Open letter: We support union and student protests!

We, the undersigned, wish to express our opposition to the recently announced package of government cuts in public spending and changes to the tax system. The fact that the government solves the state budget crisis by cutting at the expense of the majority of citizens, while large corporations and oligarchs are celebrating record profits in the crisis, we consider to be essentially non-solidarity and unfair.

In a situation of long-term growth of social inequalities and social tension, we consider it extremely irresponsible to solve the unbalanced state budget with measures that will have further adverse effects on the majority of the population. Socially unjust actions can be a threat to the very cohesion of Czech society and democracy — and thus its ability to face future challenges.

In the same way, the fact that the government, in a situation of climate and ecological crisis, makes public transport less favorable, worsens the conditions for recycling, makes it more difficult to repair things — including bicycles — or heat with biomass, is completely absurd. At the same time, these steps, contrary to what is needed to save a habitable planet, will have the worst impact on the low-income majority of the population and will further deepen the injustice at the heart of the climate and ecological crisis.

The decision to solve the budget situation with cuts instead of effectively taxing the profits of the richest and big polluters is especially tragic in a situation where it is precisely billionaires in the field of fossil energy — such as Daniel Křetínský or Pavel Tykač — who have made outrageous profits in the current energy crisis at the expense of consumers and paying taxes are avoided.

The government swears by its responsibility towards future generations — but in reality it is these actions that threaten the future of the majority of the population of the republic, regardless of generations. Its policies threaten to hand over our country to future generations, torn apart by social inequality and ecological devastation, unable to provide its inhabitants with basic needs and a quality life.

The Czech Republic does not need further cuts and savings at the expense of the majority of people in the interest of a narrow layer of the richest owners of large companies. It needs a social and ecological tax reform, based on tax progression and shifting the burden from work to polluting and resource-intensive production. Reform that will finance the investments needed to steer the country towards a more socially just and environmentally sustainable future.

In the interest of democracy, criticism of irresponsible government policy cannot be left to the far-right opposition. We therefore clearly support the strike alert announced by the trade unions and the student protests, and we encourage the government to reconsider the presented proposals — in the interest of democracy, social justice and future generations.

#bouucnostskrotnes

Signed

• Re-set: a platform for social-ecological transformation
• FAILURE TO REACH
• We are the limits
• Universities under Klima
• A platform for civic assemblies
• Greenpeace Czech Republic zs
• Brno by bike
• Decent company, no
• Socialist solidarity
• Ecumenical Academy, vol
• Lipno for life, vol
• Young animal breeders, Mikulášovice branch association
• Alena Wagnerová, writer
• Jakub Ort, union organizer
• Jiří Šteg, macroeconomist
• Vlastimil Karlík, ecologist
• Miloslav Kolenatý, university teacher
• Václav Orcígr, sociologist
• Eva Fraňková, ecological economist
• Jakub Patočka, editor-in-chief of Deník Referendum
• Kateřina Pazderů, university teacher
• Alžběta Sobotková, The Takeoff Seagull Team
• Jiří Silný, teacher
• Petr Rohel, historian
• Edita Stejskalová, coordinator for social inclusion

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