Poverty
International Women’s Day, 2021 #MarchWithUs: 5 Activists on Dismantling “Gender Lies”
Today, despite centuries of activism and mobilisations, women and non-binary people continue to remain disadvantaged in almost every sphere – from “public life” to the “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence. In light of COVID-19, some struggles have been considered in theory, but most continue… »
In a Pandemic Year, Some Good News for Children
By Jo Becker This year has been devastating for children. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the education of 1.5 billion students, pushed an estimated 150 million additional children into poverty, left many without caregivers, and increased child labor, child… »
U.N. Secretary-General Warns Impact of Pandemic May Last for Decades
At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres warned Thursday the world could be suffering negative effects from the pandemic for decades to come. Secretary-General António Guterres: “Let’s not fool ourselves. A vaccine cannot undo damage that will stretch across years, even decades, to come. Extreme poverty is rising. The threat… »
There Is Enough Food, yet 2 Billion Have Difficulty Accessing It
By Santo D. Banerjee “Hunger is an outrage in a world of plenty,” the UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the governing body of the Organization’s food agency, highlighting the important role of food security in cementing peace. “An empty stomach is a gaping hole in the heart of a society. A… »
Glasgow City Council Requests Funding for Universal Basic Income Trial
At the end of October, the Glasgow city council voted in favor of a proposal to request from the governments of the United Kingdom and of Scotland to fund a pilot scheme for a Universal Basic Income (UBI). The proposal was put forward by the town treasurer, Ricky Bell, with… »
Stand in solidarity with world’s poor, UN chief says in message for International Day
The UN Secretary-General has called for solidarity with all people living in poverty, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Secretary-General António Guterres issued the appeal in a video message to mark the International Day for… »
South Africa after Mandela: between Covid-19 and inequality
Under lockdown, electricity rationing, a curfew from 9 pm to 4 am and a ban on alcohol sales: this is how South Africa celebrated Mandela Day 2020 (18th July), the day that marks the birth of the man who freed the country. A day devoted to doing 67 minutes of… »
A Landmark Project Aims at Reforestation in Togo
Income Opportunities for Women By Ramesh Jaura Togo in West Africa is the venue of a milestone project between Soka Gakkai, a global community-based Buddhist organization and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). The two have signed a memorandum to launch a reforestation project offering income opportunities… »
Ending Mass Unemployment and Poverty
The causa causans Keynes identified in a passage cited in the previous note was investment*. Investment by profit-seeking investors is regarded as the source of employment. If it stops, employment, stops. At least that is true when one sees the world through the lenses of one mental model. It dominates… »
Universal basic income could improve the nation’s mental health
Many people are talking about universal basic income (UBI) these days. Giving everyone a guaranteed income could be the solution to many economic woes. But one factor that hasn’t been mentioned much in discussions of UBI is how it might improve our mental health. Social psychiatry research… »