Basic Income Week: A ‘Safety Net For Life’

Note: There are organizations working on creating a Basic Income in the United States. WIth the advent of globalization sending jobs overseas for low wages and robotics, which will replace most jobs in the near future, see this video, it is important that a Basic Income become part of the political debate in the United States. Visit: Basic Income Action and theUS Basic Income Gaurantee Network to learn more and get involved. And, here is apetition asking the presidential candidates to support a Basic Income.

We are facing multiple crises which threaten our lives as individuals as well as life as humankind as a whole. These crises – social, ecological and nancial – are being experienced in a myriad of dierent ways around the world.

For this year‘s Basic Income Week we want to draw attention to Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) as a possible “Safety Net for Life” which leaves no one behind. In a world where work is characterised by increasing exibility, insecurity and precarity, UBI not only reduces the fears which make people susceptible to hate and violence against “others”.

UBI also sparks economic growth where it is badly needed while paving a way towards degrowth where that is necessary. UBI enables ecological sustainability, guaranteeing life on earth in the future.

Basic Income Week was initiated in 2008 by activists in German-speaking countries. While international in its ambition from the outset, activities spread signi- cantly in Europe only after the establishment of the new coalition Unconditional Basic Income Europe (UBIE) in 2014.

What is Unconditional Basic Income?

Universal: Every person, irrespective of age, descent, place of residence, profession etc. will be entitled to receive this allocation.

Individual: Everyone has the right to UBI on an individual basis as this is the only way to ensure privacy and to prevent control over other individuals. UBI will be independent of marital status, cohabitation or household conguration, or of the income or property of other household or family members.

Unconditional: As a human right UBI shall not depend on any preconditions, whether an obligation to take paid employment, to be involved in community service, or to behave according to traditional gender roles. Nor will it be subject to income, savings or property limits.

High enough: The amount should provide for a decent standard of living, which meets society’s social and cultural standards in the country concerned. It should prevent material poverty and provide the opportunity to participate in society and to live in dignity.

We emphasize that UBI should not replace the compensatory welfare state but rather complete and transform it into an emancipatory welfare system.

Charter of UBI

UBIEurope is an alliance of individulas and organisations to promote unconditional basic income.

Article 1
Unconditioal Basic Income (UBI) is an amount of money, paid on a regular basis to each individual unconditionally and universally, high enough to ensure a material existence and participation in society. UBI is a step towards an emancipatory welfare system.

Article 2
UBIEurope’s goals are: the introduction of unconditional basic income throughout Europe; and in order for all to live in dignity, the recognition of UBI as a universal Human Right.

Article 3
UBIEurope respects the diversity of views and opinions on unconditional basic income. Dierent justications and methods of implementation shall not prevent us from cooperating.

Article 4
UBIEurope respects individual or collective dierences, such as, but not limited to: gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, nancial position, occupation, country and immigration status. Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) contributed to the week’s further globalisation by organising a series of online events with international basic income experts and activists. We invite activists around the world to further globalise our week of action for basic income.

Let’s all weave a “Safety Net for Life” together!

If you want to organize an event in your town or community, we offer the support of a shared website, can help with finding speakers and will publicise your event to a global audience.

Show the world that your event is part of a global push for basic income: http://basicincomeweek.org

Get in touch with your regional or international coordination team via the contact form.