The vulnerability of weaker sections of society becomes obvious in times of recession. Already it is clear that those who can least afford further income reductions will be asked once again to ‘share the pain’ in December. It is clear however, that sharing - in the eyes of the Government - is a fundamentally unequal [...]

Despite the expenditure of over US$2.5 trillion in official development assistance (ODA), billions of people continue to live in conditions of the direst poverty. Hunger and inequality stalk their lives as they struggle to survive. As Samir Amin wrote at the turn of the millennium:
“The polarization that is characteristic of modern globalization is phenomenal, without [...]

“You need to find a way to sell your ideas to people. Make them want to buy into them.”
That was the advice given to me in a little Belfast coffee-shop months ago by a lady whose area of expertise is working with troubled youth. Promoting social justice issues for her is akin to selling brand [...]

Despite the wondrous technological developments and global wealth generated since the start of the 19th century, billions of people continue to live in the direst conditions of poverty. While this is clear from even the most casual observation of anyone who has travelled, lived or worked in the South (the Southern Hemisphere), the definition of [...]

Poverty is set to increase in 2010 according to Social Justice Ireland (SJI). The anti-poverty group has this week published a detailed briefing paper saying that the numbers of children and ‘working-poor’ living in poverty will rise as a direct consequence of Budget 2010.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that in 2008, 615,000 [...]

There are a few subjects that are guaranteed to start rows. Public sector pay is always a dead cert. Stimulus is another one. And, of course, relative poverty; as in ‘Ireland suffers from a high level of relative poverty’. There are any number of views on this matter, usually quite heated. The ESRI report, ‘Poverty [...]

Responding to the publication of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions last week, Anna Visser Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland, welcomed the 2.1% fall in the at risk of poverty rate but warned of significant challenges ahead for 2010.
At risk of poverty rates were down for all age groups from 2007 but [...]

Wrong Place, Wrong Time
I am have notice this week that it is being the 200th anniversary of the collapse of the Walls of Berlin, the famous dividing line which separate the Christian West from the atheist Communist East.  Like many people, I for one would have like that wall to remain in place, if only [...]

Wednesday’s Social Inclusion Forum Is A Rare Chance for Government to Hear the Voices of People Experiencing Poverty and Social Exclusion
Speaking in advance of the Social Inclusion Forum on Wednesday 4th November, Anna Visser Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland, welcomed the Government efforts to actively seek out the views of people experiencing poverty [...]

Nearly half of the population would struggle to pay an unexpected bill of €1,000 in the next twelve months, according to a new Eurobarometer study. Forty-five per cent of Irish respondents to the Europe-wide survey indicated that there is a high or moderate risk that they would be unable to cope with such an unexpected [...]