The 41 minutes long documentary focuses on Universal Basic Income (UBI), retracing its history, explaining its rationale, and investigating why and how the idea has reached a much larger audience and unprecedented support in the last years.
It does so with though many poignant interviews with prominent exponents of the UBI community, as Van Parijs, Guy Standing, Daniel Raventòs, Scott Santens and many others. “UBI, our right to live” makes a compelling argument for the necessity of the measure, is a manifesto for UBI in the present day, and is an excellent introduction to the subject.
The documentary addresses two of the main drivers that are bringing UBI at the center of the public debate: economic inequality and technological development. The two themes are correlated, as economic inequality has reached unsustainable levels, and automation may make it even worse, if not handled in the proper way. The risk is the increase of unemployment and growing inequalities between high and low skilled workers.
UBI could eradicate poverty altogether, and if it were to be financed through progressive taxation, reduce inequalities. Moreover, it would provide an economic safety net for workers, and thus endorse them with more bargaining power when it comes to choose a job. People could decide how to focus productively their energies in order to contribute to society and give meaning to their live, rather than being forced in unfulfilling jobs just to survive. Nobody would be left alone, as it is bound to happen under the patchwork that present-day welfare is.
The fruits of technological advancement, if distributed via a UBI, rather than accumulated in the hands of the few, may help to shape a more just future, as this is what UBI is about (something that the documentary highlights): UBI is about justice and fairness, not charity.
It’s the instrument meant to redistribute what belongs to each and every person, the natural extensions of human rights in ensuring to everybody a standard of living adequate for a human being.
A United States Air Force Veteran (1) is getting 1300 US$/month. He has been receiving this money from the Veteran Administration (VA) for almost three years. The transfer is unconditional, and is for life so, in a sense, it is like a basic income (as in defined at the Basic Income Earth Network). It is not universal, of course, since only USAF veterans may receive it.
However, this particular veteran’s experience with this unconditional stipend is that it truly helped him and his family, which includes a chronically ill son. He, contrary to some popular opinions, did not rest idle with this monthly cash transfer and merely survived, but rather started a successful real estate business.
27th International Conference of Europeanists – Council for European Studies
Reykjavik, Iceland, June 22-24, 2020
This Call for Papers is interested in empirical studies that look at the social and political processes surrounding UBIs discussions, including pilot test and experiment designs and implementations, either at the local, national or supranational level, in Europe and elsewhere. Examples of questions that are particularly welcomed are: To what extent are these openings the result of successful UBI campaigns? How and to what extent have these ideas permeated political parties and leaders? When and how are civil society organizations (e.g. trade unions, women and feminist groups, migrants associations) willing to incorporate UBI to their demands? What are the resistances and oppositions that UBI advocates face? How has the public opinion reacted to UBI? How UBI’s framing impinges upon its popularity? What is the role of social movements and other forms of grassroot activism in these processes?
The purpose of this CFP is to gather papers to organize a panel(s) at the next conference of the Council for European Studies (CES), to be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, June 22-24, 2020. Please submit your abstracts (300 words maximum) before 10 October 2019 to cesar.guzman-concha@eui.eu . Note that all paper authors must also submit their abstracts proposals through the CES online system, before the official deadline: 15 October 2019
Paper panels consist of 4-5 papers organized around a common theme with comments provided by a chair and a discussant.
The latest news from the organizers of the Basic Income March is that it has spread to 10 more cities, which will all have marches on October 26, 2019. In the organizers’ words:
Largest Ever March for Universal Basic Income Set for October 26 in New York City
The Basic Income March is inviting New Yorkers and supporters of a Universal Basic Income to join them on Oct. 26 as they March from Harlem to the South Bronx to demand economic justice for the millions of people left behind in the current economy.
What started as a single march in NYC has grown into a global movement, with events planned in more than 10 additional cities, including: San Francisco, Berlin, Amsterdam, Kumbungu, Seoul, Toronto, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Honolulu, and Orlando.
NEW YORK CITY, New York. Oct. 2, 2019. Income Movement today announced that they have organized a historic march for universal basic income (UBI) in New York City, set for October 26, 2019. The Basic Income March is a people-powered movement sending the message that it is critical for the economy to evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century. In New York, leaders from Labor and UBI organizations, US Congressional Candidates, the Andrew Yang 2020 Presidential Campaign, and Black Lives Matter, among others, will march and speak.
“The March of the Robots has to be countered by the March for Humanity. All of us have to participate in a national conversation about Universal Basic Income because all of us will be affected by the forthcoming drastic changes in the world of work.” – Gisèle Huff, president of the Gerald Huff Fund For Humanity.
BASIC INCOME MARCH
1:00 PM | October 26th 2019
Starting Location: Convent Baptist Church, 420 W 145th St, New York, NY End Point and Rally: Roberto Clemente Plaza, The Bronx, NY
Basic Income March Speakers at Convent Baptist Church:
Hawk Newsome, Chairman of Black Lives Matter, NY
Karl Widerquist: Political Philosopher and Economist, Georgetown University – Qatar
Member of presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s campaign
Basic Income March Speakers at Rally at Roberto Clemente Plaza:
James Felton Keith, candidate for US Congress in NY13
Andy Stern, President Emeritus SEIU and author of Raising the Floor
Chivona Renee Newsome, candidate for US Congress in NY15
Scott Santens, Thought Leader, Author, UBI Advocate
CONTACT
Organization: Income Movement Communications Strategist: Dylan Enright Phone: +1 917.536.6780
Email: dylan@incomemovement.com www.basicincomemarch.com
A new kind of news-documentary interactive presentation has been delivered by Frame, a digital newsmagazine that uses human-centered stories to illuminate key topics in the news. Its latest issue features the Alaska Permanent Fund, named “The Alaska Model”.
The piece tells the story of the creation of Alaska’s universal basic income-style Permanent Fund Dividend and the tense backroom dealings that went into its passage. The story offers a fresh angle — a firsthand account from one of the dividend’s chief architects — delivered in a unique, interactive documentary format.
