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A useful summary of what ought to be done, but who can believe—I’m extremely dubious— that the proposals here will be even partially implemented?

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<div class="">It would be a revolution.</div>

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<div class="">—mkb</div>

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<div class="">On Apr 23, 2020, at 9:18 PM, Karen Aram via Peace <<a href="mailto:peace@lists.chambana.net" class="">peace@lists.chambana.net</a>> wrote:</div>

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/financial-crisis/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Financial

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/green-economy/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Green

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/labour/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Labour</a></li><li id="menu-item-574" class="menu-item-574 menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/natural-resources/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Natural

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/trade-investment/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Trade

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/cooperatives/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Cooperatives</a></li></ul>

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/environment/" style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; padding: 5px 15px 4px !important;" class="">Environment</a>

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<li id="menu-item-576" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-576 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/environment/advancing-deserts/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Advancing

 Deserts</a></li><li id="menu-item-577" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-577 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/environment/biodiversity/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Biodiversity</a></li><li id="menu-item-578" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-578 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/environment/climate-change/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Climate

 Change</a></li><li id="menu-item-99976" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99976 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/economy-trade/green-economy/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Green

 Economy</a></li><li id="menu-item-99977" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99977 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/environment/water-sanitation/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Water

 & Sanitation</a></li></ul>

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/" style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; padding: 5px 15px 4px !important;" class="">Human

 Rights</a>

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<li id="menu-item-587" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-587 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/armed-conflicts/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Armed

 Conflicts</a></li><li id="menu-item-588" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-588 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/crime-justice/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Crime

 & Justice</a></li><li id="menu-item-117687" class="menu-item-117687 menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/democracy/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Democracy</a></li><li id="menu-item-589" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-589 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/indigenous-rights/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Indigenous

 Rights</a></li><li id="menu-item-590" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-590 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/lgbtq/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">LGBTQ</a></li><li id="menu-item-591" class="menu-item-591 menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/migration-refugees/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Migration

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/press-freedom/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Press

 Freedom</a></li><li id="menu-item-99979" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99979 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/human-rights/religion/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Religion</a></li></ul>

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/global-governance/" style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; padding: 5px 15px 4px !important;" class="">Global

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/global-governance/civilisations-find-alliances/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Civilisations

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/global-governance/eye-on-the-ifis/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Eye

 On The IFIs</a></li><li id="menu-item-584" class="menu-item current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-584 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/global-governance/global-geopolitics/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Global

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/global-governance/globalisation/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Globalisation</a></li><li id="menu-item-100658" class="menu-item-100658 menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/south-south/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">South-South</a></li><li id="menu-item-99980" class="menu-item current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99980 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/global-governance/united-nations/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">United

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/south-south/" style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; padding: 5px 15px 4px !important;" class="">South-South</a>

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<li id="menu-item-99987" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99987 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/south-south/g77/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">G77</a></li><li id="menu-item-99990" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99990 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/south-south/regional-alliances/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Regional

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/south-south/southern-aid-trade/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Southern

 Aid & Trade</a></li></ul>

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/civil-society/" style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; padding: 5px 15px 4px !important;" class="">Civil

 Society</a>

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<li id="menu-item-596" class="menu-item-596 menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/civil-society/active-citizens/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Active

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/civil-society/world-social-forum/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">World

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/civil-society/conferences/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Conferences</a></li></ul>

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/gender/" style="margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; padding: 5px 15px 4px !important;" class="">Gender</a>

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<li id="menu-item-581" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-581 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/gender/gender-violence/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Gender

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<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/gender/women-economy/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Women

 & Economy</a></li><li id="menu-item-99981" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-99981 menu-item-object-category" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15.6px; width: auto; list-style: none; position: relative; float: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">

<a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news/gender/women-climate-change/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 10px; border-width: 1px 1px 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(205, 205, 205); font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); position: relative; display: block; z-index: 100; text-transform: capitalize; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 158px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" class="">Women

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<h1 class="entry_title" style="margin: 9px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 26px; line-height: 26px; font-family: georgia, verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: -1px; color: rgb(0, 69, 121);">

Citizen Action is Central to the Global Response to COVID-19</h1>

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 Ortiz</a> and <a href="https://www.ipsnews.net/author/walden-bello/" title="Posts by Walden Bello" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(32, 117, 157); line-height: 22px;" class="">Walden

 Bello</a></span><span class="meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; float: right; font-size: 10px !important; color: rgb(64, 68, 69) !important;"><a href="https://www.ipsnews.net/reprinting-articles/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif !important; color: rgb(77, 77, 77) !important;" class="">Reprint</a> <span class="sepa" style="margin: 0px 6px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block;">|</span> <span class="st_facebook" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="st_twitter" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="st_linkedin" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="st_sharethis" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="sepa" style="margin: 0px 6px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block;">|</span> <a href="https://www.ipsnews.net/2020/04/citizen-action-central-global-response-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR10LHACeLVPxSQVUbk6B6lJ6177lzrL3OAnpoMfw18ZYnXDZ2uLM3PjQoA#" class="print_this" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif !important; color: rgb(77, 77, 77) !important;"><img src="https://www.ipsnews.net/wp-content/themes/ipsnews/images/printer.png" alt="" style="margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 960px;" class=""> Print</a> <span class="sepa" style="margin: 0px 6px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block;">|</span><span class="st_email" displaytext="Send by email" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>

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<img width="629" height="353" src="https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Brazil-Favela-Rio-de-Janeiro_-629x353.jpg" class="attachment-storypage_img wp-post-image size-storypage_img" alt="" srcset="https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Brazil-Favela-Rio-de-Janeiro_-629x353.jpg 629w, https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Brazil-Favela-Rio-de-Janeiro_-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Brazil-Favela-Rio-de-Janeiro_.jpg 630w" sizes="(max-width: 629px) 100vw, 629px" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 960px;">

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A favela in Brazil, where the health system is not ready for coronavirus and social distancing difficult.</p>

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<p style="margin: 4px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">

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 pandemic has created an unprecedented human and economic crisis. Governments are taking strong actions, enforcing quarantines to reduce contagion, testing populations, building emergency intensive care units. Governments have also launched large fiscal stimulus

 plans to protect jobs and the economy, as well as temporary social protection programs such as income/food support, subsidies to utilities and care services.<br class="">

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But in many countries, even stronger actions are needed if we are to protect lives and jobs. States must respond adequately to this public emergency. Citizens must question if the measures implemented by their governments are sufficient and adequate.</p>

<p style="margin: 4px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">

The following are important issues for citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) to watch out at the <em class="">country level</em>:</p>

<ul style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none;" class="">

1. It is time to invest in universal public health, not only emergency support. Given COVID-19, governments are advised to <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2020/03/16/Policy-Steps-to-Address-the-Corona-Crisis-49262" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">ramp

 up public health expenditures</a>. Indeed, respirators, tests and masks are necessary, but countries need more than just emergency support. There is a risk that, as governments will become indebted, they continue with <a href="https://www.ipsnews.net/2020/03/fighting-coronavirus-time-invest-universal-public-health/" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">austerity

 cuts and privatizations</a> that have been eroding public health systems in recent years, returning to a situation where millions are excluded from healthcare.<br class="">

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<img src="http://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Isabel-Ortiz_200_-1.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" class="wp-image-166270 size-full" srcset="https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Isabel-Ortiz_200_-1.jpg 200w, https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Isabel-Ortiz_200_-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.ipsnews.net/Library/2020/04/Isabel-Ortiz_200_-1-144x144.jpg 144w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" style="margin: 5px 5px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 960px;">

<p class="wp-caption-text" style="margin: 4px 5px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 15px; text-align: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">

Isabel Ortiz</p>

</div>

2. Stimulating the economy and employment. This is much necessary to support <a href="https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus/lang--en/index.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">job-generating

 enterprises</a> during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, citizens need to be vigilant that fiscal stimulus do not go to the wrong hands, to large corporations avoiding taxes, to cronies, to the untaxed financial sector. If public funds are given to companies,

 it should be with strict conditions to stop tax evasion and share buybacks, undergo adequate regulation, cut obnoxious management bonusses, pay living wages and preserve employment.<br class="">

3. Providing social protection, income and food support to people. These measures are extremely urgent if people are to be quarantined and are unable to telework. In developing countries, most work precariously in the informal economy and isolation is not possible,

 households will suffer hunger with no income. Given the low living conditions in most developing countries, policymakers should consider the need for universal <a href="https://www.social-protection.org/gimi/RessourcePDF.action?id=54915" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">social

 protection floors</a>.<br class="">

4. Governments need more executive powers to implement these measures. States and public policies have been weakened over the last decades by deregulations, privatizations and budget cuts. Better planning, better resources and better public policies for all

 citizens are needed, but it is important to ensure that <a href="https://therealnews.com/stories/why-is-the-far-right-rising-globally-1-2" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">far

 right</a> and authoritarian leaders do not use the need for decisive executive action to grab more power for their own ends (eg. Brazil, Hungary, India, Philippines, US).</ul>

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Additionally, it is important for citizens and CSOs to push for the following measures at the <em class="">global level</em>:</p>

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5. Support for global public health, at stake is the survival of the planet. The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the weak state of global public health systems – generally overburdened, underfunded and understaffed because of earlier austerity policies and

 privatizations. There is urgent need to improve the global governance of health, including the strengthening the <a href="https://www.who.int/" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">WHO</a> and <a href="https://www.unicef.org/health" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">UN

 agencies</a> that support the extension of public health systems, as well as CSOs monitoring progress.<br class="">

6. Put pressure on the <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30135-2/fulltext" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">international

 financial institutions</a> such as the IMF and the development banks, so their policies support universal public health systems, jobs and social protection floors at present as well as after the COVID-19 emergency, including <a href="https://www.social-protection.org/gimi/RessourcePDF.action?id=51537" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">resources

 and fiscal space</a> to finance them.<br class="">

7. Given high sovereign debt levels, continue lobbying for debt forgiveness or radical debt relief to ensure that countries get the needed financing; or at least a debt moratoria, and later debt restructuring/relief.<br class="">

8. Watch out that new debt and fiscal deficits created to respond to COVID-19 do not result in a new round of austerity cuts with negative social impacts that will undermine public health systems, jobs and social protection.<br class="">

9. Ensure capital controls. Capital is flying North to safety, to the US, to Europe. Developing countries are going to be hard hit, not only because of the capital drain but also from the fall of commodity prices and others. Capital controls are easy to implement,

 with immediate results.<br class="">

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Walden Bello</p>

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10. A Global Marshall Plan, or a <a href="https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?OriginalVersionID=2191" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">Global

 Green New Deal</a>. Global problems require global solutions; after the WW2, the US implemented a Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. This time, no country alone can or should finance a global plan, it can be built as part of a progressive multilateralism. There

 are many ways to finance it, <a href="https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/620976/mb-dignity%20not%20destitution-an-economic-rescue-plan-for-all-090420-en.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">solidarity

 taxes</a> to wealth may well be a best way to reduce inequalities and even up world’s development. It can be complemented by <a href="https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/gds_tdr2019_covid2_en.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">other

 measures</a> such as issuing more Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) at the international organizations.</ul>

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The coronavirus pandemic has provided stark evidence of the weaknesses and extreme injustices of our world. We must not return to “normality”, a world where half of its population is living below the poverty line of $5.50 a day. We must move away from an inequitable

 model based on unregulated finance and corporate power, blind to harmful social and environmental impacts. We must back away from a system that disregards the work of health staff, cleaners, garbage collectors, farmers, and instead reward with huge salaries

 corporate managers, football players, and others who do not perform any essential activity. Now citizens have the opportunity to move forward.</p>

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As countries and enterprises recuperate from the crisis, they will have to rethink their economic model, including fewer links with global supply chains, and more links closer to home. It will be an important time for citizens and CSOs to press for “<a href="https://fpif.org/coronavirus-and-the-death-of-connectivity/" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">deglobalization</a>”,

 making the domestic market again the center of gravity of the economy by preserving local production with decent jobs and green investments, and question global supply chains based on taking advantage of cheaper wages, lesser taxes and environmental regulations

 elsewhere.</p>

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Now is the time for citizens to ensure that world leaders forcefully respond to the COVID-19 crisis, in accordance with <a href="https://www.cesr.org/time-rights-based-global-economic-stimulus-tackle-covid-19" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(109, 144, 168);" class="">human

 rights</a>. This time it cannot be like many earlier crisis experiences, where insufficient support was provided, or ended in the wrong hands, bailing out banks not the population. Citizens and CSOs have a very important role to play to ensure that governments

 respond to people.</p>

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<em class=""><strong class="">Isabel Ortiz</strong> is Director of the Global Social Justice Program at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University, and former director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.</em></p>

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<em class=""><strong class="">Walden Bello</strong> is senior analyst at the Bangkok-based Focus on the Global South and the International Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Binghamton.</em></p>

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