November was an interesting month for people like us who are fighting inequalities, especially around income. A scientific study argued that inequality is deeply rooted in our history, appearing as soon as the first agricultural developments occurred… with Europeans developing harsher inequalities than native American populations.
Meanwhile, the recent Paradise Papers leak showed that, despite the progress of western civilisation, inequality is as pronounced as ever. And another report suggests that this severe income inequality is on the rise, boosted by the economic crisis.
How can anyone find it acceptable that this long-term problem is as bad as ever, and getting worse? That the planet’s richest 1% hold over 50% of its wealth, while millions of people in Africa, India and Europe live below the absolute poverty level?
The proposals in DiEM25’s European New Deal aim to address this, and bring about a fairer and and more just distribution of income. Accumulation of money, record-low investments, understaffed social services and governments that don’t represent people’s interests are different sides of the same problem: lack of democratic control. We need to organise, demand our rights, fix the democracy gap and make the European New Deal policy.
Want to be part of it? Start here!
Aris is a member and volunteer of the DiEM25 movement.
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