Hello campaigners,
I’m Emily, from ActionAid Australia and I’m off to Seoul. November in Seoul usually means kimchi festivals and chilly weather, but this year Seoul is hosting the G20, a meeting of the leaders of the 20 richest countries in the world.
It seems astonishing that the 20 richest nations have created a forum based on wealth alone, deliberately excluding the 172 other nations. Many of the excluded countries are suffering from extreme poverty and have the most to gain from a voice on the international stage.
Yet, the G20 is tasked with some big responsibilities – like fixing the global financial system. Although the poor are deliberately excluded from the event, having so many world leaders in a room together is also a tremendous opportunity.
Myself and a small team from ActionAid will be in Seoul promoting an agenda of fairness, inclusion and reform of the systems that disadvantage the most vulnerable. The meetings in Seoul this November will have far reaching impacts on the poor – this group of leaders could regulate speculation to help prevent further food crises, make sure that revenue isn’t siphoned out of developing countries using tax havens and put a tiny tax on financial transactions to pay for climate adaptation and fighting poverty.
Surely those that suffer from the inequalities in the global system should have a seat at the table? Until then, we at ActionAid will continue to advocate on behalf of the poor. There is such potential for change- so stay tuned for an insider’s view of the G20!
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