Author Ray Shilling Pens a New Book Revealing How Tropical Island Nations Are Truly Walking the Razor's Edge
Thesis: Over the past century, residents of the world's most desirable tropical island destinations have become addicted to the continuous flow of money from visiting tourists. Without sufficient alternate industries in place, following a global economic catastrophe, their very long-term survival may be in jeopardy.
Case: The Bahamas
In the past decade, much has been discussed about the threat of rising ocean levels on low-lying coastal and island communities of the world. While this is a valid concern over the next 50 years, perhaps a much more immediate threat is an economic one. The Bahamas is a capable, successful nation - usually ranked in the top five GDP per capita in the western hemisphere. However, the Bahamian people have allowed their agricultural, fishing and manufacturing industries to decline in favor of tourism-related services. They have now become far too dependent upon other countries of the world for their survival.
Income - Economists estimate that 2/3rds of Bahamian income depends upon tourism. The next largest industry - financial services - makes up roughly 15% of national revenues. Agriculture generates less than 3% of GDP.
Expenditure - Water, food, shelter and energy are the essentials of sustaining life. The Bahamas has adequate fresh water from rainfall, and most current residents have shelter.
Food - The Bahamian people produce less than 10% of the food consumed in the Islands; relying on a mind-boggling 90% of imported food, primarily from the USA.
Energy - The Bahamas is powered by fossil fuels - oil and natural gas - imported from other nations. While the Bahamas has ubiquitous wind and solar energy, it currently ranks 26th out of 27 nations of the West Indies in its investment in renewable energy sources.
The Bahamas sells its sun, sand and sea to tourists, and then, in turn, spends that revenue on purchasing food and energy. What if the planes, cruise ships and private yachts stopped visiting the Islands? Bahamians would quickly run out of money to purchase these essentials. A worldwide global depression could trigger such an occurrence. Moreover, following a global economic collapse - and the resulting devastation and chaos in Bahamian society - would the remaining wealthy North Americans and Europeans still have the confidence to "offshore" their wealth to the Bahamian banking system?
Raise Awareness Through Storytelling
This is clearly a very serious issue, with potentially deadly consequences. The citizens of the Bahamas - and many other tropical island nations - need to wake up, pay attention and begin to make the necessary changes to mitigate this possible calamity.
Rather than publish a dry, lecturing white paper on the subject, Shilling is drawing attention to the issue via an action novel:
"Poseidon's Cradle :: Wolves of the Apocalypse"
Against a backdrop of worldwide economic catastrophe - and the particular vulnerability of tropical island nations - Bahamian entrepreneur Lance Monroe is seduced by the drug underworld. But, in the face of corruption and murder, he is soon compelled to choose another path.
In an all-too-possible future, after the Great Global Depression of 2023, only the wealthy can afford to take vacations to the tropics. With the collapse of middle-class tourism, island populations find themselves struggling to pay for the essentials of life.
Forced to shut down his dive expedition business, Marine-trained fighter and water-man Monroe reluctantly embarks on transporting contraband for the Dominicans. However, when a secret bio-engineering lab stumbles upon a new super coca strain, the stage is set for a dangerous clash between corrupt governments, drug cartels and the world's largest pharmaceutical company.
Tense and disturbing, this ambitious story takes the reader on a wild ride through a harsh, often merciless landscape, with an electrifying plot of action, intrigue, corruption and revenge.
Full Press Release