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Social Justice and Change

Social Justice and Change. An introduction to Social Movements. What is Social Justice?. A concept born out of fairness and equity Recognizing that opportunities, resources and wealth were and are distributed unequally throughout the world

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Social Justice and Change

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  1. Social Justice and Change An introduction to Social Movements

  2. What is Social Justice? • A concept born out of fairness and equity • Recognizing that opportunities, resources and wealth were and are distributed unequally throughout the world • It is what it is--- some people create their circumstance and some have no control • Blame? • Social Justice aims to level the playing field for all people

  3. What is Social Justice? In societies wherein life chances are not distributed equally, this implies redistribution of opportunities, although the shape that such redistribution should take remains contested. • It literally means “people fairness” • More specifically, the term 'social justice' implies fairness and mutual obligation in society: that we are responsible for one another, and that we should ensure that all have equal chances to succeed in life. The most influential thinker on social justice has been John Rawls (1971): Rawls argues “for a balance between social equality and individual freedom. However, social equality and individual freedom are frequently seen as in tension, and debate continues as to how, and to what extent, they can be balanced.” Action Research Centre, 2008

  4. What’s the justice issue?

  5. Answer: Poverty • Resources, money and food are available in the world • A small group have access to ALL of these while a large group goes without • We could help each other, but we don’t • Why? • Video: Slum Cities • Note taking instructions are on the blog

  6. What is the Justice issue?

  7. Answer: Fair work for fair pay (Equality) • Western society creates the demand for products, as long as we continue to “want” we create the “demand” • The demand creates the need to make the most profit by owners of companies • They choose to outsource labour at cheaper rates to maximize profits • While we have Worker’s unions and laws that protect us here in Canada, it is not the same everywhere else • Do we just be grateful that we “happened” to be born or allowed to immigrate and dismiss those that live with the reality of factory slave like conditions?

  8. Let’s have a truth moment… • Humans have always struggled in social settings, we continue to find adjusting to new situations quite challenging • We have a tendency to look out for ourselves and our immediate family/friend group Result: It is easier to not be affected by the realities of others around the world -We just are happy it’s them and not us… TRUTH? (What do you think?) Discussion

  9. Misconceptions/Concerns • We are only 1 person, we cannot create change • It is too big of a job and we can’t do it alone • It doesn’t affect me, I don’t want to get involved • This revolves around your privilege in life • We all have some sort of privilege that we take for granted– we may have earned it but in most cases it just happens out of our circumstance, truth of the matter • It could have been you--- • Then maybe your interest would be different • How do we do it?

  10. Things to Consider: • When we demand products, the resources are extracted from the 3rd world using a labour force with very little options • Poverty = less choice for survival options • They take what they can get • We use the products that have to disposed, some is kept here, and MOST is sent to dumps in India, Malaysia and Taiwan • We create harmful environmental conditions for people of the third world • E.g. Electronics in Guyu, China • Electronic waste is shipped here and ACID is used to release metals and break down elements, no protective wear is required- CANCER RATES have skyrocketed Let’s put it into perspective“The story of Change” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIQdYXCKUv0

  11. Debrief with a Social Justice lens -We create the demand -We use more than our share -We dictate the importance of people according to the resources that they have to offer • We enable the devaluing of people by our consumer choices • We don’t object to cheaper prices of products even though we know there is a “story” of exploitation behind it • There are MANY environmental and social effects to our choices that affect other people, but “out of sight, out of mind” • Global Warming + Poor Soil quality

  12. What can we do? ACTIVELY DEMAND CHANGE! -Get involved and try to make a TRUE difference “Make change rather than a signature on a reference letter, leave a mark on the world for the people by the people”

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