by Josh Martin | Oct 20, 2015 | News
Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Zephania Kameeta, a longtime supporter of basic income, has conducted multiple meetings with groups from all 14 regions in Namibia on the topic of interventions to eradicate poverty and distribute wealth more equally in Namibia. As a result of these meetings, Kameeta and the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare are compiling a detailed report on such interventions, including the possibility of a basic income. The report should be compiled and ready for discussion at the national conference on October 26th.
This basic income interest continues the movement started by the basic income grant pilot project from 2007 to 2009, which granted N$100 per month to all residents under 60 years old in Otjivero-Omitara.
For more information, click on the following link.
by Josh Martin | Sep 8, 2015 | News
Mayor Keith Hobbs of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has joined the mayors of Edmonton and Calgary in publicly stating his support for a basic income. Hobbs believes basic income provides a certain degree of self-worth to every individual and helps fight poverty, addiction, and homelessness. Hobbs thinks the best strategy going forward is to implement a basic income paired with a housing-first strategy that seeks to house homeless people within ten days of knowing they are homeless.
To read more, click on the following link:
Roderick Benns, “Reliable, basic income would lead to better self-worth and a better life: Thunder Bay mayor”, Leaders and Legacies, 25 August 2015.
by Josh Martin | Sep 7, 2015 | News
The Council of Europe has released an EU-funded report titled Living in dignity in the 21st century: Poverty and inequality in societies of human rights à the paradox of democracies in which a large group of researchers sought to determine what it will take to live with dignity in Europe in the 21st century. The report focuses on the three key principles that underline the Council of Europe’s human rights approach: universality, indivisibility, and integrity. Through contextual analysis of Europe’s social security systems, the report considers many possible policy answers to help citizens live with dignity in the 21st century, with basic income being mentioned as a real possibility. The report mentions basic income over twenty times, and two members of BIEN, Yannick Vanderborght and Louise Haagh, were among the contributors to the report. In fact, basic income is listed as a required policy to combat poverty and inequality and to allow everyone to live with dignity in the 21st century.
To read the full report, click on the following link:
Council of Europe, “Living in dignity in the 21st century: Poverty and inequality in societies of human rights à the paradox of democracies”, Council of Europe Publishing, February 2013.
by Josh Martin | Sep 6, 2015 | News
Howard, Coordinator of the U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network, writes this opinion piece as a condemning evaluation of the world’s lack of action to combat climate change. Climate summit meetings have created a cycle of (broken) promises to reduce carbon emissions, and Howard argues that governments should look to implement a carbon fee, whose proceeds should go toward a dividend for each citizen, resembling a basic income.
Michael Howard, “We should prepare for the worst consequences of climate change”, Bangor Daily News, 11 August 2015.
by Josh Martin | Sep 6, 2015 | News
Shortly after 178 physicians in Ontario signed a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Health requesting a basic income, the Canadian Medical Association as a whole decided to endorse the idea at its General Council.
Ontario delegate Dr. Kieran Moore raised the motion for a basic income guarantee, and Dr. Adam Steacie seconded the motion, leading to a vote where the motion passed with a sizable majority, according to Danyaal Raza on twitter. This continues the nationwide momentum for a basic income throughout Canada.
