AN INCOMPLETE, EVOLVING COLLECTION OF
THE NEW POSSIBLE
The pandemic is a portal, the novelist Arundhati Roy wrote in an essay for the Financial Times. “We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.”
In many ways, the coronavirus pandemic has resurfaced and amplified the worst in the world: racism, nationalism, anti-scientism, bigotry. But something strange has happened as well. Changes, ideas and solutions that were previously deemed impossible have suddenly become possible.
This site is an incomplete, evolving collection of the new possible. Because once things can eventually return back to normal, we will need reminders that a better world is possible, that the old normal doesn't have to be the new normal.
Submit new possibilities or corrections here and learn about similar (and much more comprehensive!) initiatives here.
the new normal doesn’t have to be the old normal
Cross-party group urges chancellor to consider four-day week for UK
A group of cross-party MPs have urged the government to consider a four-day working week for the UK post Covid-19, arguing the policy could be “a powerful tool to recover from this crisis”. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also proposed a four-day work week to boost productivity and domestic tourism and improve work/life balance in light of the Covid crisis.
City of West Sacramento (USA) Offers Automatic Admission to Graduating Seniors
In a move to equalize education access in the district, for the first time every graduating senior in West Sacramento is getting a college acceptance letter at the local community college instead of going through an application process. Although community college fees are low, on average the application process remains a significant barrier to access by many underprivileged high school seniors.
Amazon, Microsoft, IBM halt facial recognition sales to police
In a letter to Congress on June 8th 2020, IBM announced that it would stop offering and condemned general purpose facial recognition technologies. Two days later, Amazon announced a one year moratorium on police use of such technologies. Microsoft subsequently followed suit and announced it would stop selling its facial recognition technologies to police departments until legislation regulating its use is passed.
South Korea Introduces Green New Deal Plan
To re-ignite the economy post-COVID, South Korea is establishing a Green New Deal set of policies including the establishment of a foundation for new and renewable energy, shifting the country's reliance on fossil fuels.
The proposal calls for an investment of USD $10.5 billion over the next two years, channeled towards job creation. President Moon Jae-In has set a goal of raising the share of electricity coming from renewables from 3% to 20% by 2030, for instance.
New Zealand considers implementation of a four-day work week
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has proposed a four-day work week to boost productivity and domestic tourism and improve work/life balance in light of the Covid crisis. While the borders remain closed to foreigners, more public holidays could stimulate the economy by allowing people to spend more money and promote domestic tourism.
London Mayor orders review of all London statues for slavery links
London Mayor Sadiq Kahn has declared that all statues in London will be examined by a new Commission for for Diversity in the Public Realm with a view to removing those with links to slavery and plantation owners. The aim of the initiative is to ensure that the legacies that are celebrated in London are reflective of the city’s diversity, do not promote divisive and racist messages, and do not celebrate slave trade.
Singapore encourages urban farming on rooftops and dismissed sites
To ramp up food production, especially of eggs, leafy vegetables and fish, Singapore is ramping-up (urban) food production, aiming to produce at least 30% of the country's nutritional needs by 2030 inside the city. The Singapore Food Agency has been looking at alternative farming spaces in the city, including industrial spaces, dismissed sites, rooftops of carparks, and will tender them in phases.
NYC will open 100 miles of streets to pedestrians & cyclists
Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced the third phase in a larger plan to open up 100 miles of streets to ensure open space and social distancing for New York City residents. The third phase will include the creation of 9 new miles of protected bike lanes.
French government limits national air travel
French Flag carrier Air France no longer allowed to fly to French cities that are more than 2h30 of train distance, in an effort to prioritize train to air travel.
Lithuania will turn its capital into a vast open-air café
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, plans to turn the city into a vast open-air cafe by turning much of its public space to restaurants so they can put tables outside and welcome guests while observing social distancing rules.
Airbnb flats become long-term rentals
With tourism and travelling brought to a halt by the Covid-19 outbreak, Airbnb hosts seem to be moving their apartments to the long-term rental market. We’ve taken a look at Sydney, Dublin and Barcelona.
What we’re reading: An open letter from African intellectuals to Africa’s leaders
“Our belief is that “emergency” cannot, and should not constitute a mode of governance. We must instead be seized by the real urgency, which is to reform public policy, to make them work in favour of African populations and according to African priorities. In short, it is imperative to put forth the value of every human being regardless of status, over and beyond any logic of profit-making, domination or power capture.”
Los Angeles Police Department stops using pred-pol
Citing budgetary contraints due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the LAPD announced that it will stop using the controversial predictive-policing program, called Pred-Pol. Communitiy activists tolf the LA Times that the decision came after ongoing pressure from them on the department. “This is all through the hard work of community folks,” said Hamid Khan of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition. “This is community power that shows we can dismantle it and stop these egregious tactics.”
Policies once called radical in the UK are now hugely popular
In part because of Covid-19, policies once called radical have gained new popularity. In the UK, 74% now support rent controls; only 8% oppose. 72% now support a job guarantee; only 6% oppose.
US Local Districts distribute free laptops to children
New York City Department of Education has distributed 175,000 free laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads, and the School District of Philadelphia is planning to give out devices currently used only in schools, as well as working with corporations and others to procure more as needed. Charities are also participating in the effort. A similar move can be seen in other countries, including the UK.
Free school meals in England now also for all children of immigrant parents
Children usually denied free school meals because of their parents’ immigration status have been granted temporary eligibility during the coronavirus outbreak. Previously, children of failed asylum seekers and children with British citizenship whose parents don’t have the right to remain in the UK were excluded from free meals scheme.
Amazon nudges users to buy less, not more
Due to a surge in demand that they are unable to meet, the online retailer Amazon is trying to discourage users from buying things they don’t need by changing a number of features on their site. The comapany removed the popular recommendation widget, that displays products people frequently buy along with whatever is already in your cart. Amazon has been criticised for failing to protect its workers and fired tech workers who criticised conditions in warehouse workplaces.
Tenants and Organisers in New York are preparing a rent strike
Can’t pay? Won’t pay! Organisers and tenants are planning a coordinated rent strike in New York City, The Intercept reports. Housing Justice For All, a New York-based coalition of tenants and housing activists, declared that at least 1,500 rent units will stop paying rent on May 1st. Meanwhile 5,000 people have joined an online pledge to refuse to pay rent.
France: no bailouts for firms registered in offshore tax havens
France becomes the latest country to ban companies registered in offshore tax havens from coronavirus bailouts, following Denmark and Poland.
BRUSSELS AND MILAN PLAN TO LIMIT CARS AFER LOCKDOWN ENDS
The northern Italian of Milan city plans to reallocate street space from cars to cycling by turning 35km of streets over the cyclists and pedestrians. Meanwhile Brussels will turn its inner city into a special zone for cyclists and pedestrians. Maximum speed for cars, busses and trams will be 20 km/h, in what the city’s mayor has called a "vélorution".