Not everyone may be aware of exploitation. People get used to and adjust to living conditions and a certain standart of living. Yet, exploitation is evident by a number of facts and examples that are listed below.
Exploitation is the cause of poverty and misery. It undermines the vital energy of people and makes one subservient to those with power.
Money and Poverty
Exploitation is usually carried out by those who possess money and power. It is estimated that the top 50 people in the world own more than US$1 trillion.
At the same time, around 1.4 billion people are suffering “absolute poverty,” living on less than US$1.25 a day, while 2.7 billion live on less than US$2 a day.
The injustice becomes evident if we consider that from about the 150,000 deaths every day, around 50,000 are caused by unfair economic condition, i.e. people not having access to the basic necessities of life. This mass genocide must stop.
The world has the capacity of feeding many times more than the present population of the world. It has the capacity of bringing bliss and happiness into everyone's lives.
Along with a guarantee to the basic necessities of life, PROUT proposes a limit on private wealth.
Some Examples
· the selling of products at inflated prices, for example as a result of monopoly power;
· the creation of artificial demands for products people don't need;
· the use of popular sentiments to trick people into buying useless products and supporting
wrong ideas;
· suppression of a country's culture, language, religion etc.;
· drainage of natural resources and wealth through the control of a socio-economic unit's
natural resourse by another one or by another mulitnational company;
· the accumulation and hoarding of money where money lying idle, as if dead, in the bank
accounts of rich people, much needed investment capital and capital for service projects is
withheld;
· slavery, i.e. Africa's blood dimonds;
· child labour (especially in countries like India, Bangladesh);
· forced prostitution (for example in Thailand);
· the desctruction of natual habitat for profit making (rainforests, water resrouces, air
pollution);
· the torture and slaughter of our neighbour animals to fill the stomach of humans (the more
animal farms run like machines, the more profit is made);
· arms and drug traffic where governemts, secret services, mafia and guerilla groups work
together to weaken and destroy innocent populations;
· various aspects of women exploitation in the fields of marriage, sex trade, labour, wage
inequality, political discrimination etc.
So what is the way out?
Individuals alone will find it hard to bring about changes. A collective effort, based on common ideals is needed to bring about lasting bliss and happiness to all living beings on this world.
In the words of P.R.Sarkar:
"In the realm of morality two forces act side by side. One is the internal urge and the other is external pressure. Each and every object in the universe has a vital force which longs for infinite expression. Átman or the witnessing entity supplies the necessary stamina to fight evil forces, but it requires great external pressure to neutralize the evil forces working against the internal urge. External pressure may come in the form of suggestions, advice, punishment and clash. Capitalists are immoral and are fighting a fratricidal war. Their internal urge is meagre and does not function properly. We have to apply external force to rectify their conduct. Nicely worded advice will not do the job."
PROUT, the Progressive Utilisation Theory, has been propounded for the good and happiness of all.
See also:
Capitalism in Three Spheres by P.R.Sarkar