Harmful economic systems: Reducing harm
This section gives a too brief discussion of what people are doing to improve matters.
There has been a struggle for thousands of years by human beings in many different ways against the sort of subjugation described in this special report. To name just one very important example, the world's religions have worked to establish a set of principles for human relationships that were very much against oppression, and though the religions were persecuted for doing so, they did manage to establish at the very least a set of guidelines for human behavior. In all countries of the world there has been a struggle against injustice, and attempts, which have met with increasing success, to establish the societal frameworks for a more just and equitable society. This is a long (and inspiring) story which we cannot recount here.
The current efforts in the world to reduce harm include reducing corruption, moving to more democratic governments with established rights and processes (by means such as reducing the influence of the military and improving the fairness of elections--and having them! and reducing police brutality), and, internationally, reducing the advantages which developed nations have assigned to themselves through their control of international institutions, such as United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. In recent years, there have been important efforts to have elections that express the will of the people and to implement policies that reflect an electoral mandate. Nations are evolving from power structures that have been based on some combination of military, economic and political control to ones that to a greater extent the wishes of the (often very poor) people. This evolution has been slow and difficult.
Some news stories which illustrate the typically slow and halting process:
Land-reclamation campaign by indigenous Mapuches scorches southern Chile Nick Miroff Washington Post June 8, 2014
From inner circle of Iran, a pragmatic victor Thomas Erdbrink New York Times June 16, 2013
Kenyan MPs agree to lower salaries after public outcry BBC News June 12, 2013
Events of the Arab Spring give illustrations of the popular revolt aganist established power. Here is a brief selection of articles
Egypt's ire turns to confidant of Mubarak's son Kareem Fahim, Michael Slackman and David Rohde New York Times February 6, 2011 Mubarak says he won't run for President again David D. Kirkpatrick and Mark Landler New York Times February 1, 2011 Largest crowds yet demand change in Egypt Anthony Shadid and David D. Kirkpatrick New York Times February 1, 2011 Rich, poor, and a rift exposed by unrest David D. Kirkpatrick and Monda El-Naggar New York Times January 30, 2011
Army lets protests proceed Griffe Witte Washington Post January 29, 2011 Mubarak orders crackdown, with revolt sweeping Egypt David D. Kirkpatrick New York Times January 28, 2011 Violent clashes mark protests against Mubarak's rule Karim Faheem and Mona El-Naggar New York Times January 25, 2011
Military backs new leaders in Tunisia David D. Kirkpatrick New York Times January 14, 2011 Tunisia leader Ben Ali flees and prime minister takes power David D. Kirkpatrick New York Times January 14, 2011 Behind Tunisia unrest, rage over wealth of ruling family David D. Kirkpatrick New York Times January 13, 2011
Tunisia's and Ben Ali's corruptions: the Wikileaks revelations Pierre Tristam About.com January 12, 2011 Text of the US cable published by Wikileaks