Thread by @ManuelGrebe

"The crisis triggered by Coronavirus has already exposed many weaknesses of our growth-obsessed capitalist economy – insecurity, healthcare systems crippled by years of austerity and undervaluation of the most essential professions." #Degrowth #NewRoots
📃opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/…

"This system, rooted in exploitation of people and nature, which is severely prone to crises, was nevertheless considered normal. Although the world economy produces more than ever before, it fails to take care of humans and the planet."

"For decades, the dominant strategies against these ills were to leave economic distribution largely to market forces and to lessen ecological degradation through decoupling and green growth. This has not worked."

"We now have an opportunity to build on the experiences of the Corona crisis: from new forms of cooperation and solidarity that are flourishing, to the widespread appreciation of basic societal services like health and care work, food provisioning and waste removal."

"To start a transition towards a radically different kind of society, rather than desperately trying to get the destructive growth machine running again, we suggest to build on past lessons & the abundance of social and solidarity initiatives that have sprouted around the world"

"We, the signatories of this letter, therefore offer five principles for the recovery of our economy and the basis of creating a just society. To develop new roots for an economy that works for all, we need to..."
#Degrowth #NewRoots

1) Put life at the center of our economic systems

"Instead of economic growth and wasteful production, we must put life and wellbeing at the center of our efforts. While some sectors of the economy have to be phased out as fast as possible, we need to foster others."
#NewRoots

2) Radically reevaluate how much & what work is necessary for a good life for all

"We need to put more emphasis on care work and adequately value the professions that have proven essential during the crisis. We have to reduce working time and introduce schemes for work-sharing."

3) Organize society around the provision of essential goods and services

"While we need to reduce wasteful consumption and travel, basic human needs, such as the right to food, housing and education have to be secured for everyone through universal basic services or income."

4) Democratize society

"This means enabling all people to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. In particular, it means more participation for marginalized groups of society as well as including feminist principles into politics and the economic system."

5) Base political and economic systems on the principle of solidarity

"Redistribution and justice must be the basis for reconciliation between current and future generations, social groups within countries as well as between countries of the Global South and Global North …"

"… The Global North in particular must end current forms of exploitation and make reparations for past ones. #ClimateJustice must be the principle guiding a rapid social-ecological transformation."

"As long as we have an economic system that is dependent on growth, a recession will be devastating. What the world needs instead is #Degrowth – a planned yet adaptive, sustainable, and equitable downscaling of the economy, leading to a future where we can live better with less."

"The current crisis has been brutal for many, hitting the most vulnerable hardest, but it also gives us the opportunity to reflect and rethink. It can make us realize what is truly important and has demonstrated countless potentials to build upon."

"Degrowth, as a movement and a concept, has been reflecting on these issues for more than a decade and offers a consistent framework for rethinking society based on other values, such as sustainability, solidarity, equity, conviviality, direct democracy and enjoyment of life."