People, not politicians will solve the inequality crisis
By Jenny Ricks, Global Convenor, Fight Inequality Alliance
Inequality has been the buzzword in many countries and institutions over the last few years as the reality of how extreme the crisis is has become known around the world. During the last US Democratic presidential candidate debates, the issue of inequality took center stage. At the G7, happening this August in France, President Emmanuel Macron is focusing on the fight against inequality. And this week, the UN High Level Political Forum is focused on reviewing countries’ progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 10 on reducing inequalities. Expect warm words and expressions of concern to be plentiful.
While the rounds of international summits and meetings are happening, the daily reality of the inequality crisis continues to play out, and is reflected back at us in media headlines. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) released a report that describes the increased repression faced by trade unionists worldwide. ITUC also listed the worst countries for workers. In India, the richest 1 percent owns 58.4 percent of the country’s wealth, said a study by the Council of Social Development. The gap between the richest and the rest is out of control. Some amongst the ultra rich are demanding to be taxed more. Our democracies are corroding as power and wealth concentrates in fewer and fewer hands. The news confirms what people living on the frontlines of inequality know and are experiencing every day. Inequality isn’t just a flaw in the system, it’s in the design.
Our societies are rooted in patriarchy, racism and many other forms of discrimination. Women, especially women of color, are also the hardest hit by rising economic inequality: they are the workers in the most precarious employment; they suffer the most from cuts in public services; much of their work, paid and unpaid is not recognized and rewarded. The neoliberal economic system is discredited and broken. The politics of hate and greed and sexism are on the rise. It’s toxic and very, very dangerous.
The latest report from the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights that spells out that the “climate apartheid” coming by 2030 is inequality writ large. The richest can pay their way out of the climate crisis, while the poor are bearing the brunt. Philip Alston estimates that 120 million more people will be displaced and pushed into hunger due to climate change. The warning is clear: human rights cannot survive if the richest continue plundering the earth in the name of profit.
But discussing inequality does not equate to acting on it. Inequality is everywhere, yet at the same time, where will the action needed come from? The people in power are now talking about inequality, but change will not start with them. It would be naive to think that promises by governments and global institutions will take us out of this crisis.
We need a different story about the societies and future we want, and to change the system, we need radical action and a rebalancing of power from the grassroots.
There is hope. People on the frontlines of inequality — women, young people, social movements around the world know the solutions lie with them and are organising and leading real, radical change.
There is a growing movement to fight inequality coming together across issues and borders — taking back our future from the hands of a greedy few. A huge number of groups with millions of members have laid out the stark situation we are in, and how together we are leading the way out of it in this open letter, published today. Governments and world leaders attending the upcoming summits need it in their briefing pack.
Together we are telling world leaders to stop fuelling inequality. The solutions include jobs, minimum living wages, decent public services, fair taxes, an end to fossil fuels and much, much more. We are actively campaigning for a just and equal world where everybody’s needs can be met and their rights respected. We are creating a future where a decent and dignified life will not be the privilege of a few.
It will not be easy, but the seeds of resistance and hope are all around us. This year’s Pride month is one of the largest we have ever seen. Young people are disrupting the politics as usual and leading action on climate change. Trade unions, although attacked in every possible way, are steadfast and strong. Fight Inequality alliances put forward their solutions to inequality in a week of action in January.
The ever increasing divide between the rich and poor is destroying our societies. We are coming together and acting with haste and urgency. A different future is coming. Now we ask our politicians and our leaders: will you be on the sidelines as history unfolds?
“High level” summits and meetings like those at the UN and G7 are too often meaningless talking shops. The people at the frontlines of this agenda are doing the hard work. Political leaders attending the upcoming summits should read the letter and ask themselves, how can I be of service?
