This is a really interesting new U.N. report on #poverty by @PhilipGAlston. The thread below is definitely worth a read, but here are a few takeaways of my own, as a journalist who has focused on stories about #inequality, #FoodSecurity etc for over a decade. (THREAD) https://twitter.com/PhilipGAlston/status/1280008856014336000

I have very often used the World Bank's International Poverty Line (IPL) in my stories. So have many of my colleagues, as well as leaders/researchers/analysts around the world. It shows how many people in a country or globally are living under an income of $1.90 a day. (2)

But this number reflects "a staggeringly low standard of living, well below any reasonable conception of a life with dignity" and generates a much lower poverty line than national standards, the report said. (3)

For example, using most recent comparisons available, #Thailand has a poverty rate of 0.0% under the IPL but 9.9% under national line, the United States, 1.2% versus 12.7%, South Africa, 18.9% versus 55%, and Mexico, 1.7% versus 41.9%, it said. (4)

But this allowed "the UN, world leaders and pundits have promoted a self-congratulatory message of impending victory over poverty", Alston said, even though in reality many more are struggling to feed themselves. (5)

“Even before the pandemic, 3.4 billion people, nearly half the world, lived on less than $5.50 a day. That number has barely declined since 1990," he said. Let that sink in - that's nearly 50% of us. Almost 1 out of 2 people who lead very precarious lives. (6)

"The failure to take the necessary steps to eliminate (this level of poverty) is a political choice and one that leaves firmly in place discriminatory practices based on gender, status, race, and religion, designed to privilege certain groups over others," the report added. (7)

It suggests a few things:- 1. Revisit the 2030 SDG goals, the number 1 of which is to "End Poverty" because we are nowhere near that. "The
energy surrounding the SDG process has gone into generating colorful posters and bland reports..." Alston said, not mincing his words. (8)

2. Redistribution is essential, it said, because right now, the bottom 50% have less than 1% of total global wealth, while the top 1% hold 45%. 3.Large-scale debt forgiveness is necessary. 4. Promote tax justice. 5. Implement university social protection. (9)

“Poverty is a political choice and it
will be with us until its elimination is reconceived as a matter of social justice," Alston said. Here's press release https://chrgj.org/2020/07/05/philip-alston-condemns-failed-global-poverty-eradication-efforts/ and full report https://chrgj.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Alston-Poverty-Report-FINAL.pdf #poverty #COVID19 #inequality (END)