Capitalism will kill us

Recently, I’ve been hearing this question more and more from my readers: Where is it better to live — in Russia or somewhere else in the world? What is the situation in other regions of the planet?

Actually, it's a very good question. The fact is, the destruction of wildlife, the degradation of the Earth's biosphere, is happening globally. In many regions of the planet, the scale of ecocide is so immense that, according to new scientific reports (World Wildlife Fund, 2024), animal extinction over the past few decades has reached 73%. In other words, only about 27% of the world's wildlife remains; the rest has already been exterminated!

Or take, for example, the African continent, where this year, countries are making official decisions to slaughter animals in reserves to butcher them for meat to feed local populations. According to scientists, in African countries, species extinction over the past 50 years has averaged around 76% of all species.

The same situation is happening all over the planet; people have even reached Antarctica, where animals are dying at an incredible speed. To give an example: up to 97% of all emperor penguins could disappear from the face of the Earth by 2100 — scientists made these predictions more than 10 years ago. But now these figures are changing, and experts say the extinction of species in Antarctic ecosystems is accelerating!

So, where is the best place to live? Where is our own natural habitat still preserved? In which region of the world should we raise our children?

Over the past few years, I have traveled to many regions of the world, studying environmental issues while working on my books to protect nature. Therefore, I can speak about what I have personally encountered!

The best country to live in, in terms of preserving our own natural habitat and environmental safety, is Russia. No other regions in the world even come close to the living conditions in Russia.

Here's why.

Historically, our country has been sparsely populated, which creates minimal pressure on wildlife ecosystems. Additionally, the country's physical and geographical position stretches along the boreal belt, making many regions unsuitable for human life due to the harsh climate and remoteness! Consequently, wildlife can extend over vast areas, regenerate, and wild animals have places to retreat from humans.

Other regions of the world cannot boast such conditions.

Europe — highly populated and heavily developed for economic activity! All the free territories that once existed have long been settled by people, and there is practically no space left for wildlife. The population of Europe already exceeds 750 million people!

In Russia, the land area is 1.7 times larger than Europe's, while the population, as of January 1, 2024, is around 146 million people.

To understand how much or how little pressure is exerted on ecosystems, how extensive "economic development" is, just open satellite maps and assess the undisturbed wilderness. Wherever there are no roads, cities, villages, industrial clusters, or large-scale logging (turning forests into a checkerboard), there are wilderness sanctuaries. Moreover, it is essential that these wilderness areas are not isolated but connected by at least narrow corridors.

Asian countries are overpopulated and heavily developed. Population numbers, I think, speak for themselves.

The U.S. population in 2024 is over 341 million people. The land area is 9.83 million square kilometers, just like Europe. That means Russia is 1.74 times bigger than the U.S.

There's no need to even mention South America, Africa, or Australia, which are incapable of dealing with rapid environmental degradation. That leaves intermediate regions and island nations, which are also extremely overpopulated. For example, Indonesia has a population of 283 million in 2024, with an area of only 1.91 million square kilometers. Russia is almost nine times bigger than the entire Indonesian archipelago.

I studied the recent meta-report from the World Wildlife Fund on the extinction of 73% of all living species on the planet. This extinction is primarily caused by human activity! So, countries in the northern hemisphere, like Russia and the U.S., are better positioned in terms of wildlife conservation and environmental safety.

Russia is undoubtedly in first place. The U.S. falls short in both population numbers (and, consequently, ecological pressure) and land area! Meanwhile, "global development" proceeds at the same pace.

SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

If Russia is the best place to live and raise children, what's the problem? Why are we fighting for wildlife if we are leading in terms of environmental safety?

The issue is that the Earth's biosphere is plunged into a severe crisis caused by the conflict between humans and nature. This crisis is already so destructive globally that experts are saying with certainty: the next wars will be fought over WATER and rare earth resources. I wrote about this recently.

Water isn't just about having a glass to quench your thirst. Water represents everything associated with it! And that includes virtually the entire economy of states. Agriculture without water means famine and mass mortality, dependence on other countries that will offer their "help." Industry without water cannot exist either, leading to hunger and economic collapse. On top of this, ecological disasters will ensue because a lack of water means drying rivers, the depletion of underground water reserves, forests withering, abnormal wildfires, and the ultimate extinction of species.

Will such problems occur in Russia? Perhaps locally, in some regions. But on a national scale — our country is fully equipped with all the necessary resources and will be a leader on the global stage.

However, we live in the era of a capitalist system, where money is at the heart of everything. Over the past few decades, since the actual collapse of the country's forest management, our Russian taiga has been ruthlessly destroyed and exported worldwide. We supplied China, Europe, and other regions.

The same is true for all other resources. We have seen how the natural wealth of Russia has been shamelessly exploited for short-term profit. For decades, we were merely a "cash cow," extracting all kinds of resources and selling them to other countries. We were always seen as a "raw materials appendage." The most hazardous industries are in our country. Massive deforestation is happening here.

Today, the situation is only getting worse because the world is becoming increasingly dependent on resources, and for many, Russia is the only country capable of supplying them. The entire management system has been built over the past decades on the fact that we are "merchants" with vast stores of goods. And now we are ready to sell everything that brings in profit.

Here's a living example.

Russian regions have launched a race to develop "hunting tourism." A third of all public forestlands in the country have been transferred to private hands for trophy hunting businesses. The industry is booming! Hunters from around the world are flocking to the regions to shoot animals and bring home a "trophy."

Our "administrators in power" simply saw this as a huge financial opportunity. Previously, trophy hunters would go to Africa for the "Big Five" animals. This was the classic dream of every "white sahib" — to fly to African countries to kill elephants, zebras, and giraffes.

But the situation has changed drastically. Now, in those African countries, there's extreme heat and famine, with deadly diseases spreading. There's a whole "bouquet" of deadly diseases: Ebola, Dengue, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Plague, Cholera, Lassa Fever, Monkeypox, Meningococcal infection, and others.

As for animals, it's no longer "interesting" because most wild animals have been killed. The only ones left are in reserves or bred in enclosures specifically for slaughter: hunters come, animals are driven out for them, and they are shot by the "white sahibs."

But that's "not cool or prestigious." Who wants to shoot a domesticated animal and risk dying from a deadly fever? And around you are overcrowded cities full of hungry people ready to rob you at every corner to survive, and abnormal heat.

Okay. So where else to go besides Africa? Given that animal species are disappearing so quickly, there are few places left to go. Up to 95% of living species have been destroyed by humans in countries in South and Central America. Think about it: only about 5% of animals remain.

And here comes our country! The regions saw huge money and began to promote "hunting tourism." Kamchatka, which should be a unified nature reserve — a refuge, a sanctuary for wildlife, has been divided up into hunting grounds for "animal slaughter." And people from all over the world are flocking to our country to kill wild animals! Moreover, this "trophy tourism" is primarily arranged with countries like Europe and the U.S. — the same "white sahibs" who once decimated nature in other regions of the world.

There are many of them! A lot. And they pay several thousand dollars for each trip, which draws the attention of regional authorities. They understand perfectly well: provide hunters worldwide with the opportunity to kill our animals, and you'll make a killing — clean money. Again, our officials are usually avid hunters themselves, and among them, it is considered "prestigious" to open their own hunting estate "in royal tradition."

I showed you an example of hunting tourism.

Now imagine what opportunities will arise if the world faces a severe shortage of food and resources? And what colossal money can be made in the coming decades by selling off the future of our children?

Administrators in power understand this perfectly. That's why, over the past few years, we have seen one destructive law after another being passed. And these laws are aimed precisely at "developing" the last refuges of wildlife and killing wild animals to promote "hunting tourism" in the country.

Here are just a few of the recent laws that have either been passed or are being considered:

• Enclosure hunting (animals can be killed all year round without quotas or restrictions)

• Sport hunting in protected forests and green zones around cities

• Killing of red-listed animals

• Legalization of sport hunting for animals with bows and crossbows

• Clearcutting around the protected Lake Baikal

• Clearcutting of protective forests in mountain wildlife refuges

• Sport hunting of bears all winter (while they are hibernating in their dens)

This is just a fraction of what's already being done! In recent years, the number of quotas for bear hunting has increased. For example, in the 2024 hunting season alone, regional authorities allowed more than 37,000 bears to be killed in the country.

What a coincidence, right? It just so happens that "bear hunting" for trophies is the most popular offer for trophy hunters from all over the world.

So, I can now highlight the main issues I see. I've written before that capitalism is always about NEED. The one who makes the most money is the one who can meet someone's needs with the necessary resources!

Currently, the world is predicting further climate anomalies, drought, and the depletion of water tables. World leaders are openly saying that soon wars will be fought over water! African countries are slaughtering animals in reserves to feed their populations. Not even questioning — how long will the animals last? What happens when they're gone? What's the plan?

The world is entering a period of need due to the destruction of ecosystems! Our administrators in power just want money and are already calculating the future economic development by supplying resources to the entire world.

Here's the thing: if there are no more resources left in the world, states will have to change their systems of governance. Consumption patterns would change, and there would be a need to restore lost ecosystems.

But why do that when a vast northern country, anticipating a global ecological crisis, is ready to offer the world resources at sky-high prices, providing everyone with timber, food, and even water?

Why else would our officials suddenly start "developing" the protected Lake Baikal so abruptly, just as the world anticipates wars over water? Baikal is the largest reservoir of fresh water in the world.

The world will simply shift its logistics, and countries that have already been sucked dry (like Africa) will be plunged into wars for food and water, while the rest will receive resources from Russia. Countries will do anything to avoid changing the capitalist system and halting profits!

Instead of global change, where everyone learns to live differently and moves away from the system of destruction, the whole world will simply latch onto Russia, and our administrators in power will keep providing them with resources.

Africa used to be big and rich too! Moreover, it was the richest continent. Today, it is plunged into poverty, destitution, and hunger.

At this rate of "development," I fear that our children will one day also have to declare the "slaughter" of the last animals in reserves to feed themselves and survive.

Without a change in the economic model, without global changes at the state and societal level, we are on the path to destruction. And the bitter experience of other countries teaches us nothing — the main thing is to make "quick money" here and now.

© PAVEL PASHKOV