization will happen for sure, as well as the colonization of Europe and Enceladus, the 2 moons in our solar system that are covered with a thick layer of ice above a water ocean.

That will pose other threats later on, such as the differentiation of these planets and moons’ inhabitants due to a strong need to adapt the nature, climate, social life, culture, and survival challenges.

8. “Western values will have been tested to the breaking point.” — “Checks and balances that underpin our democracies must not be forgotten.”

Imagine 1 billion people moving from various parts of the world to another.

Add the pressure of finding clean water and feeding 8 billion people despite global warming.

Consider the complexity of trade wars in a multi-polar world to control limited resources such as petrol, money, water, food, fertile lands, strategic logistics corridors, etc.

All these and much more can create utmost tension, triggering regional fights, battles, and wars either on the field or on the cyber-arenas or strategically behind the scenes. Some people say that WW3 has already started, and we are in it. Yet this is a new type of war as if to prove Sun Tzu correct — The best commander is the one who wins without fighting.

In such a chaotic world, all our ideals, well-designed art democratic rules, high standards, moral values will be tested in extreme conditions. It is easy to respect each other when you have a good income, a lovely house, 2 cars, good education for your children in a civilized city with clear rules and regulations with most of the people adhering to them. Such a balance means stability and predictability that gives comfort to any human.

What if this equilibrium is broken and the ideal world is at risk?

Anyone would feel uncomfortable and take action to protect herself and the loved ones like a mother bird watching her children. In such turbulent times comes the mega-changes in history. The tolerance and mutual understanding in such times drop significantly, and people switch to survival mode. That kind of tough times drop all the masks and unveil the real face of everyone, the people around you, your inner circle. You may even find yourself challenging your truest intentions and faith.

Look at the pandemic’s effects and the economic crisis within the first three quarters of the year. Protests increased, people rallied on the streets, and people with opposing ideas quarreled and fought.

Unlike the modern top 20 or 30 countries in the world, billions of people still live with little money with the risk of hunger and health problems today, even in the 21st century. Many westerners are not aware of that unless they happen to visit these places and experience at first hand. They are not ready for such unexpected changes and social problems.

We can be as healthy as the world we live in, and the weakest chain shows our consciousness level. So, we better start working right now to share whatever good and useful we have in hand with each other.

The predictions of Klaus Schwab are pretty interesting, and each one of them could very likely become our reality in the next 10 years. Look at the changes in the world since the 2008 global crisis. That will give you an idea of what can and cannot happen by 2030.

United Nations` 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Saxo Bank’s 10 Predictions, and the Green New Deal are some of the trends you need to be aware of to be prepared for the new world in the next 20 years. You can even turn this change into a benefit.

With love,

Kenan

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