I’d like to start today by introducing you to two young people I met recently
you to two young people I met recently
you to two young people I met recently two incredible young people who’ve
two incredible young people who’ve
two incredible young people who’ve risked their lives fighting injustice
risked their lives fighting injustice
risked their lives fighting injustice and fighting for freedom on the left you
and fighting for freedom on the left you
and fighting for freedom on the left you have aya she’s from Tunisia and on the
have aya she’s from Tunisia and on the
have aya she’s from Tunisia and on the right you have limine he’s from The
right you have limine he’s from The
right you have limine he’s from The Gambia both were active participants in
Gambia both were active participants in
Gambia both were active participants in peaceful revolutions in their country
peaceful revolutions in their country
peaceful revolutions in their country fighting to overcome dictatorship
fighting to overcome dictatorship
fighting to overcome dictatorship fighting to overcome corrupt governments
fighting to overcome corrupt governments
fighting to overcome corrupt governments and when we met we were talking about
and when we met we were talking about
and when we met we were talking about the issue of inequality and what they
the issue of inequality and what they
the issue of inequality and what they were very passionate about was that
were very passionate about was that
were very passionate about was that changing government for them was just
changing government for them was just
changing government for them was just the beginning they really wanted to
the beginning they really wanted to
the beginning they really wanted to build a fairer better world and it’s
build a fairer better world and it’s
build a fairer better world and it’s that inspiration that I want to try and
that inspiration that I want to try and
that inspiration that I want to try and talk about a bit today have no doubt we
talk about a bit today have no doubt we
talk about a bit today have no doubt we are facing an inequality crisis we’re
are facing an inequality crisis we’re
are facing an inequality crisis we’re seeing levels of extreme wealth that
seeing levels of extreme wealth that
seeing levels of extreme wealth that we’ve never seen before eight people not
we’ve never seen before eight people not
we’ve never seen before eight people not just people eight men owning the same
just people eight men owning the same
just people eight men owning the same wealth as the bottom 3.6 billion people
wealth as the bottom 3.6 billion people
wealth as the bottom 3.6 billion people when Oxfam started making these
when Oxfam started making these
when Oxfam started making these calculations it was about three hundred
calculations it was about three hundred
calculations it was about three hundred and fifty billionaires about four years
and fifty billionaires about four years
and fifty billionaires about four years ago we had a picture of an aeroplane
ago we had a picture of an aeroplane
ago we had a picture of an aeroplane then it was sixty two billionaires we
then it was sixty two billionaires we
then it was sixty two billionaires we had a London bus and then this year it’s
had a London bus and then this year it’s
had a London bus and then this year it’s eight and we’re thinking how small can
eight and we’re thinking how small can
eight and we’re thinking how small can it get how unequal can our world become
it get how unequal can our world become
it get how unequal can our world become and the facts are very serious if you
and the facts are very serious if you
and the facts are very serious if you look at the poorest countries and the
look at the poorest countries and the
look at the poorest countries and the richest countries the majority of them
richest countries the majority of them
richest countries the majority of them are seeing the gap between the richest
are seeing the gap between the richest
are seeing the gap between the richest and the rest of us increase rapidly in
and the rest of us increase rapidly in
and the rest of us increase rapidly in rich nations it used to be the received
rich nations it used to be the received
rich nations it used to be the received economic wisdom that as your country
economic wisdom that as your country
economic wisdom that as your country became richer inequality fell and you
became richer inequality fell and you
became richer inequality fell and you became a more equal society but
became a more equal society but
became a more equal society but something happened in the late 1970s to
something happened in the late 1970s to
something happened in the late 1970s to turn that around and now in the majority
turn that around and now in the majority
turn that around and now in the majority of rich countries inequality has been
of rich countries inequality has been
of rich countries inequality has been rising remorselessly now why should we
rising remorselessly now why should we
rising remorselessly now why should we care about this why is it important that
care about this why is it important that
care about this why is it important that we’ve got more rich people with more
we’ve got more rich people with more
we’ve got more rich people with more money than ever before there are a
money than ever before there are a
money than ever before there are a number of reasons
number of reasons
number of reasons oxfam we care passionately about ending
oxfam we care passionately about ending
oxfam we care passionately about ending poverty and you just will not be able to
poverty and you just will not be able to
poverty and you just will not be able to end poverty in the world unless you
end poverty in the world unless you
end poverty in the world unless you tackle this gap between rich and poor
tackle this gap between rich and poor
tackle this gap between rich and poor let me give you an example in Nigeria
let me give you an example in Nigeria
let me give you an example in Nigeria they had seven percent economic growth
they had seven percent economic growth
they had seven percent economic growth every year for a decade in the 2000s and
every year for a decade in the 2000s and
every year for a decade in the 2000s and yet who got the most of that growth you
yet who got the most of that growth you
yet who got the most of that growth you can see from this graph the vast
can see from this graph the vast
can see from this graph the vast majority in fact that almost all of the
majority in fact that almost all of the
majority in fact that almost all of the economic growth during that period went
economic growth during that period went
economic growth during that period went to the top 10% in Nigerian society in a
to the top 10% in Nigerian society in a
to the top 10% in Nigerian society in a country where 10 million children still
country where 10 million children still
country where 10 million children still don’t get to go to school and many many
don’t get to go to school and many many
don’t get to go to school and many many children die before the age of 5
economic growth was strong poverty
economic growth was strong poverty increased and the number of millionaires
increased and the number of millionaires
increased and the number of millionaires almost doubled so it’s incredibly
almost doubled so it’s incredibly
almost doubled so it’s incredibly important that we look at inequality –
important that we look at inequality –
important that we look at inequality – and not just economic growth but there
and not just economic growth but there
and not just economic growth but there are many other reasons why inequality is
are many other reasons why inequality is
are many other reasons why inequality is really important I come from England I
really important I come from England I
really important I come from England I come from the UK I grew up in in the
come from the UK I grew up in in the
come from the UK I grew up in in the south I went to a government school and
south I went to a government school and
south I went to a government school and on my way to school I used to cycle pass
on my way to school I used to cycle pass
on my way to school I used to cycle pass one of the most expensive private
one of the most expensive private
one of the most expensive private schools in the country and I was young I
schools in the country and I was young I
schools in the country and I was young I didn’t think it made any difference I
didn’t think it made any difference I
didn’t think it made any difference I didn’t really know these people I
didn’t really know these people I
didn’t really know these people I remember thinking that they had a nice
remember thinking that they had a nice
remember thinking that they had a nice cricket pitch and it was quite a
cricket pitch and it was quite a
cricket pitch and it was quite a nice-looking school but it never really
nice-looking school but it never really
nice-looking school but it never really occurred to me that this was a big issue
occurred to me that this was a big issue
occurred to me that this was a big issue until I went to university and I
until I went to university and I
until I went to university and I discovered that the majority of the
discovered that the majority of the
discovered that the majority of the people at university with me had gone to
people at university with me had gone to
people at university with me had gone to a private school and when you look at
a private school and when you look at
a private school and when you look at the numbers 7 percent of British
the numbers 7 percent of British
the numbers 7 percent of British children go to a private school just 7
children go to a private school just 7
children go to a private school just 7 percent yet 50 percent of our
percent yet 50 percent of our
percent yet 50 percent of our journalists went to private school 70%
journalists went to private school 70%
journalists went to private school 70% of our judges went to private school and
of our judges went to private school and
of our judges went to private school and this perhaps the saddest thing of all
this perhaps the saddest thing of all
this perhaps the saddest thing of all more than half of our rock bands went to
more than half of our rock bands went to
more than half of our rock bands went to private school even Coldplay went to
private school even Coldplay went to
private school even Coldplay went to private school so the working-class
private school so the working-class
private school so the working-class bands of the past the clash the jam even
bands of the past the clash the jam even
bands of the past the clash the jam even the Beatles forget about it unless you
the Beatles forget about it unless you
the Beatles forget about it unless you went to private school you can’t get
went to private school you can’t get
went to private school you can’t get famous these days
famous these days
famous these days why is this so important because it’s
why is this so important because it’s
why is this so important because it’s about social mobility we all know about
about social mobility we all know about
about social mobility we all know about the American dream the idea that if you
the American dream the idea that if you
the American dream the idea that if you were talented you’ve got hard work
were talented you’ve got hard work
were talented you’ve got hard work you’ve got something to give society
you’ve got something to give society
you’ve got something to give society that you can progress well the American
that you can progress well the American
that you can progress well the American Dream has become an American Nightmare
Dream has become an American Nightmare
Dream has become an American Nightmare if you’re born poor
if you’re born poor
if you’re born poor you will die poor particular in the u.s.
you will die poor particular in the u.s.
you will die poor particular in the u.s. but all over the world the idea that you
but all over the world the idea that you
but all over the world the idea that you can have mobility through societies
can have mobility through societies
can have mobility through societies getting harder and harder and that’s a
getting harder and harder and that’s a
getting harder and harder and that’s a really bad thing for Humanity if you
really bad thing for Humanity if you
really bad thing for Humanity if you think of all the challenges we face if
think of all the challenges we face if
think of all the challenges we face if we face climate change we face huge
we face climate change we face huge
we face climate change we face huge health problems we need our best most
health problems we need our best most
health problems we need our best most talented people and I’ve lived and
talented people and I’ve lived and
talented people and I’ve lived and worked in in schools in Africa and you
worked in in schools in Africa and you
worked in in schools in Africa and you see particularly girls dropping out of
see particularly girls dropping out of
see particularly girls dropping out of school at the age of seven or eight
school at the age of seven or eight
school at the age of seven or eight having hardly learned anything it just
having hardly learned anything it just
having hardly learned anything it just makes you one to think of the
makes you one to think of the
makes you one to think of the squandering of talent think of the the
squandering of talent think of the the
squandering of talent think of the the rocket scientists the teachers the
rocket scientists the teachers the
rocket scientists the teachers the engineers that as we speak are unable to
engineers that as we speak are unable to
engineers that as we speak are unable to go to school anymore
go to school anymore
go to school anymore they may be working in the fields will
they may be working in the fields will
they may be working in the fields will never benefit from that talent so it’s
never benefit from that talent so it’s
never benefit from that talent so it’s incredibly important the other big
incredibly important the other big
incredibly important the other big problem with inequality is if you’re
problem with inequality is if you’re
problem with inequality is if you’re rich if you just buy a yacht or you buy
rich if you just buy a yacht or you buy
rich if you just buy a yacht or you buy a really nice car it doesn’t matter that
a really nice car it doesn’t matter that
a really nice car it doesn’t matter that much but when you start buying politics
much but when you start buying politics
much but when you start buying politics when you start buying the media when you
when you start buying the media when you
when you start buying the media when you start buying impunity from justice which
start buying impunity from justice which
start buying impunity from justice which we see all over the world and not just
we see all over the world and not just
we see all over the world and not just in the poor world you just have to look
in the poor world you just have to look
in the poor world you just have to look at Donald Trump’s cabinet to see that
at Donald Trump’s cabinet to see that
at Donald Trump’s cabinet to see that the problem of billionaires empowering
the problem of billionaires empowering
the problem of billionaires empowering purchasing power is a serious issue all
purchasing power is a serious issue all
purchasing power is a serious issue all over the world
over the world
over the world this man Franklin Roosevelt was
this man Franklin Roosevelt was
this man Franklin Roosevelt was President of the United States just
President of the United States just
President of the United States just after the Great Depression when it was
after the Great Depression when it was
after the Great Depression when it was perceived that organized money had
perceived that organized money had
perceived that organized money had really taken control of American society
really taken control of American society
really taken control of American society there was a need to fight back and I
there was a need to fight back and I
there was a need to fight back and I think that’s just as true now as it was
think that’s just as true now as it was
think that’s just as true now as it was then that extreme wealth breeds capture
then that extreme wealth breeds capture
then that extreme wealth breeds capture of politics capture of our economies so
of politics capture of our economies so
of politics capture of our economies so we have an economy that works for the 1%
we have an economy that works for the 1%
we have an economy that works for the 1% instead of the rest of us some might say
instead of the rest of us some might say
instead of the rest of us some might say inequality is inevitable it’s like the
inequality is inevitable it’s like the
inequality is inevitable it’s like the rain or the weather there’s nothing we
rain or the weather there’s nothing we
rain or the weather there’s nothing we can do about it
can do about it
can do about it when people say that I’d like to show
when people say that I’d like to show
when people say that I’d like to show them this picture Equatorial Guinea
them this picture Equatorial Guinea
them this picture Equatorial Guinea small country in Africa is actually a
small country in Africa is actually a
small country in Africa is actually a high-income country it’s a got a per
high-income country it’s a got a per
high-income country it’s a got a per capita average income higher than
capita average income higher than
capita average income higher than Portugal higher than Spain but it has an
Portugal higher than Spain but it has an
Portugal higher than Spain but it has an infant mortality rate higher than Haiti
infant mortality rate higher than Haiti
infant mortality rate higher than Haiti so it has incredible inequality and
so it has incredible inequality and
so it has incredible inequality and these cars belonged to the son of the
these cars belonged to the son of the
these cars belonged to the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea and there
president of Equatorial Guinea and there
president of Equatorial Guinea and there were some I’m not expert on cars but
were some I’m not expert on cars but
were some I’m not expert on cars but some Maseratis mercedes-benz they were
some Maseratis mercedes-benz they were
some Maseratis mercedes-benz they were seized from him in a in a lawsuit that
seized from him in a in a lawsuit that
seized from him in a in a lawsuit that was brought against him in that in the
was brought against him in that in the
was brought against him in that in the United States for crimes against the
United States for crimes against the
United States for crimes against the people of Equatorial Guinea they also
people of Equatorial Guinea they also
people of Equatorial Guinea they also seized his estate in Malibu and they he
seized his estate in Malibu and they he
seized his estate in Malibu and they he apparently owned the white glove that
apparently owned the white glove that
apparently owned the white glove that was Michael Jackson’s at one point they
was Michael Jackson’s at one point they
was Michael Jackson’s at one point they seized that to the point of the story is
seized that to the point of the story is
seized that to the point of the story is that even in the most corrupt difficult
that even in the most corrupt difficult
that even in the most corrupt difficult place on earth as an ability to fight
place on earth as an ability to fight
place on earth as an ability to fight back that money was then given back to
back that money was then given back to
back that money was then given back to the people of Equatorial Guinea and in
the people of Equatorial Guinea and in
the people of Equatorial Guinea and in Latin America we’ve seen real positive
Latin America we’ve seen real positive
Latin America we’ve seen real positive trend in the last 10 to 15 years
trend in the last 10 to 15 years
trend in the last 10 to 15 years countries all over that continent
countries all over that continent
countries all over that continent bucking the global trend going the
bucking the global trend going the
bucking the global trend going the different direction and reducing
different direction and reducing
different direction and reducing inequality that gap between rich and
inequality that gap between rich and
inequality that gap between rich and poor is getting smaller so it’s not the
poor is getting smaller so it’s not the
poor is getting smaller so it’s not the case that this is inevitable when
case that this is inevitable when
case that this is inevitable when countries make the right choices we can
countries make the right choices we can
countries make the right choices we can close that gap with all the benefits
close that gap with all the benefits
close that gap with all the benefits that it brings and one of the four main
that it brings and one of the four main
that it brings and one of the four main ingredients of reducing inequality
ingredients of reducing inequality
ingredients of reducing inequality warren buffett is the second richest man
warren buffett is the second richest man
warren buffett is the second richest man on earth every year he goes through an
on earth every year he goes through an
on earth every year he goes through an exercise where he calculates his
exercise where he calculates his
exercise where he calculates his percentage rate of tax how much he’s
percentage rate of tax how much he’s
percentage rate of tax how much he’s paying and how much percent he’s paying
paying and how much percent he’s paying
paying and how much percent he’s paying and he compares that to the what’s paid
and he compares that to the what’s paid
and he compares that to the what’s paid by his secretary and every year for the
by his secretary and every year for the
by his secretary and every year for the last ten years he’s paid a lower rate of
last ten years he’s paid a lower rate of
last ten years he’s paid a lower rate of tax than his secretary we’re living in
tax than his secretary we’re living in
tax than his secretary we’re living in an upside-down world where the richest
an upside-down world where the richest
an upside-down world where the richest people no longer pay any tax the richest
people no longer pay any tax the richest
people no longer pay any tax the richest corporations no longer pay hardly any
corporations no longer pay hardly any
corporations no longer pay hardly any tax is ordinary people
tax is ordinary people
tax is ordinary people that of paying the taxation so we’re
that of paying the taxation so we’re
that of paying the taxation so we’re seeing a kind of upwards vacuum of
seeing a kind of upwards vacuum of
seeing a kind of upwards vacuum of wealth and money going out to the top so
wealth and money going out to the top so
wealth and money going out to the top so one of the things that has to be fixed
one of the things that has to be fixed
one of the things that has to be fixed is the tax system we have to have the
is the tax system we have to have the
is the tax system we have to have the richest people the richest corporations
richest people the richest corporations
richest people the richest corporations paying their fair share education is
paying their fair share education is
paying their fair share education is crucial public services like health
crucial public services like health
crucial public services like health that’s what we saw in Latin America
that’s what we saw in Latin America
that’s what we saw in Latin America you’ve seen a big investment in the
you’ve seen a big investment in the
you’ve seen a big investment in the kinds of services that poor people need
kinds of services that poor people need
kinds of services that poor people need for all the reasons that are outlined
for all the reasons that are outlined
for all the reasons that are outlined about social mobility but also the huge
about social mobility but also the huge
about social mobility but also the huge cost to poor people when you don’t have
cost to poor people when you don’t have
cost to poor people when you don’t have free health care when you live in fear
free health care when you live in fear
free health care when you live in fear of getting sick because you can’t afford
of getting sick because you can’t afford
of getting sick because you can’t afford to see the doctor investment in those
to see the doctor investment in those
to see the doctor investment in those kinds of things can transform inequality
kinds of things can transform inequality
kinds of things can transform inequality and then finally wages we’ve seen wages
and then finally wages we’ve seen wages
and then finally wages we’ve seen wages stagnate from many many ordinary people
stagnate from many many ordinary people
stagnate from many many ordinary people across the world across Europe and in
across the world across Europe and in
across the world across Europe and in many other parts of the world whereas
many other parts of the world whereas
many other parts of the world whereas wages at the top are shooting up so
wages at the top are shooting up so
wages at the top are shooting up so things you can do to increase the
things you can do to increase the
things you can do to increase the minimum wage is what they did in Brazil
minimum wage is what they did in Brazil
minimum wage is what they did in Brazil to try and close that gap but finally
to try and close that gap but finally
to try and close that gap but finally what’s the fourth ingredient and I think
what’s the fourth ingredient and I think
what’s the fourth ingredient and I think this is the most important one I’ve been
this is the most important one I’ve been
this is the most important one I’ve been involved in a lot of campaigns in my
involved in a lot of campaigns in my
involved in a lot of campaigns in my life and been fortunate enough to work
life and been fortunate enough to work
life and been fortunate enough to work with a number of incredible people and
with a number of incredible people and
with a number of incredible people and we’re very much standing on the
we’re very much standing on the
we’re very much standing on the shoulders of giants standing on the
shoulders of giants standing on the
shoulders of giants standing on the incredible campaigns from the past that
incredible campaigns from the past that
incredible campaigns from the past that brought us votes for women that brought
brought us votes for women that brought
brought us votes for women that brought an end to slavery and into apartheid
an end to slavery and into apartheid
an end to slavery and into apartheid every single time you’ve seen
every single time you’ve seen
every single time you’ve seen progressive change in history it’s been
progressive change in history it’s been
progressive change in history it’s been through people power it’s been through
through people power it’s been through
through people power it’s been through the power of community the power of
the power of community the power of
the power of community the power of ordinary people to speak up and to make
ordinary people to speak up and to make
ordinary people to speak up and to make sure that their leaders are working for
sure that their leaders are working for
sure that their leaders are working for them and not for the 1% so I think
them and not for the 1% so I think
them and not for the 1% so I think people power is absolutely crucial in
people power is absolutely crucial in
people power is absolutely crucial in this story and if we’re going to combat
this story and if we’re going to combat
this story and if we’re going to combat the inequality crisis if we want to
the inequality crisis if we want to
the inequality crisis if we want to imagine a better world a fairer world
imagine a better world a fairer world
imagine a better world a fairer world then we really need to come together
then we really need to come together
then we really need to come together more than ever to try and close that gap
more than ever to try and close that gap
more than ever to try and close that gap to fight for a fairer world and an
to fight for a fairer world and an
to fight for a fairer world and an alliance is forming across the world to
alliance is forming across the world to
alliance is forming across the world to do that this picture is from the
do that this picture is from the
do that this picture is from the Philippines where I was recently they’ve
Philippines where I was recently they’ve
Philippines where I was recently they’ve just the terrible dictator elected
just the terrible dictator elected
just the terrible dictator elected is carrying out many killings in the
is carrying out many killings in the
is carrying out many killings in the country they are again on the streets
country they are again on the streets
country they are again on the streets risking their lives fighting for a
risking their lives fighting for a
risking their lives fighting for a fairer society fighting for a better
fairer society fighting for a better
fairer society fighting for a better world which I think we can all imagine
world which I think we can all imagine
world which I think we can all imagine and I think we all believe we could have
and I think we all believe we could have
and I think we all believe we could have and we must have so I think it’s
and we must have so I think it’s
and we must have so I think it’s incredibly important to understand that
incredibly important to understand that
incredibly important to understand that yes we know what needs to be done we
yes we know what needs to be done we
yes we know what needs to be done we need to tax the rich we need to spend
need to tax the rich we need to spend
need to tax the rich we need to spend that on services that benefit the whole
that on services that benefit the whole
that on services that benefit the whole community we need to pay people a living
community we need to pay people a living
community we need to pay people a living wage these are not rocket science we
wage these are not rocket science we
wage these are not rocket science we know they work but more than anything we
know they work but more than anything we
know they work but more than anything we and I mean you I mean me we need to
and I mean you I mean me we need to
and I mean you I mean me we need to fight for these things because otherwise
fight for these things because otherwise
fight for these things because otherwise we won’t get them we are the people that
we won’t get them we are the people that
we won’t get them we are the people that we’ve been waiting for
we’ve been waiting for
we’ve been waiting for [Applause]
”
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