2019: The Year of Growing Inequality, Global Unrest, and Anger
Channel: Daily Insight
Date: 12/12/2019

2019 has been a dramatic year. Oxfam reported that the world's 26 richest people own as much wealth as the poorest 3.8 billion people who make up half the population of this planet. New data shows that the wealth of the top 1% has grown 100 times faster than the bottom 50% since 1970. In 2018, billionaires grew their combined wealth by US$2.5 billion a day, while the poorest 3.8 billion people lost $500 million a day. It’s no longer possible to argue that “A rising tide lifts all boats”. The economic growth model that advantages the few clearly is not helping the people at the bottom. Actually, it’s doing the opposite. Mass protests have been springing up across the globe. Eastern European countries such as Hungary and Poland are sliding slowly towards authoritarianism with protests breaking out across their countries. In Hungary, the government are planning to tighten their control over theatres with protesters denouncing this as an attack on artistic freedom. Doesn’t that set off alarm bells here in Australia? Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recently erased the word “Arts” from the Department of Communications and the Arts claiming it’s been incorporated into another department. Not to mention the federal police raids that were conducted on journalists throughout the year. Climate Change has become a hot topic. No matter what you think of the climate movement, or whether you believe in human-caused climate change or not, one thing that is certain is that the climate is changing and has become a major cause of global unrest. Unless you’ve had your head buried in the sand, Australia is burning, and people have had enough. Climate protests are occurring around the world. The rise of groups like Extinction Rebellion are just indicative of the growing number of people concerned with climate and the environment and the negative effects that humans have on it. America is slowly retreating from its traditional role as a stabilising force. The Trump administration have decided that America no longer needs to concern itself with world affairs and has abandoned a number of international agreements. These include the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Trans-Pacific Partnership which aims to liberalise Asia-Pacific trade, and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which sets limits on Iran’s nuclear program. Not to mention the ongoing US-China trade war that has left many doubts and uncertainties dangling over the global economy. Inequality is growing. The rich are getting richer. Governments are ignoring the concerns of their citizens. Authoritarianism is rearing its ugly head. And people are getting angry. What’s in store for 2020? Time will tell I suppose, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be very good.

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