Love means…

In today’s Financial Times, there is a short piece of news: “Love is around and that’s official”. It briefly reported about what was happening around, and unexceptionally, all about love.

If you have visited the Clinton shop during the last couple of weeks, you would probably be aware that sparkling decorations were around the shop. The Valentine’s cards have been listing on the shelves from late January, along with the Valentine’s gifts: cups, balloons, bear toys. You walk along the street, noticing that shops are offering “special discount” on jewelleries, restaurants are encouraging you to book a “romantic dinner” in advance. The world is sending you a message that you can enjoy a romantic Valentine’s day only if you spend money on these things, and that it is the only way lovers should spend that day.

Here raise the questions: Who actually benefits from Valentine’s day? You and your beloved? Or rather, the business man? What is Valentine’s day for? Roses? Romance? Or money?

The aura of Valentine’s day is changing. It used to be a simple day to express emotion, but it is not that simple any more. Advertisers try to persuade you to buy flowers, though roses are as twice expensive as they used to be. What is worse, it is yourself who accepts these advertisements, by considering flowers and chocolates to be essential, rather than the love expressions.

It is time to question how we celebrate Valentine’s day. My friend Chris said she would never treat it as a special day since “it is too commercial.” Love does not mean endless buying on a particular day, but to tell the people you love that you love them.

Fecund France

It seems thatFrance is now the most creative nation among European countries.

An article in this week’s Time magazine talked about the birthrate in France. In 2006, “France pushed past Ireland to become the most fecund nation in the European Union, with an average of two babies per woman.” French mothers are giving birth to and raising more babies than ever. So, in the next 25 years, there will be more French workers provided for the market economy, while Germany, Spain and Italy, along with other Central and Eastern European countries, will probably be worrying about the diminishing workforce.

Labour force is an extremely crucial factor to influence market economy. A country rich in human resources is more likely to produce consumer products, such as clothes and shoes, with lower costs. People are able and willing to spend more on these products. This will certainly stimulate the economic and GDP growth. China, for instance, is benefiting greatly from its lower labour costs.

On the other hand, we are one step further towards the aging society. The population of over 60s keeps on growing. This means more expenditure on facilities for the elderly, such as hospitals, nursing homes and so on. It also requires more people to take care of the elderly. The young generation has to take on responsibilities, as well as contributing to the economy. Obviously, a larger proportion of young people is going to help.

It is said that the young generation is the hope of the nation. The economic, political and culture developments are all depending on them. Now the French are creating babies, they are creating a future.