Mary Richardson, former CEO of the Methodist Mission, gave an address to the Social Justice in Communities Conference yesterday morning that was moving and inspiring. She spoke of what has happened in Christchurch over the past four years and how there are now two cities. One where there is economic growth and vast wealth, and another where people are sleeping in garages, and dying eight years earlier than they would have done prior to the earthquakes.
She quoted Harry Smith’s impassioned plea for social welfare and pointed out that wealth is not wisdom.
There is a way to eradicate poverty, and it’s persuasively put forward in this Ted Talk by Rutger Bregman. The idea of a universal basic income was popular in the Values Party in 1970s and 80s. Maybe its time has now come? What do you think?
“When they gave cash to homeless folk
it proved to be a masterstroke.”
Harry Smith’s speech is wonderful. And I really can’t see what is so hard about implementing a universal basic income. The present system of benefits etc is based on a who deserves what way of thinking and someone deciding who deserves what. Well….don’t we all deserve a decent way of life? It’s horrendous that people on the east side are dying 8 years earlier than they should.
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There’s a lot of inspiration in the links in my post. What we need now is action.
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Unfortunately our politicians don’t seem to follow the same blogs/media that we do. 😦
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there is a person living in the undergrowth not far from where i live. He has a little set up …table etc.. pretty much keeps out of sight. I suppose he is OK?
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With warmer weather he should be fine, but it can’t be easy in winter.
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