Editor’s Be aware: “COVID-19 has been likened to an x-ray, revealing fractures within the fragile skeleton of the societies we now have constructed. It’s exposing fallacies and falsehoods all over the place: The lie that free markets can ship healthcare for all; The fiction that unpaid care work just isn’t work; The delusion that we stay in a post-racist world; The parable that we’re all in the identical boat. Whereas we’re all floating on the identical sea, it is clear that some are in tremendous yachts, whereas others are clinging to the drifting particles.” – António Guterres, UN Secretary Basic

The Secretary-Basic made this statement within the annual Nelson Mandela lecture in July 2020, by which he supplied an incisive evaluation of what he referred to as the inequality that “defines our time.” As he acknowledged that inequality additionally has deep roots in historical past, he harassed that right now’s intersecting crises are accentuating slightly than assuaging the gaps between wealthy and poor.

We’re reminded of that actuality not solely by the persevering with pandemic, but in addition by the results of climate-related disasters. The devastation by lethal chilly climate in Texas and different states is the newest to hit the headlines, confirming once more that it’s the most weak that suffer probably the most whereas these most accountable most frequently reach avoiding accountability.

The Oxfam report launched in January on “The Inequality Virus” spells out the disparate penalties of the Covid pandemic in stark phrases.

The report stresses that in response “The combat in opposition to inequality have to be on the coronary heart of financial rescue and restoration efforts. Governments should guarantee everybody has entry to a COVID-19 vaccine and monetary assist in the event that they lose their job. They have to put money into public providers and low carbon sectors to create tens of millions of latest jobs and guarantee everybody has entry to an honest training, well being, and social care, they usually should make sure the richest people and firms contribute their justifiable share of tax to pay for it.”

That enchantment is spelled out by Oxfam in a abstract article “Much less billionaires and extra nurses: 5 steps to rebuild a extra equal world after COVID-19.”

This AfricaFocus Bulletin incorporates the press launch on this report, and chosen excerpts from the complete report, which is out there on the hyperlinks cited under.

For earlier AfricaFocus Bulletins on well being, go to http://www.africafocus.org/intro-health.php. For earlier AfricaFocus Bulletins on financial inequality and associated points, go to http://www.africafocus.org/intro-iff.php.

++++++++++++++++++++++finish editor’s word+++++++++++++++++

Mega-rich recoup COVID-losses in record-time but billions will stay in poverty for at the very least a decade

Press Launch, Oxfam Worldwide, 25 January 2021

https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/mega-rich-recoup-covid-losses-record-time-yet-billions-will-live-poverty-least

The 1,000 richest folks on the planet recouped their COVID-19 losses inside simply 9 months, however it may take greater than a decade for the world’s poorest to get well from the financial impacts of the pandemic, reveals a brand new Oxfam report right now. ‘The Inequality Virus’ is being revealed on the opening day of the World Financial Discussion board’s ‘Davos Agenda’.The report reveals that COVID-19 has the potential to extend financial inequality in nearly each nation without delay, the primary time this has occurred since information started over a century in the past. Rising inequality means it may take at the very least 14 occasions longer for the variety of folks dwelling in poverty to return to pre-pandemic ranges than it took for the fortunes of the highest 1,000, principally White male, billionaires to bounce again. A brand new world survey of 295 economists from 79 nations, commissioned by Oxfam, reveals that 87 % of respondents, together with Jeffrey Sachs, Jayati Ghosh and Gabriel Zucman, count on an ‘improve’ or a ‘main improve’ in earnings inequality of their nation because of the pandemic.

Oxfam’s report reveals how the rigged financial system is enabling a super-rich elite to amass wealth in the course of the worst recession for the reason that Nice Despair whereas billions of individuals are struggling to make ends meet. It reveals how the pandemic is deepening long-standing financial, racial and gender divides.

The recession is over for the richest. The world’s ten richest males have seen their mixed wealth improve by half a trillion {dollars} for the reason that pandemic started —greater than sufficient to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine for everybody and to make sure nobody is pushed into poverty by the pandemic. On the similar time, the pandemic has ushered within the worst job disaster in over 90 years with a whole lot of tens of millions of individuals now underemployed or out of labor.

Girls are hardest hit, but once more. Globally, ladies are overrepresented within the low-paid precarious professions which were hardest hit by the pandemic. If ladies have been represented on the similar fee as males in these sectors, 112 million ladies would now not be at excessive threat of dropping their incomes or jobs. Girls additionally make up roughly 70 % of the worldwide well being and social care workforce – important however typically poorly paid jobs that put them at larger threat from COVID-19.

Heba Shalan, a mom of 5 and nurse from the Jabalia Refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, is placing her life on the road caring for sufferers with COVID-19 with out sufficient private protecting tools and for little or no pay. Picture: Marwas Sawaf/Oxfam

Inequality is costing lives. Afro-descendants in Brazil are 40 % extra prone to die of COVID-19 than White folks, whereas almost 22,000 Black and Hispanic folks in america would nonetheless be alive in the event that they skilled the identical COVID-19 mortality charges as their White counterparts. An infection and mortality charges are increased in poorer areas of nations equivalent to France, India, and Spain whereas England’s poorest areas expertise mortality charges double that of the richest areas.

Fairer economies are the important thing to a fast financial restoration from COVID-19. A brief tax on extra earnings made by the 32 world firms which have gained probably the most in the course of the pandemic may have raised $104 billion in 2020. This is sufficient to present unemployment advantages for all employees and monetary assist for all kids and aged folks in low- and middle-income nations.

Gabriela Bucher, Government Director of Oxfam Worldwide, mentioned:

“We stand to witness the best rise in inequality since information started. The deep divide between the wealthy and poor is proving as lethal because the virus.”

“Rigged economies are funnelling wealth to a wealthy elite who’re using out the pandemic in luxurious, whereas these on the frontline of the pandemic —store assistants, healthcare employees, and market distributors— are struggling to pay the payments and put meals on the desk.

“Girls and marginalized racial and ethnic teams are bearing the brunt of this disaster. They’re extra prone to be pushed into poverty, extra prone to go hungry, and extra prone to be excluded from healthcare.”

Billionaires fortunes rebounded as inventory markets recovered regardless of continued recession in the true financial system. Their complete wealth hit $11.95 trillion in December 2020, equal to G20 governments’ complete COVID-19 restoration spending. The highway to restoration shall be for much longer for individuals who have been already struggling pre-COVID-19. When the virus struck over half of employees in poor nations have been dwelling in poverty, and three-quarters of employees globally had no entry to social protections like sick pay or unemployment advantages.

“Excessive inequality just isn’t inevitable, however a coverage alternative. Governments all over the world should seize this chance to construct extra equal, extra inclusive economies that finish poverty and shield the planet,” added Bucher.

The combat in opposition to inequality have to be on the coronary heart of financial rescue and restoration efforts. Governments should guarantee everybody has entry to a COVID-19 vaccine and monetary assist in the event that they lose their job. They have to put money into public providers and low carbon sectors to create tens of millions of latest jobs and guarantee everybody has entry to an honest training, well being, and social care, they usually should make sure the richest people and firms contribute their justifiable share of tax to pay for it.

“These measures should not be band-aid options for determined occasions however a ‘new regular’ in economies that work for the good thing about all folks, not simply the privileged few.”

Notes 

Obtain ‘The Inequality Virus’ report and abstract, methodology doc outlining how Oxfam calculated the statistics within the report, photos, footage and case research.

Throughout the week of 25 January, the World Financial Discussion board (WEF) will digitally convene the ‘Davos Dialogues’, the place key world leaders will share their views on the state of the world in 2021. Oxfam’s calculations are primarily based on probably the most up-to-date and complete knowledge sources obtainable. Figures on the very richest in society come from Forbes’ 2020 Billionaires Listing. As a result of knowledge on wealth was very unstable in 2020, the Credit score Suisse Analysis Institute has delayed the discharge of its annual report on the wealth of humanity till spring 2021. Which means that we now have not been in a position to examine the wealth of billionaires to that of the underside half of humanity as in earlier years.

In response to Forbes the 10 richest folks, as of December 31st 2020, have seen their fortunes develop by $540 billion {dollars} since 18 March 2020. The 10 richest males have been listed as: Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault and household, Invoice Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, Zhong Shanshan, Larry Web page, and Mukesh Ambani.

The oldest historic information of inequality tendencies are primarily based on tax information that return to the start of the 20th century.

The World Financial institution has simulated what the impression of a rise in inequality in nearly each nation without delay would imply for world poverty. The Financial institution finds that if inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) will increase by 2 proportion factors yearly and world per capita GDP development contracts by eight %, 501 million extra folks will nonetheless be dwelling on lower than $5.50 a day in 2030 in contrast with a state of affairs the place there isn’t any improve in inequality. In consequence, world poverty ranges could be increased in 2030 than they have been earlier than the pandemic struck, with 3.Four billion folks nonetheless dwelling on lower than $5.50 a day. That is the Financial institution’s worst-case state of affairs, nonetheless projections for financial contraction throughout many of the growing world are according to this state of affairs.

Within the World Financial Outlook (October 2020), the Worldwide Financial Fund’s worst-case state of affairs doesn’t see GDP returning to pre-crisis ranges till the top of 2022. The OECD has warned it will result in long-term will increase in inequality until motion is taken.

Oxfam calculated that 112 million fewer ladies could be prone to dropping their jobs or earnings if women and men have been equally represented in low-paid, precarious professions which were most impacted by the COVID-19 disaster primarily based on an ILO coverage temporary revealed in July 2020.

All quantities are expressed in US {dollars}.

Oxfam is a part of the Battle Inequality Alliance, a rising world coalition of civil society organizations and activists which might be holding the International Protest to Battle Inequality from 23-30 January in round 30 nations, together with Kenya, Mexico, Norway and the Philippines, to advertise options to inequality and demand that economies work for everybody.

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The Inequality Virus : Bringing collectively a world torn aside by coronavirus via a good, simply and sustainable financial system

Oxfam Worldwide, January 25, 2021

https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/deal with/10546/621149/bp-the-inequality-virus-summ-250121-en.pdf

[Excerpts]

The coronavirus pandemic has the potential to result in a rise in inequality in nearly each nation without delay, the primary time this has occurred since information started. The virus has uncovered, fed off and elevated current inequalities of wealth, gender and race. Over two million folks have died, and a whole lot of tens of millions of individuals are being compelled into poverty whereas lots of the richest – people and firms – are thriving. Billionaire fortunes returned to their pre-pandemic highs in simply 9 months, whereas restoration for the world’s poorest folks may take over a decade. The disaster has uncovered our collective frailty and the lack of our deeply unequal financial system to work for all. But it has additionally proven us the important significance of presidency motion to guard our well being and livelihoods. Transformative insurance policies that appeared unthinkable earlier than the disaster have out of the blue been proven to be doable. There will be no return to the place we have been earlier than. As a substitute, residents and governments should act on the urgency to create a extra equal and sustainable world.

The inequality virus

‘COVID-19 has been likened to an x-ray, revealing fractures within the fragile skeleton of the societies we now have constructed. It’s exposing fallacies and falsehoods all over the place: The lie that free markets can ship healthcare for all; The fiction that unpaid care work just isn’t work; The delusion that we stay in a post-racist world; The parable that we’re all in the identical boat. Whereas we’re all floating on the identical sea, it is clear that some are in tremendous yachts, whereas others are clinging to the drifting particles.’ – António Guterres, UN Secretary Basic

Historical past will bear in mind the COVID-19 pandemic for taking up two million lives worldwide. It is going to bear in mind a whole lot of tens of millions being pushed into destitution and poverty.

Historical past may even seemingly bear in mind the pandemic as the primary time since information started that inequality rose in nearly each nation on Earth on the similar time.

The Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF), the World Financial institution and the Organisation for Financial Cooperation and Growth (OECD) have all expressed deep concern that the pandemic will drive up inequality everywhere in the world, with deeply dangerous results. ‘The impression shall be profound […] with elevated inequality resulting in financial and social upheaval: a misplaced era within the 2020s whose after-effects shall be felt for many years to return’. – Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF

This view is supported by Oxfam’s survey of 295 economists from 79 nations. They included main world economists equivalent to Jayati Ghosh, Jeffrey Sachs and Gabriel Zucman. 87% of respondents anticipated that earnings inequality of their nation was both going to extend or strongly improve because of the pandemic. This included economists from 77 of the 79 nations. Over half of all respondents additionally thought gender inequality would seemingly or very seemingly improve, and greater than two-thirds thought so of racial inequality. Two thirds additionally felt that their authorities didn’t have a plan in place to fight inequality.

Inequality dangers being supercharged, at an enormous human value:

It took simply 9 months for the highest 1,000 billionaires’ fortunes to return to their pre-pandemic highs Four however for the world’s poorest folks restoration may take 14 occasions longer, greater than a decade.

The rise within the 10 richest billionaires’ wealth for the reason that disaster started is greater than sufficient to forestall anybody on Earth from falling into poverty due to the virus, and to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine for everybody.

Globally, ladies are overrepresented within the sectors of the financial system which might be hardest hit by the pandemic. 7 If ladies have been represented on the similar fee as males in these sectors, 112 million ladies would now not be at excessive threat of dropping their incomes or jobs.

In Brazil, folks of Afro-descent have been 40% extra prone to die of COVID-19 than White folks. If their demise fee had been the identical as White Brazilians’, then as of June 2020, over 9,200 Afro- descendants would have nonetheless been alive. Within the US, Latinx and Black individuals are extra prone to die of COVID-19 than White folks. If their demise fee had been the identical as White folks ‘s, then as of December 2020, near 22,000 Latinx and Black folks would have nonetheless been alive.

The World Financial institution has calculated that if nations act now to scale back inequality then poverty may return to pre-crisis ranges in simply three years, slightly than in over a decade.

How historical past will bear in mind what governments did in response to the pandemic, nonetheless, is a chapter but to be written. Governments all over the world have a small and shrinking window of alternative to create a simply financial system after COVID-19. One that’s extra equal, inclusive, that protects the planet, and ends poverty.

They will do that by urgently reworking the present financial system, which has exploited and exacerbated patriarchy, white supremacy and neoliberal ideas. A system that has pushed excessive inequality, poverty and injustice. One which left our world fully unprepared when the disaster got here. Greater than ever, governments have at their disposal lifelike, frequent sense concepts to form a greater future. They have to seize the chance.

The virus has hit an already profoundly unequal world

The coronavirus disaster has swept throughout a world that was already extraordinarily unequal. A world the place a tiny group of over 2,000 billionaires had extra wealth than they might spend in a thousand lifetimes. A world the place almost half of humanity was compelled to scrape by on lower than $5.50 a day. A world the place, for 40 years, the richest 1% have earned greater than double the earnings of the underside half of the worldwide inhabitants. A world the place the richest 1% have consumed twice as a lot carbon as the underside 50% for the final quarter of a century, driving local weather destruction. A world the place the rising hole between wealthy and poor each constructed on and exacerbated age-old inequalities of gender and race.

This inequality is the product of a flawed and exploitative financial system, which has its roots in neoliberal economics and the seize of politics by elites. It has exploited and exacerbated entrenched programs of inequality and oppression, particularly patriarchy and structural racism, ingrained in white supremacy. These programs are the foundation causes of injustice and poverty. They generate large earnings amassed within the fingers of a White patriarchal elite by exploiting folks dwelling in poverty, ladies and racialized and traditionally marginalized and oppressed communities all over the world.

Inequality signifies that extra individuals are sick, fewer are educated and fewer stay glad, dignified lives. It poisons our politics, driving extremism and racism. It undermines the combat to finish poverty. It leaves many extra folks dwelling in worry and plenty of fewer in hope.

Such excessive inequality meant that billions of individuals have been already dwelling on the sting when the pandemic hit. They didn’t have any sources or assist to climate the financial and social storm it created. Over three billion folks didn’t have entry to healthcare, three-quarters of employees had no entry to social safety like unemployment profit or sick pay, and in low- and lower-middle-income nations over half of employees have been in working poverty.

Because the virus hit, wealthy folks have gotten richer, and poor folks poorer

Within the first months of the pandemic, a inventory market collapse noticed billionaires, who’re a number of the greatest stockholders, expertise dramatic reductions of their wealth. But this setback was short- lived. Inside 9 months, the highest 1,000 billionaires, primarily White males, had recovered all of the wealth they’d misplaced. With unprecedented assist from governments for his or her economies, the inventory market has been booming, driving up billionaire wealth, even whereas the true financial system faces the deepest recession in a century. In distinction, after the monetary disaster in 2008, it took 5 years for billionaire wealth to return to its pre-crisis highs.

Worldwide, billionaires’ wealth elevated by a staggering $3.9tn (trillion) between 18 March and 31 December 2020. Their complete wealth now stands at $11.95tn, which is equal to what G20 governments have spent in response to the pandemic. The world’s 10 richest billionaires have collectively seen their wealth improve by $540bn over this era.

Worldwide gross sales of personal jets soared when business journey was banned. Whereas Lebanon faces financial implosion, its super-rich are discovering solace in mountain resorts. In nation after nation it’s the richest who’re least affected by the pandemic, and are the quickest to see their fortunes get well. In addition they stay the best emitters of carbon, and the best drivers of local weather breakdown.

On the similar time, the best financial shock for the reason that Nice Despair started to chew and the pandemic noticed a whole lot of tens of millions of individuals lose their jobs and face destitution and starvation. This shock is ready to reverse the decline in world poverty we now have witnessed over the previous twenty years. It’s estimated that the whole variety of folks dwelling in poverty may have elevated by between 200 million and 500 million in 2020. The variety of folks dwelling in poverty may not return even to its pre-crisis stage for over a decade.

The pandemic has uncovered the truth that most individuals on Earth stay only one pay verify away from penury. They stay on between $2 and $10 a day. They lease a few rooms for his or her household in a slum. Earlier than the disaster hit they have been simply managing to get by, and beginning to think about a greater future for his or her kids. They’re the taxi drivers, the hairdressers, the market merchants. They’re the safety guards, the cleaners, the cooks. They’re the manufacturing facility employees, the farmers. The coronavirus disaster has proven us that for many of humanity there has by no means been a everlasting exit from poverty and insecurity. As a substitute, at finest, there was a short lived and deeply weak reprieve.

It merely makes no frequent, ethical or financial sense to permit billionaires to revenue from the disaster within the face of such struggling. Their rising wealth must be used as an alternative to confront this disaster, to save lots of tens of millions of lives, and billions of livelihoods.

…

Transformative insurance policies that appeared unthinkable earlier than the disaster hit have out of the blue been proven to be a risk. There have to be no return to inequality as typical. As a substitute, governments should muster the urgency to create a extra equal and sustainable world and a extra human financial system.

‘Traditionally, pandemics have compelled people to interrupt with the previous and picture their world anew. This one is not any totally different. It’s a portal, a gateway between one world and the subsequent. We will select to stroll via it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our knowledge banks and useless concepts, our useless rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we are able to stroll via calmly, with little baggage, able to think about one other world. And able to combat for it.’ – Arundhati Roy

Individuals desire a very totally different world

It was clear earlier than the disaster, and is even clearer now, that individuals are demanding a greater world. In 2019, earlier than the pandemic hit, protests about inequality had unfold throughout the planet. In 2020 the Black Lives Matter protests confirmed profound rejection of racial inequality. Polls from internationally present overwhelming assist for motion to construct a extra equal and sustainable world within the wake of the pandemic.

After the monetary disaster of 2008, governments made clear decisions: minimize taxes for the richest folks and firms; permit firms to prioritize ever bigger payouts to wealthy shareholders over employees; implement brutal austerity measures with cuts to public providers like well being; and proceed to subsidize fossil fuels and local weather destruction. These decisions drove up inequality and have prompted large struggling. This time it have to be totally different.

This view is more and more accepted by influential voices and organizations all over the world, together with even those who signify the established order. Klaus Schwab, the Chairman of the World Financial Discussion board, which organizes Davos, just lately referred to as out ‘neoliberal ideology’, writing that ‘we should transfer on from neoliberalism within the post-COVID period’. The IMF has mentioned that there must be no return to austerity and has referred to as for progressive taxation. The Monetary Occasions has referred to as for ‘radical reforms’ to reverse ‘the prevailing coverage path of the final 4 many years’, arguing for redistribution, primary incomes and wealth taxes. With out the pandemic, these arguments would have appeared unthinkable in recent times.

Oxfam has recognized 5 steps towards a greater world.

1. A world that’s profoundly extra equal and measures what issues

A radical and sustained discount in inequality is the indispensable basis of our new world. Governments should set concrete, time-bound targets to scale back inequality, and never merely again to pre-crisis ranges: they have to go additional to create a extra equal world as a matter of urgency. They have to transfer past a give attention to Gross Home Product (GDP) and begin to worth what actually issues. Preventing inequality have to be on the coronary heart of financial rescue and restoration efforts. This should embody gender and racial equality. International locations like South Korea, Sierra Leone and New Zealand have dedicated to decreasing inequality as a nationwide precedence, exhibiting what will be performed. The World Financial institution has calculated that if nations act now to scale back inequality world poverty ranges will return to their pre-coronavirus ranges in three years as an alternative of over a decade from now.

2. A world the place human economies look after folks

Governments should reject the outdated recipe of brutal and unsustainable austerity and should guarantee peoples’ wealth, gender or race doesn’t dictate their well being or training. As a substitute, they have to put money into free common healthcare, training, care and different public providers. Common public providers are the inspiration of free and honest societies and have unparalleled energy to scale back inequality. They shut the hole between wealthy and poor, but in addition assist shut the hole between men and women, particularly in redistributing the obligations of unpaid care. They assist to stage the taking part in area for racialized and traditionally oppressed and marginalized teams. International locations like Costa Rica and Thailand achieved common well being protection in a decade. Others can do the identical.

Governments should urgently ship a ‘Individuals’s Vaccine’ to deal with the pandemic. To do that they have to face down pharmaceutical firms, and demand on open entry to all related patents and expertise to allow protected and efficient vaccines and coverings for all.

Cancelling money owed would launch $3bn {dollars} a month for poor nations to take a position as an alternative in free healthcare for everybody.

3. A world with out exploitation and with earnings safety

Inequality must be prevented from taking place within the first place. To do that, companies must be redesigned to prioritize society, slightly than ever larger payouts to wealthy shareholders. Incomes must be assured and most wages might be launched. Billionaires are an indication of financial failure, and excessive wealth must be ended. The virus has proven us that assured earnings safety is crucial, and {that a} everlasting exit from poverty is feasible. For this to occur we want not simply dwelling wages, but in addition far larger job safety, with labour rights, sick pay, paid parental depart and unemployment advantages if folks lose their jobs. Governments should additionally acknowledge, scale back and redistribute the underpaid and unpaid care work that’s performed predominantly by ladies and racialized ladies particularly. Within the UK, a research by the Excessive Pay Centre discovered {that a} most wage of £100,000 (roughly $133,500) would have the facility to redistribute the money equal of over 1 million jobs, exhibiting that if the very wealthy earned rather less, mass-layoffs might be averted.

4. A world the place the richest pay their justifiable share of tax

The coronavirus disaster should mark a turning level within the taxation of the richest people and massive firms. We should look again on this disaster because the second after we lastly began to tax the wealthy pretty as soon as extra – the second that the race to the underside ended and the race to the highest started. This may embody elevated wealth taxes, monetary transaction taxes and an finish to tax dodging. Progressive taxation of the richest members of society is the cornerstone of any equitable restoration from the disaster, as it’ll allow funding in a inexperienced, equitable future. Argentina confirmed the best way by adopting a short lived solidarity wealth tax on the extraordinarily rich that might generate over $3bn to pay for coronavirus measures, together with medical provides and reduction for folks dwelling in poverty and small companies. A tax on the surplus earnings earned by firms in the course of the coronavirus pandemic may generate $104 bn: sufficient to supply unemployment safety for all employees, and monetary assist for all kids and aged folks within the poorest nations.

5. A world of local weather security

Local weather breakdown is the largest risk ever to human existence. It’s already destroying the livelihoods and taking the lives of the poorest, economically excluded and traditionally oppressed communities. Girls in these communities are among the many most affected. To forestall this, we have to construct a inexperienced financial system that forestalls additional degradation of our planet and preserves it for our youngsters. We’d like an finish to all subsidies for fossil fuels, and an finish to fossil gas firms and their wealthy shareholders making earnings from authorities bailouts. The combat in opposition to inequality and the combat for local weather justice are the identical combat. The pandemic has proven us that large motion by governments is feasible within the face of a disaster; we should see the identical stage of motion to forestall local weather breakdown.

AfricaFocus Bulletin is an unbiased digital publication offering reposted commentary and evaluation on African points, with a specific give attention to U.S. and worldwide insurance policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. For an archive of earlier Bulletins, see http://www.africafocus.org,

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