devastating report of Oxfam Intermón about the inequalities that exist on the planet and how the pandemic has only aggravated them. According to their latest report, the inequalities contribute to the death of at least 21,300 people every day, which is equivalent to one person every four seconds.
It is just one of the multiple readings that can be seen in the study, which explains that income “of 99% of humanity” would have deteriorated due to coronavirus. On the other hand, they add that the ten largest fortunes in the world have greater wealth than the 3,100 million poorest people.
And it is that, since 1995, the 1% of the richest people on the planet hoard about 20 times more wealth than the poorest half of humanity. This report also points out two more factors that add to global inequalities: gender violence and emissions “of the richest” that “make the planet burn”.
Oxfam details that for every three months of confinement, there would be 15 million more cases of intimate partner violence, some “conservative” figures. The truth is that women, girls, transgender people and non-binary people are undervalued at all levels of our society, and for that reason there is hardly any data on the real scope and true consequences of gender-based violence at the national level. worldwide,” they explain.
The three “solutions” to inequality
About the climate crisis and its effects, the report gives new “conservative” estimates that give us a clearer picture of its impact: 231,000 people could lose their lives every year in poor countries by 2030.
At this point, the report gives hard-hitting details and figures. And it is estimated that the rich countries are responsible 92% of excess historical emissions. “Recent data from Oxfam reveals that the richest 1% of humanity is responsible for twice the emissions that the poorest 50% and that, according to forecasts, in 2030 the carbon footprint of the poorest will multiply by 30 the level compatible with the objective of limiting the increase in temperature to 1.5°C established in the Paris Agreement. “, they add.
To settle the report, Oxfam Intermón gives three “solutions” that would help put an end to these inequalities, something that happens, in the first place, by “mobilizing trillions of dollars” to fight against them. “Rich countries must allocate without delay a significant part of the 400,000 million dollars in special drawing rights, granted in August 2021 by the IMF, to vulnerable economies, without imposing conditions and without incurring debt”, they request.
The second step has to do in part with that first request: “redirect wealth to save lives“This happens, for Oxfam, due to various requirements, such as ending paid medical care, granting universal social protection that guarantees income “to all people” or financing the fight against the climate crisis.
Lastly, they requestpredistribute to rebalance power and income“. To fulfill this point, intellectual property laws should be “temporarily” repealed, a defense of human rights, as well as of workers, and end sexist laws.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
