Every year, governments are diverting $1 trillion dollars away from people and public services into the hands of big companies, whilst across the world, hundreds of millions of people are denied their basic rights.
A new report by Health Poverty Action, Changing track: putting people before corporations, calculates that over $1 trillion (or a million million) is being diverted by governments each year. That’s enough to triple the money spent on healthcare for half the world’s population or cancel all government debt of impoverished countries!
Whilst people’s rights are denied everywhere, it is often people in the World’s poorest countries that face the greatest denial of their rights, while big companies in Europe and North America get richer and richer.
The Alternatives
It doesn’t have to be this way – poverty and poor health are created by choices made by those in power. The time has come for a fundamental change, where governments prioritise the health and well-being of their populations in order to fulfil every person’s human rights.
We call on governments to redefine their priorities and focus on what matters – the health and wellbeing of their citizens; repair the damage done and stop companies from being able to violate human rights; and redistribute wealth to all citizens.
Around the world, we are already witnessing the successes of people who are fighting back. From the triumph of communities in Ecuador in getting the government to ban metallic mining to resisting resource theft by the Moroccan and European governments in Western Sahara, communities and campaigners all across the world are taking back power from corporations. Their experiences remind us that an alternative is not only possible, but it is happening right now!
The briefing was written by Health Poverty Action and partners People’s Health Movement, Medico International, and Viva Salud.
Original source / Image credit: Health Poverty Action