Words by Smiley Team
It was more than a year into the pandemic when Jenny Ricks, global convenor for the global Fight Inequality Alliance, realised Covid-19 made it even more important to continue organising new and innovative ways to beat inequality and keep activists’ energies up.
While workers were hit by wage declines and job losses, billionaires were profiting from rising assets throughout the health crisis. This meant income inequality rose more sharply in 2020 than it did in previous economic and financial crises, according to the International Monetary Fund.
On top of the urgent need for change, Jenny saw our increased reliance on digital communication as an opportunity to connect thousands more people around the world in their shared struggles against inequality. So she, along with over 120 partners, launched Festival to Fight Inequality, a discussion about how to solve one of the biggest challenges facing humanity on 13-14 August.
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“We wanted to create a space to talk about what's been happening – how the inequality crisis has worsened during the pandemic, but also how we can recharge our energies and find solutions,” says Jenny.
Gathering on a platform called PheedLoop, attendees can join smaller, more intimate discussions as well as larger events. These will combine arts and music with meetings, movement building spaces and skill shares.
Through their network of activists across the UK, Europe and in over 30 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, The Fight Inequality Alliance offers a window into the possibilities for people to drive change.
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“I have hope because it's people on the front lines of inequality who are continuing to stand up and organise for change," says Jenny. "In the pandemic we've seen activists and communities come together to take care of each other and step in where governments and international institutions have fallen short.
“So I think it's always going to be people that create the big changes in society. The festival is a chance to honour and to celebrate the fact that even though things have been incredibly difficult for people, they have continued to organise and push for big changes - for just and equal societies. That's what gives me energy.”
The event is free to attend, you need only book a space, and it will be translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and sign language.
