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Oxfam released a report yesterday in advance of the World Economic Forum in Davos starting tomorrow.
The report is important not only because it reveals that 85 people hold half the world’s wealth – which is garnering the most media attention – but also because it makes the connection between growing inequality and growing social instability, the subverting of democracy, financial deregulation, tax avoidance and evasion, and cuts to public services.
The report calls for those countries gathered at the WEF to pledge to:
- Support progressive taxation and not to dodge their own taxes;
- Refrain from using their wealth to seek political favors that undermine the democratic will of their fellow citizens;
- Make public all the investments in companies and trusts for which they are the ultimate beneficial owners;
- Challenge governments to use tax revenue to provide universal healthcare, education and social protection for citizens;
- Demand a living wage in all companies they own or control;
- Challenge other members of the economic elite to join them in these pledges.
- Tackle inequality by cracking down on financial secrecy and tax dodging, including through the G20; investing in universal education and healthcare; and agreeing a global goal to end extreme inequality in every country as part of the post 2015 negotiations.
The Report: http://www.oxfam.ca/news/rigged-rules-winner-takes-all
Selected Coverage:
- CBC: “Wealthy elites have co-opted political power to rig the rules of the economic game, undermining democracy and creating a world where the 85 richest people own the wealth of half of the world’s population,” Oxfam claimed:http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/oxfam-warns-of-dangers-of-growing-inequality-1.2503661
- Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/worlds-85-richest-people-have-wealth-equal-to-that-of-half-the-population-report/article16407230/#dashboard/follows/
- CTV: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/world-s-85-richest-people-have-as-much-wealth-as-half-the-population-oxfam-1.1646911
- Huffington Post UK: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/17/oxfam-bus-wealth_n_4616103.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
- Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/20/oxfam-85-richest-people-half-of-the-world
- ABC Australia: “Income inequality is crippling the fight against poverty”: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-20/oxfam-report-says-1pc-of-world-owns-50pc-of-wealth/5207714
Ontario
Wellesley Institute: Act now on poverty reduction:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/news/getting-it-right-in-2014-acting-now-on-poverty/
Development services consultations hear from frustrated parents of people with disabilities:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Going+circles+Ontario+developmental+services+committee/9401950/story.html
How does Ontario legal aid compare? (hint: “the clinic system…‘is one of our really special features’”:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201401203721/headline-news/how-does-ontario-legal-aid-compare
Is Hudak abandoning his Right-to-Work pledge?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/hudak-shies-away-from-union-fight-in-latest-proposal/article16398062/#dashboard/follows/
St Catherines Standard on Hudak’s million jobs plan:
http://blogs.canoe.ca/grantrants/news/tim-hudaks-explaination-doesnt-clear-the-fog-on-his-jobs-policy/
Around the Province
Don’t forget – Fight for Fair Wages Forum in Toronto January 24:
https://www.facebook.com/events/608238165909898/
Across the Country
Resource extraction and taxation – if every Norwegian’s a millionaire, why is Alberta in hock?
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2014/01/15/If-Every-Norwegians-a-Millionaire-Whys-Alberta-in-Hock/
Nearly 500 Saskatchewan children with close social services connections have died in the past 20 years:
http://news.ca.msn.com/local/saskatchewan/hundreds-of-children-with-social-services-ties-died-in-sask
Acorn BC lobbies for $10/month internet:
http://hqprincegeorge.com/news/local/news/v/Local/334466/Poverty-advocacy-group-wanting-10-month-internet
National
Provincial labour ministers still not happy with revamped Canada Jobs Grant:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/provincial-labour-ministers-disappointed-with-canada-job-grant-proposal/article16397317/#dashboard/follows/
Very cheeky Globe and Mail editorial (!) on the Canada Jobs Grant:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/wanted-policy-analyst-experience-necessary/article16373663/
Canada Border Services setting targets for stripping migrants of refugee status:
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/16/border-services-set-quota-for-stripping-refugee-status
Feds set up snitch line to catch tax cheats – with rewards for informants:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/15/tax-cheats-hotline-canada_n_4604338.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics&ir=Canada%20Politics
The changing face of poverty in Canada – it’s not single moms anymore:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/The+National/Canada/ID/2428727730/
Unifor about to launch a nationwide campaign on workplace rights:
http://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/news/unifor-standing-rights-work
Ideas for individualizing pension reforms:
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2014/01/19/how_voluntary_contributions_could_reshape_cpp_pensions.html
Fraser Institute comes out against a living wage:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/surprise-fraser-institute-comes-out-against-living-wage
Broadbent Institute working toward the 2015 federal election:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/broadbent-institute-primes-progressives-for-2015-election-and-beyond-1.2495173
International
Southern Poverty Law Centre: We need a new war on poverty, not a war on the poor:
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/we-need-a-new-war-on-poverty-not-a-war-on-the-poor
Salon: 8 Conservative anti-poverty ideas that will only make things worse:
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/17/8_conservative_anti_poverty_ideas_that_will_make_things_so_much_worse_partner/
Utah is on track to ending homelessness – by giving people homes:
http://www.nationofchange.org/utah-ending-homelessness-giving-people-homes-1390056183
Letters to the Seattle Times editor on the value of public assistance programs:
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2014/01/20/war-on-poverty-the-benefits-of-public-assistance-programs-for-the-poor/
In Indiana, mandatory drug screening for welfare recipients “has failed the test”:
http://www.goshennews.com/local/x651181217/Drug-screening-for-welfare-has-failed-the-test
The UK is ending housing payments to immigrants unless they have jobs:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-20/u-k-tightens-immigrant-welfare-rules-by-removing-housing-pay.html
The connection between poverty and obesity, and the struggle for food security for all:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/craig-and-marc-kielburger/poverty-obesity_b_4611040.html