Dear Editor,
I read Natalie Nougayrède's piece (GW, 5th Jan 2018) on Macron's eloquence potentially being able to reverse Brexit and thereby "save Europe" and, although I share her sentiments, I am worried that Europe may already be "lost".
For years I have chided the USA on the fact that they have sacrificed their "culture" on the alter of commercialism with shopping malls and "Disneyfication" taking over their whole public space. However, this is certainly not limited to America ...
Recently I retraced the route of a cycle-trip that I took in the 1980's through South Tirol and Lombardy expecting to rediscover the "soul" of the Europe that I remember from thirty years ago. Indeed, the spectacular landscape was still there and those magical towns (Brixen, Bolzano, Trento, Riva di Garda, Salo, Brescia, Bergamo and Como) were impeccably restored. But, where previously local shops had been, there were endless streets of Swarovski, Gucci, H&M & Co.. And, as I cycled into and out of various towns, I could see the hypermarkets and discounters where the locals obviously now shop.
So, yes, while it would be most desirable for Brexit to be reversed, is there really still a Europe to be saved? Or have corporations, riding high on a globalised, free-market band-wagon stealthily ripped the heart out of the continent that we love?
Regards
