Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn't filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.
We need to invest in healthcare, in education, in the sciences. And in so doing, we will tackle one of the most intractable problems we face, which is gross wealth inequality. We can't fight climate change without dealing with inequality in our countries and between our countries.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Investing in key sectors like healthcare and education is crucial for addressing wealth inequality and climate change.
This quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of various societal issues, specifically highlighting how investments in healthcare, education, and the sciences are necessary to address the deep-rooted problem of wealth inequality. Naomi Klein suggests that without addressing inequality, efforts to combat climate change will be futile, as these challenges are intertwined and require a holistic approach to find sustainable solutions.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about sustainable development, this quote could be used to advocate for increased funding in public services.
More from Naomi Klein
All quotes →Because it is such a huge crisis, because it puts us on a firm science-based deadline, it's a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a better society and address raging inequality, create huge numbers of jobs, rebuild our public infrastructure. But, we can't do it unless we break every single rule in the free-market playbook. Which is why the worst people in the world all deny climate change.
Terrorism doesn't just blow up buildings; it blasts every other issue off the political map. The spectre of terrorism - real and exaggerated - has become a shield of impunity, protecting governments around the world from scrutiny for their human rights abuses.
Everybody that's trying to get anything progressive done in this country knows that the biggest barrier is getting money out of politics.
I think I would say that there is absolutely no way to reconcile an austerity agenda with climate action. Our political class needs to understand that the fight against austerity and the fight for climate action are the same fight.
I think the fossil fuel industry is genuinely freaked out by the combination of the price collapse, the divestment movement, and that fact that renewable energy is getting so cheap so fast.
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