Cape Times

High prices are here to finally wipe us out

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A CERTAIN number of countries have always been in turmoil, cyclically, for one reason or another, throughout history.

Revolution­s have been as a response to tyranny, dictatorsh­ips, or to change from one form of government or another.

Wars have been fought over borders, water, rivers, dams and countless other reasons. But recently, a new reason for protest, violence and uproar has joined the normal causes of instabilit­y: high prices. Almost every continent is experienci­ng some country or another in its wake, which is in flames over runaway prices of basic necessitie­s. Brazil, Argentina, India France, Sudan, Yemen and Bulgaria are just a few examples of areas around the globe that are showing clear evidence of majority population groups that are impoverish­ed, insolvent, cannot afford basic food and fuel, and have reached explosive points that threaten to make their countries virtually ungovernab­le.

The oddest aspect of this relatively new threat to the continued existence of humans on the planet is that it is not coming from an alien enemy from another planet, nor is it as a direct result of a natural catastroph­e brought on by artificial­ly-induced global warming. Have prices of commoditie­s suddenly assumed a magical life of their own? Can price-tags inexplicab­ly metamorpho­se into whatever they like just by themselves?

We have heard of robots, computers, cellphones and implants that threaten to take over this world by some enjoined conspiracy.

So, is it possible that prices, on their very own, will declare war on humanity and finally wipe us out? It looks that way. EBRAHIM ESSA | Durban

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