Oxfam in Almedalen: Politicians turn a blind eye to the gaps

Today, visitors to the Almedalen conference were greeted by eight realistic costumed dolls with their heads buried in the sand at Visby Strand, along with Oxfam Sweden's call to the powers that be to stop turning a blind eye to the widening economic gaps.

Photo: Jan Sjöberg

"It is completely unacceptable that so many people in Sweden are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, while a few see their fortunes grow by extreme figures. We are in the middle of a period when major investments are needed to build a stronger society. It is only reasonable and fair that the very richest contribute."

Suzanne Standfast, Secretary General of Oxfam Sweden

According to Statistics Sweden, nearly 700,000 Swedes live in poverty. At the same time, Oxfam has shown that the 5 richest Swedes own more than 5 million together. Inequality and the climate crisis are two of the biggest challenges facing society today, and they are closely linked. A person from the richest 1 percent in Sweden emits almost 10 times more than a person from the 50 percent with the lowest income.

More and more people are struggling to make ends meet as food prices soar and most things in society become more expensive. Yet the issue of growing inequality is largely absent from the Almedalen stage. With the "Heads in the Sand" campaign, Oxfam wants to raise the debate on economic inequality and the serious consequences it has for Sweden.

"Politicians burying their heads in the sand means that the majority of Swedes are caught between the great need for investment in defense, healthcare, climate change, and their own increasingly thin wallets. At the same time, the richest are getting richer. Part of the solution is to redistribute resources from the richest, to meet the major societal challenges."

Suzanne Standfast, Secretary General of Oxfam Sweden