Where is future?

In our world, politicians are currently debating solutions for the prosperity and well-being of citizens in their respective countries. This morning, I launched the app of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung on my smartphone. I've been following the discussions in the US and Europe, and of course in our own country, with great interest for some time now. This raises the question for me: what does the future hold for our planet?

Me in my apartment in Aschaffenburg in July 2025.

Recent developments and their impact on people

I am deeply concerned about the current devaluation of the American currency and the resulting high levels of public debt, for example in America and also in Germany. Furthermore, I am observing a decline in demand and, consequently, a lack of economic prosperity in Germany. I attribute this to the now almost over coronavirus pandemic. People, and therefore the economy, suffered and continue to suffer greatly from the consequences of this virus. This is understandable, as sick people or those at risk of illness are holding onto their money and living in great anxiety about their livelihoods and their lives. The resulting fear weakens and paralyzes them.

Yuval Noah Harari takes a stand on the events of our time

Yuval Noah Harari is a prominent voice on contemporary global developments and their significance. I saw him live on screen during the Big Bang Festival in September 2024, in a Berlin factory hall dating from the Gründerzeit era. The topic was the impact and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) technology offers for politics and, indirectly, for humanity.

https://youtu.be/3DL3gmapVDY

The world-famous author and thought leader Yuval Noah Harari is interviewed here about the importance of mythology in comparison to the position of science.

Egoism and polarization

I believe that the current political instability in Europe is weakening the EU and its sense of community. The rightward shift observed within the EU, coupled with new border controls and the protectionism emanating from the US, is doing less to promote coexistence among the people in the member states than politicians claim. Furthermore, I believe that the ambitions of American policymakers and their corresponding measures will have negative and unforeseeable consequences for the world. The depreciation of the US dollar, the world's leading currency, demonstrates, in my opinion, that the path of high tariffs and restrictions on global trade is detrimental to both the US and the world. Given the leading role of the American economy, this protectionism could plunge the global economy into a new depression.

A real vision and future for the blue planet

Singapore, for example, offers its citizens a different political approach to the challenges of our time. There, plastic is collected and processed into road surfacing. Smart cities with large green spaces, like Singapore, are also a way to adequately address climate change and its challenges, instead of denying it and continuing to rely on fossil fuels. Nature knows no boundaries. We should try to treat it well and learn from it. By listening to and observing its ways, we can also show our grandchildren and great-grandchildren a world where living conditions encourage them to be part of this ecosystem.

My contribution

Back in 2015, my daughter suggested I reduce my meat consumption. I use very little water, cycle, and travel by train. I live in a one-room apartment, and this eco-friendly lifestyle results in a relatively small ecological footprint. Since September 2024, I've also been active as an artist, and this form of expression has given me a new source of income.

Jost Sagasser M.A.s Vis-made mit dem Titel "5".

An example from this ongoing creative period is the artwork titled "5," which I call Vis-made. It features experiences from Sassnitz/Rügen (Germany) in the lower left, and to the right of that, a picture of me on a recent hike in the Spessart forest. My friend Judith is in the center at the top. In the upper left is a wonderful old postcard from my late mother, and on the far right is a saying that perhaps represents the core of this artwork, "5." :D

Conclusion

Intuition and the courage to forge new paths, instead of regressing, can make our world a livable place even 200 years from now. Will you join us?