by Karl Widerquist | Oct 4, 2015 | Research
ABSTRACT: Namibia is still characterised by deep socio-economic inequalities, as economic structures have remained largely intact after independence. Poverty is still widespread and unemployment has remained high with women and youth being particularly affected. In 2002, the Namibian government’s Tax Commission proposed a universal cash grant as the most effective way to fight poverty and to reduce inequality. In 2004, the Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition was formed consisting of churches, trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in support of the proposed grant. It implemented a pilot project to practically demonstrate the effects of the grant. The chosen location was the village of Otjivero where each inhabitant received a monthly cash grant of N$100 (US$9)beginning in January 2008. A research team closely monitored developments and found that within one year the rates of poverty, child malnutrition and school drop-outs had fallen significantly. Economic activities increased, school results and residents’ health status improved while the crime rate and women’s economic dependency on men were reduced. Despite these results, the Namibian government did not implement the BIG and the coalition failed to ignite a mass campaign. The country’s largest trade union federation did not play an active role and its leadership withdrew from the coalition despite support for the BIG among union members. The introduction of a BIG in Namibia will depend on the ability to the BIG coalition to create pressure ‘from below’. Trade unions and youth organisations in particular will have to mobilise their membership and present the demand for the BIG as a form of economic justice. In terms of financial and economic resources, Namibia could easily afford a national BIG and its introduction is a question of political will.
Herbert Jauch, “The Rise and Fall of the Basic Income Grant Campaign: Lessons from Namibia.” Global Labour Journal, Vol. 6, No. 3 (2015)
Global Labour Journal
by Karl Widerquist | Oct 1, 2015 | News
“BASIC INCOME: A MEETING PLACE FOR EQUALITY, RIGHTS, and JUSTICE”
12-15 May (Thursday to Sunday) 2016
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Basic Income Canada Network
This Congress is taking place in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the heart of Canada and the North American continent. The University of Manitoba campuses are located on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on Treaty One territory. The Forks of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, and the city of Winnipeg that formed around the Forks, have been the meeting place of Indigenous peoples, European traders and settlers, and waves of newcomers from all corners of the world.
“Meeting place” describes our physical location. It also describes the power of Basic Income — an idea and goal that can bring together various individuals, ideologies and constituencies concerned about equality, rights, environmental sustainability, and social justice. A universal, unconditional, and adequate income granted to everyone is a common goal that can unite activists, advocates, policy and academic experts, and social movements.
As a meeting place, this Congress will address the relationship of Basic Income to:
- economic, cultural, and social security for Indigenous peoples
- reconciliation between Indigenous and settler communities
- women’s economic security, autonomy and empowerment
- overcoming racism and ensuring social inclusion of diverse and newcomer populations
- challenging the economics of “austerity”
- elimination of poverty as a means of ensuring population health
- labour market transformation, including technological unemployment and precarious jobs
- mapping pragmatic models for delivery of basic income, including the pros and cons experimental and demonstration projects
- strategic alliances and coalitions with progressive social movements (e.g. labour, feminists, environmentalists)
Call for Participation
The NABIG Congress 2016 invites proposals for presentations and papers, themed panels, interactive roundtables, and posters that address the themes above.
Community activists as well as academic researchers and policy specialists are invited to submit proposals.
The Congress is open to any disciplinary or theoretical approach or political perspective, including those who express a constructive skepticism towards the basic income option or advocate for variants.
Submitting Your Proposal
Options for participation:
- Individual oral presentations (including written academic papers)
Proposals should include a title, a brief summary or abstract (250 words maximum), identification of the conference themes addressed in the presentation, and full contact information of the presenter (name, organizational or institutional affiliation, and email address).
- Panels of up to three papers or presentations
Panels should be organized around a clearly identifiable theme The format of the panel involves formal presentation of papers and response to audience questions in a session lasting 90 minutes. Please include the following in your proposal:
- title and brief outline (maximum. 100 words) of the topic of the panel
- title and short abstract of each paper (maximum. 100 words each)
- full contact information (including the affiliations and email addresses) of the panel organizer and participants
- Roundtables involving a small number of participants (3 – 4)
Give the topic of the roundtable, and the names and institutional affiliations of all participants, as well as the full contact information of the roundtable convener. The format of the roundtable is intended to be informal and interactive. – the roundtable participants speaking with each other, and with the audience. Roundtable sessions will run for 90 minutes.
- Poster display
Posters are to present coherent and well organized information on some aspect of basic income. Posters will be displayed throughout the duration of the conference, with certain time slots set aside for authors to be on hand to meet with those interested in their topics. Proposals for posters should include a title, a brief summary or abstract (150 words), identification of the conference themes addressed, and full contact information of the presenter (name, organizational or institutional affiliation, and email address). Posters should be prepared as one unit should not exceed 100 cm. x 100 cm. (approximately 50 in. x 50 in.).
Submit your proposals no later than 20 November 2015 to:
Nabigcongress2016@umanitoba.ca
All proposals must include this information:
Name:
Address (including institutional or organizational affiliation):
Email address:
Title:
Format (check one): Oral presentation ___ paper ____ poster ___
panel* ___ roundtable* ____
* specify names, affiliations, and topic of all participants in panel and roundtable sessions
Sessions en français / Sessions in French
La conférence sera menée principalement en anglais. Cette conférence se déroulera au Canada, où les deux langues officielles sont le français et l’anglais. Par conséquent, la soumission de propositions pour des sessions et des affiches en français est encouragée. Contacter l’adresse courriel ci-dessus pour plus d’informations.
The conference will be conducted primarily in English. This conference takes place in Canada, which has the two official languages of French and English. Therefore submissions of proposals for sessions and posters in French are welcomed. Contact the email address above for further information.
Note: All presenters of accepted proposals will be required to register for the Congress
Further Information
For details concerning the venue, program, registration, accommodation, or information about our partners and sponsors, visit our Congress website at umanitoba.ca/social_work.
Conference Organizers
The NABIG Congress 2016 is organized by the Basic Income Canadian Network / Réseau canadien pour le revenu garanti (BICN/RCRG) and the United States Basic Income Guarantee (USBIG) Network, in conjunction with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba, Basic Income Manitoba, Winnipeg Harvest, and l’École de service social de Université de Saint-Boniface.
Basic Income Canada Network
by Toru Yamamori | Sep 21, 2015 | News
Feminist Philosophy Workshop, which will be held on 9th October, at the University of Hamburg, invites Anca Gheaus to speak on ‘Feminism and Basic Income’.
Gheaus works at the university of Sheffield. Her past publication on feminism and basic income can be accessed here.
This is an academic workshop and registration is required. The contact for registration is Amanda Cawston (amanda.causton@cantab.net).
The workshop will take place in the Philosophy Faculty (Room 1072, 10th floor of Von-Melle-Park 6, 20146 Hamburg). The detail can be found here.
