I’ve seen a few fake news posts recently. People engage with them and try to correct the error. It struck me that this must show up as involvement in the subject and so strengthen the Facebook ranking for the subject. As a result fake news is promoted by trying to correct it.
This then made me think of the report on russian manipulation of facebook. They post extreme views on either side of an argument – inspiring arguments and thus increasing ranking for their posts.
Maybe the better way to deal with fake posts really is just to stop listening to people that habitually post them. Or at least just don’t engage.
Today the SDG is number 8 “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”
This one is interesting – since it seems one more for the private sector than for governments. But it is easily measurable – because we measure this area in the finest details. The targets for this are:
- Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries
- Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
- Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
- Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead
- By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
- By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
- Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
- Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
- By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
- Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all
- Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries
- By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization
Who would have believed that a goal related to business would have so much focus?
There were a number of good signs before coronavirus, however everything is now crazy. The graphic above is still valid in one way – make sure you know something about the supply chain for the goods you buy. Look at issues like the material footprint. In the last 20 years we have increased the amount of material we use by 33% on average across the world (from 9 t per person to 12 t per person). Hang on you say, I am buying less than 20 years ago. Yes, but remember there are a lot of people that have a very small footprint because they have nothing.
Our government talks about a policy of leveling up. But actually in this area we need to think more about leveling down for us in order to create headroom for others to level up.
One of the figures that was poor before coronavirus was youth unemployment (20%). This is an area we all need to focus on. Push for our employers to create youth employment posts.
One of the ideas for response to the coronavirus epidemic is to focus on small and medium sized companies rather than large companies. Might be an idea worth thinking about, but we do need to think about a different type of economy in the future. There are charities that offer loans to micro-businesses – look some of them up (try CEPAD, or maybe Kiva). I don’t think I could put it better than the Secretary General of the UN.
The world is facing an unprecedented test. And this is the moment of truth.
…
It is essential that developed countries immediately assist those less developed to bolster their health systems and their response capacity to stop transmission.
Otherwise we face the nightmare of the disease spreading like wildfire in the global South with millions of deaths and the prospect of the disease re-emerging where it was previously suppressed.
Let us remember that we are only as strong as the weakest health system in our interconnected world.
…we must tackle the devastating social and economic dimensions of this crisis, with a focus on the most affected: women, older persons, youth, low-wage workers, small and medium enterprises, the informal sector and vulnerable groups, especially those in humanitarian and conflict settings.
We must see countries not only united to beat the virus but also to tackle its profound consequences.
That means designing fiscal and monetary policies able to support the direct provision of resources to support workers and households, the provision of health and unemployment insurance, scaled up social protection, and support to businesses to prevent bankruptcies and massive job losses.
…
Finally, when we get past this crisis — which we will — we will face a choice.
We can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises.
Our roadmap is the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis must lead to a different economy.
Everything we do during and after this crisis must be with a strong focus on building more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of pandemics, climate change, and the many other global challenges we face.
What the world needs now is solidarity.
With solidarity we can defeat the virus and build a better world.
António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations