For me 2010 will be one of the most depressing years I can remember, for me it wasn’t such a bad year but the realisation of how the world outside our little valley here in Spain works has left me quite pessimistic about the future of our world.

For me this year was my internet entry year, I learnt how to make a web site and started this blog, these two actions brought me into contact with a world I really don’t think I like.

Much of this year I have been trying to understand exactly what created the financial crisis crippling many countries now.

I always had this perception that the world of finance had some integrity and was a world inhabited by intelligent well informed people but it appears the financial crisis was brought about by fraud, perpetrated by those adept at slight of hand deception. When the proverbial hit the fan the fraudsters or Bankers as we used to know them just blackmailed Governments to get them out of trouble.

Take a look at http://maxkeiser.com/

The second big shock for me was to learn that not only was our debt based financial system out of control, the way we use the earth’s resources is treated the same.

Since August 21^st we have been using more than the world can produce. If all the countries on our earth had a USA lifestyle we would need 5 earths to support it, a UK lifestyle would need 3.4 earths and strangely the Chinese lifestyle is compatible with one earth.

When I thought further about this it became obvious there is not enough earth ‘stuff’ to go round and we need to find a better way of living within our financial resources and our earth’s resources but is there a Government anywhere looking at sustainable shrinkage as a model for their country’s future? NO! We should now be looking at ways to exist above poverty that doesn’t exploit the poverty of another country.

Take a look at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/ecological-debt-earth-overshoot-day-2010-august-21.php

The third big shock for me was finding there are people who believe every word of the Bible is the word of God. I am not against religion, I enjoy my own personal spirituality, I believe the Bible is a very powerful piece of literature but God didn’t write it, Adam and Eve never existed and we as humans were never meant to live forever.

My last shock was the understanding I have tried to convey in previous posts here is that most, if not all of our worldly problems come from man’s innate ability to allow his egomania to justify just about any immoral, unfair, exploitative and illegal action he or she can think up. Today success is based on the pursuit of power not the pursuit of wellness, or wholeness, failure is perceived as not achieving the stuff as opposed to not achieving a likable sense of self.

As we go forward to 2011 I am looking at removing as many areas I can that rely on Government, the financial system and religion that impact on my life and attempt to reduce my lifestyle to one that I can sustain. Why? Because I believe 2011 could be the start of a new age whether it is one of darkness or enlightenment is yet to be seen but I would certainly feel hypocritical if I was to wish you a prosperous new year but prosperity does not necessarily bring happiness so despite the gloom the way is open to find real happiness within a reduced, easier to support lifestyle so to anyone reading this I wish you a wholesomely happy new year!