#Inequality Affects Us All
A common thread within posts, across the varied Blog Action Day themes of the last several years that have always aroused great passion and empathy is Inequality.
The Blog Action Day community are not the only ones concerned about inequality. If you take a look at your news, documentaries, top political or social concerns or even the conversations you have with your family and friends, inequality is a hot topic.
Whether it is economic, racial, gender, disability, faith, sexuality, health, education, political, social status or age, inequality unfortunately seems to be on the rise, affecting more people and limiting the opportunities they have, in many different ways.
For Blog Action Day 2014, let us think about and contribute to the global discussion on October 16. You may not know it; but, #Inequality affects us all.
Take a look at the conversations with the Blog Action Day partners for some interesting insights, resources and points of view that may start us all of on our global discussion on #Inequality.
Ben Phillips, the Campaigns, Policy and Influencing Director at Oxfam GB explains why Oxfam are so excited to partner with Blog Action Day 2014 and create a huge global conversation about Inequality.“Blog Action Day is a fantastic event which each year unites the worldwide online community in discussing a key global issue. There’s never been a more pressing time to talk about this year’s theme – inequality. The gap between the rich and the poor has got out of control. As the experts attest and Oxfam witnesses across the world, rapidly rising inequality jeopardises the fight to end poverty. In a previous report, Oxfam highlighted that the richest 85 people in the world have as much wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion. Now that figure has reduced to just 66.
Such extreme inequality is not only a moral outrage, it tears societies apart, damages economies and pushes more people into poverty. It allows those at the top to rig the rules in their favour, ensuring a continuing cycle of inequality that denies millions of people the opportunity to make a better life for themselves. To end extreme poverty we need to challenge extreme inequality.
Yet we know that extreme inequality is not inevitable – it is the result of political choices. We know change is possible when governments make the right choices, and are accountable to the many, not the few. Investing in free public services, tackling tax dodging, ensuring decent wages, and addressing other forms of inequality, such as gender, are just a few of the actions that governments can take to reverse the rising tide of inequality.
If we want a world that works for the many, not the few, we need to tackle inequality.”
Karen Johnson, the Global Campaign Coordinator at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance tells us how inequality affects people living with HIV/AIDS and why the International HIV/AIDS Alliance is taking part in for Blog Action Day.
Inequality is everywhere. You don’t have to look very far, in any society, to see some form of inequality. Economic or social inequalities, or inequality around race, religion, gender or sexual identity. However, there is one common thread – those living in poverty, the most marginalized and vulnerable individuals and communities, are always hit hardest.
For those groups and individuals most vulnerable to HIV, inequality can mean the difference between living a healthy, happy life in dignity and peace; and living a life on the fringes of society, stigmatized and persecuted simply for being who you are.
We work with communities who face inequalities on a daily basis which makes it difficult for them to claim the most fundamental rights and freedoms we have as human beings – our human rights. For example, access to essential healthcare services by some groups vulnerable to HIV is impossible due to structural inequalities driven by discriminatory laws and policies such as Anti-Homosexuality laws. Even if they can access healthcare, they are subjected to the most awful prejudice and discrimination.
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is taking part in Blog Action Day because it is inequality that is holding us back from achieving our vision of ending AIDS. The lives of all human beings are of equal value, and everyone has the right to access the HIV information and services they need for a healthy life. If inequalities were eliminated, especially those inequalities driven by discriminatory laws and policies that criminalize vulnerable groups, the HIV response would be much more effective and we would be much closer to our vision of a world without AIDS.
Strictly Beza: Dancing in Ethiopia is about an inspiring community group using dance and music to get the message out about HIV prevention and helping to remove prejudice against people living with HIV/AIDS
Nova Longhurst, the Communications Officer at All Together Now, tell us more about their organisation, what Inequality mean to the team at All Together Now, and what ordinary people can do to help and stop inequality.
All Together Now works to eliminate racial inequalities found in Australian society and culture. All Together Now’s vision is for an Australia that embraces cultural diversity and is free from racism.
Inequality means people being subjected to vilification, hate, bigotry, and sexism. This leads to a break down in society, less social progression, less opportunities for some, and this can lead to mental illness in those specifically targeted with such inequality. People are human beings and must come together on this basis, for that is equality.
All Together Now’s strategies are about working with ordinary people to help and stop inequality. In the case of All Together Now our focus is on racial inequality. Firstly, the biggest way to help end inequality starts with you, the individual. Pull yourself up if you realise you have fallen in to any traps of social inequality. Change starts with the self.
Secondly, individuals can help and stop inequality through blogging about the subject of inequality, speaking up against inequality in your home and amongst friends, reporting inequality within the workplace to Managers, CEO, HR or the Ombusdman, in public if you see an incident occur, reporting incidents to police, using schools (primary, secondary and tertiary) to discuss racism and why it is unacceptable amongst teachers, schools boards and students, and using social media such as twitter, facebook, tumbl etc. to highlight issues and place a positive light on the importance of social equality.
VillageQ is a website by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgeder (LGBT) parents. We have contributors from the US, Albania, Israel and Canada. We are particularly interested and passionate about issues of equality because we are part of a community that experiences bigotry and discrimination. More than that however, we recognize that our own struggles are connected to those of others and seek justice and equality for everyone.
As members of the LGBT community, we recognize that inequality manifests in myriad ways such as poverty, limited access to health care, housing issues, employment discrimination, bullying, violence and more.
To be completely honest, I don’t believe we will ever completely overcome inequality. The world is constantly changing and people are often slow to adapt to change. But I do believe that we can make great strides and have a responsibility to work towards that elusive goal.
VillageQ stands with others who are committed to working for social change.What can ordinary people do to help overcome and stop inequality?
Educate themselves on issues besides the ones that affect them personally.
Read the stories of others and tell their stories so that we all learn from each other and broaden our experiences.
Advocate for equality in all areas of life.
