EQUALS: Reimagining Our Economy

As South Africa prepares to take on the G20 presidency next year, we were inspired to explore how it might seize this opportunity to tackle inequality. In our latest episode, we speak with lawyer and activist Isobel Frye, Executive Director at Social Policy Initiative (SPI).

With the enduring legacy of apartheid, high unemployment, and deep-rooted economic inequality, South Africa’s inequality crisis remains urgent. Join us as we explore what meaningful steps can be taken to create a more equal future.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, share, comment, and leave us a review. Follow us on X @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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As we head to COP29 with climate finance taking centre stage, join Max and Nafkote for an insightful discussion. This episode features Meena Raman, a veteran activist and Head of Programs at Third World Network. Together, they explore the pressing $5 trillion climate debt, the call for reparations, and the main obstacles in climate finance negotiations.

Discover how taxing the wealthy and redirecting war funds can help build a better world for all.

Tune in to learn more about ensuring climate justice and find out how you can make a difference. Don’t forget to like, share, comment, and leave us a review.

Follow us on X @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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In the summer of 2024, Kenya ignited with protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024. This legislation threatened to impose heavy taxes on essential goods, sparking widespread outrage.

In this episode, Grazielle and Nafkote delve deep into the movement with Grace Wendo, a passionate youth activist and student leader from Kenya. We explore the underlying factors that fuelled the protests: Was it solely about taxes, or were deeper grievances at play? Did the government truly address the people's concerns? And what impact did these demonstrations have?

Tune in to uncover the power of the people, the role of the IMF, and the historic events that shook a nation.

As always, like, share, comment and leave us a review. You can find us on X at @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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Jayati Ghosh is an incredible activist, campaigner, academic and thinker. She is leading the fight on so many issues key to the fight against inequality. In this fascinating interview hear her sharp analysis of issues from colonialism to care, and from tax to climate, and what we need to do to win.

As always, like, share and leave us a review. You can find us on X at @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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As we launch our new season focusing on fighting inequality, Max and Grazielle host Oxfam’s new Executive Director, Amitabh Behar.

From growing up in Bhopal, India, a city infamous for the chemical leak by a US corporate that killed thousands, Amitabh talks us through his life experiences and how they have shaped his thinking and his passion to fight inequality and advocate for social justice and human dignity. Of the urgent need to build people’s power to demand a more equal world.

As always, like, share and leave us a review. You can find us on X at @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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As the World Health Organization (WHO) continue to negotiate the Pandemic Accord, Max and Grazielle interviews Nick Dearden on Pharma patents, monopolies and greed that makes them price medical tools out of reach by people who need them.

They also discuss how the public funded research changes hand to be a patent for big pharmaceutical companies whose only concern is to make profit rather than save lives.

Nick Dearden is the Director of Global Justice Now and the author of Pharmanomics a book on how big pharma destroy global health.

As always, please leave us a review and connect us on X and on LinkedIn.

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Imagine someone owing you money, but instead of paying you, they offer you a loan with conditions on how to use it. That is the how climate financing looks like according to Fadhel Kaboub.

Fadhel, hosted by Max and Nafkote, breaks down bit by bit, the situation in climate financing and why it is impossible to have just transition within the structures of colonialism and extractivism.

Fadhel is an associate professor of economics at Denison University (on leave), and the president of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity. He serves as the Senior Advisor to Power Shift Africa.

Remember to share the podcast and leave a review! You can find us on X at @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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Imagine a private company creating its own jurisdiction in a sovereign country. It sets up its own laws, currency, and tax, labour and environmental regulations regardless of their compatibility with national laws. And when the democratically elected government steps in, the company sues it in little-known ‘corporate courts’ for billions of dollars citing its projected financial loss. Listen to our dystopian story of how the private sector is “buying up sovereignty” and the shocking abuses of power now happening.

Nabil and Max interview the amazing Ana Arendar on corporate owned-and-run cities in Honduras and the Caribbean Islands and how countries, both in Global North and Global South, are fighting back.

Ana is the Campaign Strategist for Progressive International.

Remember to share the podcast and leave a review! You can find us on X at @EQUALShope and on LinkedIn.

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In this episode of EQUALS, we talk about how wealth and power defy gravity by making water flow… upwards!

Max and Nafkote interview Sushmita Mandal about water inequality and how climate breakdown is already affecting water access for people around the world.

Sushmita shares amazing stories about a young boy in India (who observed water flowing upwards from his community to posh apartment buildings), ecosystems on the Mekong River and a dam threatening fishers’ livelihoods.

Sushmita Mandal is a Senior Research Fellow for Water, Food and Ecosystems at Stockholm’s Environmental Institute in Asia.

As always, please leave us a review and connect us on X and on LinkedIn.

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On International Women’s Day, Max and Nafkote interviewed Bhumika Muchhala, a development and feminist economist, on the possibility of being a feminist in an economic system that thrives on the exploitation of people and nature.

This episode explores the importance of the way our global economy is organized in understanding the fight for gender equality. How issues like labour rights, fair taxation and debt cancellation are feminist issues.

Bhumika is the Political Economist and Senior Advisor at Third World Network.

As always remember to share the podcast on social media and leave a review! You can find us on X at @EQUALShope.

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