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A green, peaceful and connected Europe

Anonymous

April 26, 2023

A green, peaceful and connected Europe

This image was generated with Dream Studio AI.

My Europe in 2040 feels a bit like the Jetsons but in green & European: society has embraced further digitization without losing touch of the humane aspect and despite of costs, managed to make a switch in climate policy during the last 20 years. Streets and gardens show a variety of plants with some insects happily buzzing around. Though welcomed in the beginning, electric cars will still have to adhere to the true heroes of the street: pedestrians and bikers. Cafés have wonderful terraces inviting people to enjoy life in the city, town or village.

Trains are connecting Europe better and quicker, not just between capitals but also between towns. People have European passports but then again, showing these for travelling are not necessarily needed as freedom of movement is enjoyed across the Union.

Europe just passed a political milestone by adopting a European constitution and by officially becoming a federal state. The elections of the European Parliament who by now can also submit legislative proposals have become quite contended, as citizens from Norway over the United Kingdom to Cyprus were able to watch debates, inform themselves of the different parties and vote for any European. Similarly, news covers European politics as soon as you switch on your screen. When teachers explain to their students in European civic education class that the elections used to limit themselves only to candidates from one country, they're met with bewildered confusion. People grow up learning their mother tongue and English, and many speak more - the multilingual way of living is something that attracts many people to live in Europe.

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hallo
Et maintenant, en 2040.
hallo
An idealistic European future
Europe will have learnt from its past mistakes in terms of security and defence and economy. It will no longer be seen as a side partner with no real power when it comes to wars at its borders. It will be equipped and able to deter foreign threats, both military and online. While having strong foreign partnerships, it will no longer rely on third countries to provide it with rare materials, energy or manufacture critical products. It will have understood that companies are critical to its social welfare and adapted its regulations to European companies' needs. Energy and life costs will no longer be an issue for Europeans as there will have been investments in new nuclear technologies, incentives given to companies to produce in Europe in a simplified regulatory framework, taxation, social and labour costs will be harmonised and education will be again a strong pillar of the society.
hallo
What a relief we have left behind in the 1920s with all that succession of intertwined crises that seemed impossible to resolve! What a relief that we no longer have to think about whether democracy is in danger or live in the permanent uncertainty of whether there will be a reactionary retreat from everything that cost us so much to win! Just as we were finally aware of the physical limits of the planet and the doughnut economy succeeded capitalism, we were also aware of the limits of our democracies with mass debates that prevented (at last!) cruel authoritarian demagogues who did not believe in the values of democracy from seizing power again. I don't know how we could live with this permanent anguish... . No more gerontocracies, no more idycracies, no more techno-auritarism, no more perpetuation in power. AI is no longer a private business of billionaires who (finally!) were forced to distribute 90% of their fortune, as had already happened in the 50s of the last century. It has put itself only at the service of solving the great problems of the world. What a relief too that money no longer moves the world! All this was possible because the Constitution of the Land of Ferrajoli was approved and launched in 2030, the Magna Carta that protected all our global problems. The nature of which we are a part and without which we cannot live is especially protected. The Constitution provides a framework for everything to be solved diplomatically. Since its approval, the wars have ended and the genocidal people of the past have been severely judged. Yesterday we celebrated the feast of #Nevermore. If I have to describe what life is like now, the word that comes out is calm. Without constant threats to our safety and well-being, day-to-day life is placid.
hallo
A world of citizens
Strenghtened EU-level, even global, governance mechanisms. Human-centered technology Limits to accumulation and consumption, especially for the super rich Vibrant ecosystem for new businesses Private initiative, public Administrations, and non-profits working side by side on big societal and environmental issues A post-growth economy based on sufficiency High quality of democracy High citizen participation
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