Dear Friend,
It has never been clearer that we are one human family. Billions are experiencing the same health crisis. Not exactly all at once. Some countries have experienced high mortality only to recover as others begin to enter more perilous times.
As Greens, we know that the climate emergency is the larger threat for the long term. Now climate and pandemic come together, colliding in a desperate threat to lives in the developing world – hundreds of millions of lives.
As climate breakdown ravages food-growing systems through plagues of locusts and deep drought, the COVID-19 pandemic has crushed economies around the world. If my turn of phrase sounds biblical, the head of the World Food Programme has made that explicit, describing the threat of famine post-pandemic as being “of biblical proportions.”
The conventional Canadian political wisdom these days seems to be that with things so bad for so many at home, there is no appetite for helping the poor of the developing world.
I do not believe that is true. I believe Canadians want to help those less fortunate.
Most Canadians think we are more generous than we actually are. As a proportion of our Gross National Income (GNI), Canada gives far less than most donor counties. Having pledged decades ago to contribute 0.7 per cent of GNI to Official Development Assistance (ODA), we have never given more than 0.45 per cent and we achieved that peak nearly two decades ago. We are now at 0.28 per cent. Hardly generous.
As Greens, we think globally. With Green parties in 80 countries, we care for all life on this planet – human and non.
Do you agree with me that it still matters to make poverty history?
Please let me know by adding your name to our call to make Canada a leader in assistance to the developing world.
Yes! Canada should
Be a leader
Of course, we can also appeal to enlightened self-interest. Widespread starvation and illness will come home to roost and destabilize the whole of the world, reaching our shores as well.
As we plan how we “Reimagine our Future,” Greens are the only party thinking about the whole planet, calling for bold steps to save lives around the world. We need to forgive the debt of developing countries while dramatically increasing support for food aid.
We need food security in Canada for Canadians, as well as support for farmers all around the world.
This is a hinge moment in history. It is not the time to tweak the margins of the status quo.
It is the time to rewrite the rules.
Elizabeth