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News and Publicity - Press Statement: [Press]BIG Conference COSATU Communications Department - 2003-11-27 |
Reducing Inequality and Poverty =96 A BIG Solution 2 - 3 December 2003 Ipelegeng Community Centre, Soweto The Basic Income Grant Coalition will be holding a conference entitled =91Reducing Inequality and Poverty =96 A BIG Solution=92 from 2 to 4 December 2003 in Gauteng. The Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition is a broad-based national coalition of civil society organisations committed to the introduction of a national Basic Income Grant to address the poverty crisis in South Africa. Member organisations subscribe to a common platform. To date, two dozen organisations with a total combined membership in excess of 10 million people have joined the Coalition. Members include religious, labour, youth and human rights organisations, as well as groups concerned with the rights of children, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Poverty and inequality pose the greatest threat to South Africa=92s young democracy. At least 22 million people in South Africa--well over half the population--live in abject poverty. A bold initiative is urgently needed to confront this challenge. The Basic Income Grant Coalition is calling for the introduction of a universal, non- means tested basic income grant as a key intervention to combat poverty and improve the lives of the majority of South Africans. The aim of the conference is to concentrate the attention of government, business and civil society on fundamental issues pertaining to the costs and benefits of introducing a Basic Income Grant to South Africa as part of a comprehensive social protection policy to address the crippling levels of poverty and its stranglehold on economic and social growth and development. The conference will be an opportunity to present the extensive research that has been done regarding a Basic Income Grant and to provide a forum for discussion and debate on the principles and concerns around the introduction of a Basic Income Grant. Some of the broad issues to be discussed will be: The Economics and Politics of Poverty; Poverty and Policy; Practicalities of BIG; Myths and Alternatives and the Sectoral impact of BIG (Gender, Youth, Children and HIV/AIDS). We hereby invite you be part of this exciting event where we can have meaningful interaction on issues surrounding poverty and the basic income grant. For more information or to set up interviews with speakers please contact: Karen Kallmann 082 578-9195 or Pumi Yeni 072 335-7423 Reducing Inequality and Poverty =96 A BIG Solution 2 - 4 December 2003, Gauteng Draft Programme DAY ONE =96 2 December 2003 09:00-09:30 Registration Coffee/Tea 09:30-09:45 Welcome and Introduction 09:45-10:15 Keynote Address: Dr Molefe Tsele Chair: Sheena Duncan 10:15-11:45 Opening Plenary Yasmin Dada-Jones, Office of the Presidency Carol O=92Brien, SACOB Pumi Yeni, BIG National Coordinator 11:45- 13.30 Poverty and the Development of Social Protection Speakers: Wiseman Magasela, Oxford University Charles Meth, University of Natal =96 Durban Anna McCord, SALDRU, University of Cape Town Discussant: Dr Viviene Taylor Chair: Black Sash 13:30 =9614:30 LUNCH 14:30 =96 15:30 Constitutional Obligations of the State: Progressive Realisation of the Right to Social Security Speaker: Isobel Frye, National Advocacy Manager, Black Sash Chair: Children=92s Institute 15:30-16:30 Politics of BIG Speaker: Neil Coleman, COSATU Chair: IDASA/PIMS 16:15-17:00 Reconvene in Plenary - Summary 18:00 =96 19:00 BIG Video Showing and Discussion DAY TWO =96 3 December 2003 08:30-08:45 Recap and day ahead Coffee/Tea 08:45- 10:45 Parallel Sessions: Practicalities of BIG Financing the BIG Speakers: Elroy Paulus, COSATU Discussant: Dr Michael Samson, Economic Policy Research Institute Chair: NALEDI Administration and Delivery of BIG Speakers: Guy Standing, ILO, Geneva; F Graham Bendell, Smartcard Society Discussant: Selwyn Jehoma, Deputy Director-General, Grant Administration, Department of Social Development Chair: Age-in-Action 10:45 =96 11:15 Tea 11:15 =96 13:15 Parallel Sessions: Comprehensive Approaches The Right to Food Speakers: Sibonile Khoza, Community Law Centre; Cobus De Swardt, PLAAS; Pumi Yeni, BIG Coalition Chair: YCW HIV/AIDS and BIG Speakers: Zackie Achmat =96 TAC; Fatima Hassan. ALP Discussant: Andrew Boulle Chair: AIDS Consortium 13:15 =96 14:15 Lunch 14:15 =96 16:15 Parallel Sessions: Sectoral Impact Gender and BIG Speakers: Beth Goldblatt, CALS; Johanna Kehler (NADEL) Discussant: Thabiso Damiso Chair: GAP Children, Youth and BIG Speakers: Sizwe Shezi, South African Youth Coucil, Brown Motsau, YCW, Shireen Motala, ACESS Discussant: Fezile Makiwane Chair: NADEL 16:15 =96 17:00 Closing Address: Willie Madisha (COSATU) Patrick Craven Acting COSATU Spokesperson patrick@cosatu.org.za 082-821-7456 339-4911 ********************************************************* Visit the COSATU web site at http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/latest.html fo= r copies of our most recent press statements. Get free e-mail for union members. Visit www.union.org.za and sign up now= ! It's free! COSATU takes steps to ensure that any attachments are free from viruses. You should, however, carry out your own virus check before opening any attachment. 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