Let’s talk about the future.

Feminism is going to die in the next 40 years. By 2050, equal rights, legal protection, and social equality for women will have been enshrined in Irish law and, more importantly, in the Zeitgeist, for three generations or more.

In 2009, we are now as far away from 1970 as we are from the year 2050. Think about the changes in material conditions, in workplace treatment, in opportunities (and in threats) women have seen over those 40 years. Now think about how much further women have to go to reach the goal feminist thinkers and practitioners have set their movement–and the answer is ‘not far’.

The burden of debt on poorer nations is crippling but simply cancelling debt is not enough.

Between 1970 and 2002, the continent of Africa received some US$540bn in loans. However, a UN study showed that despite repaying some US$550bn in principal and interest over the same period, there was still some US$295bn outstanding.

Previously, I have examined overseas development assistance (ODA) and the priority – or rather lack thereof – awarded to it by the wealthier nations. However, many argue that ODA is not the best way to tackle poverty and its attendant ills – the solution is increased global trading. By ensuring the inclusion of all countries, particularly poorer nations, in the worldwide trading structure and networks, poverty will be eliminated. 

However, free trade has frequently been used to cloak efforts, by wealthier nations, to further strengthen their economic dominance as well as to obstruct the development efforts of poorer countries.

Wealthy nations continue to renege on their promise to Overseas Development Aid while spending massive multiples of this on war. Since 1970, only five ‘wealthy’ countries have honoured their ODA commitments. By Justin Frewen