Anti-Poverty Solidarity Statement

As part of Arika’s beliefs and specifically in conjunction with our Local Organising programme, we want to extend solidarity to people experiencing poverty via the following statement. Those most directly affected by a specific oppression are those best placed to develop methods to overcome it. Organisations in the UK led by people with lived experience of poverty have suggested a variety of approaches to bring about its end. Drawing upon these we advocate:

• Provision of necessary means for a dignified, healthy, autonomous and fulfilled life to all
• Access to free universal healthcare of a high standard
• Collective control of our workplaces and the fruits of our labour
• Restoration of land, non-residential buildings and items manufactured by conglomerates to collective ownership
• The development of truly collective decision making on a societal wide level
• We also recognise that the following reforms would reduce suffering and save lives:
• Provision of a universal basic income (paid to all) at a rate that enables a good standard of living
• Recognition of and appropriate support for the specific needs of people with disabilities and/or ill health
• Rent caps on all rented property and an end to winter evictions
• Payment of rent costs for all who need it
• An immediate end to homelessness via the reallocation of unoccupied built property into collective ownership
• Re-nationalisation of public transport
• Payment of reparations by wealthy nation states to those they colonised and enslaved
• Cancellation of all international debts and an end to structural adjustment policies
• Solidarity with direct action against poverty – whether that be strike action, pickets, occupations or whatever those directly involved deem best

We are clear that change on a profound level is necessary for this to occur that would entail the end of capitalism, white supremacy and patriarchy. This would involve collective re-organisation of society on a mass level and equitable redistribution of resources and decision-making powers.

The process of struggling for these changes – both long term and immediate – is complex and takes place in challenging circumstances. We recognise that people with lived experience of poverty are the people uniquely placed to develop effective strategies and guiding visions around its eradication. Our intent is always to be especially mindful of the approaches and ideas recommended by people with lived experiences of poverty. However, the process of ending capitalism (a system to which poverty and exploitation are integral) and replacing it with a society based on principals of mutual aid and equitable distribution of resources is inherently a matter of collective responsibility, to which we can all directly contribute.