People

1. Race, Sex and Class, etc.    2.Population   3. Immigration

1. Race, Sex and Class, etc.

People are unjustly discriminated against or persecuted for natural differences such as “race”, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, national origin, beliefs and disabilities, while the artificial and brutal divisions of social class go unquestioned. Business owners, investors and lenders profit from the wealth created by employees and their ideas, even when employees are not paid a living wage (see CEOs vs employees, Profits vs wages)¹⁰. Most of us depend for our survival and security on bosses, yet our work can often be automated or outsourced. This system of extraction and concentration disconnects us from each other and nature. Polluting power plants and factories, and parks without greenery are often located in oppressed communities.

Among other things, the following could help achieve greater equality:

- Sharing of domestic duties such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, childcare and eldercare more equally between the sexes

- Sharing work for pay more equally between the sexes

- Equal pay for equal work

- Job sharing to reduce working hours outside the home

- Raising the wages for human service jobs and teaching to more equally match those of higher paid business and professional jobs

- Reducing the wages of the highest paid executives

- Raising opportunities and standards of education in communities of color and poorer neighborhoods, with their input and participation, to more equally match those of wealthier neighborhoods

- Universal free education though all graduate levels

- Paid maternity leave, childcare leave and eldercare leave

- Raising the standards of healthcare in communities of color and poorer neighborhoods, with their input and participation, to more equally match those of wealthier neighborhoods

- Universal free healthcare

- Eliminating unnecessary advertising and marketing

- Replacing stock markets and futures markets with democratic planning and investing

- Eliminating private jets and yachts

- Eliminating the manufacturing and use of unnecessary toxic chemicals and plastics

 

2.Population

There is a shameful history of racist eugenics practices, as under the Nazis and the forced sterilization of indigenous women. This is not a legitimate option. However, there is legitimate concern about the population factor, along with the waste and pollution per person in wealthier countries. Girls in school and educated women usually have fewer children according to the Drawdown Project (see complete list of climate solutions²⁰, family planning and education²¹). Poorer countries need more educational opportunities for girls, requiring international financial support. Poverty and oppressive laws, even in the richest countries, restrict access to birth control and abortion, which we need to make universally available. No one should be forced to carry and raise children.

3. Immigration

Many immigrants into wealthier countries, such as the US, were forced to leave their homes due to environmental disasters related to climate change, political persecution or extreme poverty. Therefore, dealing with these international problems is essential. Restricting immigration is not the answer, because people are people, we are all interdependent, and we are all vulnerable and have the same basic needs.