When we exchange what we need, we use money as a medium instead of trading ‘goods for goods.’ In this context, money acts as a means of exchange. When we exchange what we need, we also build wealth by passing on added value to each other. In other words, money functions as both a medium of exchange and a measure of value, as well as a tool for accumulating wealth. But isn’t this a bit strange? Although exchange value comes from goods and surplus is generated from this exchange value, the object used to measure and accumulate wealth is money, not goods. This is because money alone has the privilege called ‘compulsory circulation power.’ In other words, even if value is created, added value cannot be realized unless it’s exchanged. The ability to enable such exchanges is what we call ‘compulsory circulation power.’ - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Cotton needs 500 mm of water to produce cotton wool, and 1 kg of cotton wool requires 8,500 liters of water to fill 40 baths. A fashion company can make a pair of jeans from this. It needs at least 2,700 liters of water to create a T-shirt. This amount is enough for one person to use as drinking water for three years. Clothing consumption has recently increased by an average of 60% each year on Earth. The Aral Sea in Uzbekistan was the fourth-largest lake in the world, but it has now shrunk to one-tenth of its original size, as river water has been used to grow cotton due to increased consumption. Few people are concerned about how their consumption affects the global environment. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”