John,

This year, the pandemic exposed underlying crises of racism, inequality, and militarism not only in the U.S., but all over the world. At IPS, we convened scores of experts and movements to push for a “pandemic pivot” away from this status quo and toward a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future.

Here are just a few of the areas where we have continued our work with our movement allies from across the globe. 

We appreciate your support in shaping this work for the challenges of 2021.

Pandemic Pivot

This summer, John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy In Focus, convened 68 leading thinkers and activists into eight conversations about the impact of COVID-19 on international policy and how we can best advocate for a progressive agenda coming out of this pandemic experience.   

Those conversations are now part of a new book, The Pandemic Pivot, coming out on paperback in January.   

Cutting Military Spending

For the first time in years, there was a vote in Congress to cut the Pentagon budget by 10 percent, effectively undoing Trump's military budget increases. 

The National Priorities Project worked with the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center to create "Ten Better Uses for 10 Percent of the Pentagon Budget." While we didn't win, we went from 28 votes in the House to 93 and got the backing of 23 senators, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

We are now planning with movement allies and partners on Capitol Hill to relaunch the effort with increased support in 2021.

Replacing Militarism

When Trump opened 2020 by assassinating an Iranian general, the New Internationalism Project briefed our movement allies and engaged the media.  

When COVID-19 exploded in the U.S., we brought our critique of militarism into the conversation. We analyzed how wars and sanctions make the pandemic worse and joined the Rev. William J. Barber II to co-author to argue in Newsweek about the need to redirect resources from the military to health care.

As Black-led uprisings against racism exploded, we worked with the Movement For Black Lives to challenge militarism in the BREATHE Act and wrote an op-ed in the New York Daily News connecting the dots between racist policing in the U.S. and Israel. 

Making Trade Fair

Our Trade and Mining project has expanded its work supporting communities struggling to keep their territories free of destructive mining.

In collaboration with the Peaceful Resistance La Puya, we published a critical analysis to debunk a U.S. mining company’s $400 million claim against Guatemala. This work has helped strengthen local struggles and global campaigns against an unjust system allowing corporations to sue countries for profits they have never made, particularly in times of COVID-19, and to put forward a trade agenda that works for people and the planet. 

We also helped coordinate a global statement and accompanying research report, Voices from the Ground, about mining pandemic profiteers. 

Combating the Drug War

While voters in the U.S. states voted again and again to end cannabis prohibition, Drug Policy Project director Sanho Tree went on a speaking tour of the Philippines, where up to 30,000 have been extrajudicially killed over the past four years due to President Duterte's drug war.

Sanho also presented a revolutionary webinar about the intersection of drugs, modernity, and erosion of traditional lifeways. The project has used Twitter during the pandemic to conduct public education and generated close to 15 million unique impressions over the year.

You make it all possible

John, please donate to IPS to help us move forward to a much better year ahead. We can't do it without all of you.

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Onward,

John Cavanagh
Director