Open Society Foundations

Big news: We’re committing $400 million over eight years to develop green industrial policies that contribute to economic growth in the Global South and address the climate emergency. This is a significant increase in our support for economic development. This is the first major new program to be announced following a two-year organizational transformation at Open Society and builds on our long history of supporting economic and social rights in addition to civil and political rights. “The current economic system is failing developing countries. It stops them from being able to grow economically and fight climate change at the same time. We need new ideas to create fairer, more just societies. That's why Open Society is committing $400 million to help achieve this goal,” says Open Society President Binaifer Nowrojee. Our new Economic and Climate Prosperity program will fund efforts in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and North Africa region, and Southeast Asia that support green and equitable economic agendas that create jobs, reduce inequalities, and explore the impact of international taxation and financing on developing countries’ investment in green initiatives. We will support civil society organizations and independent economic think tanks working on policy issues in countries including Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Senegal, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Share if you think it’s time to build economic and climate prosperity in the Global South and read more: https://osf.to/3zGYtcT. #OpenSociety #ClimateResilience #ClimateChange #EconomicDevelopment #EconomicProsperity #ClimateEmergency

We mourn the passing of Breyten Breytenbach, a fearless South African anti-apartheid activist, poet, novelist, and artist, who passed away yesterday in Paris at the age of 85. A longstanding friend of Open Society, we honor his contributions to the global fight for justice and rights. Imprisoned and forced into exile, Breytenbach’s outspoken stance against apartheid profoundly shaped South Africa’s political landscape in the 1980s. Together with George Soros, Breytenbach was instrumental in organizing the historic 1987 Dakar Conference and led the pro-democracy Goree Institute. The Conference led to crucial talks between the Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa (IDASA) and the African National Congress. This was a major political breakthrough for discussions on national unity and a peaceful transition. IDASA would later host the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, which has advanced open society values for over 30 years. Read more: https://osf.to/3CIB2kJ

Europe can no longer afford to exclude the Roma, writes our Zeljko Jovanovic in POLITICO Europe. With the workforce rapidly shrinking, investing in Roma integration is both an economic necessity and a matter of fairness—fully integrating Roma into the labour market could add billions to Europe’s GDP. It’s time for Europe to invest in the Roma and unlock the potential of its largest and youngest minority. Read more in “Breaking out: Stories of Roma empowerment”, a special report showcasing Roma individuals and organisations that are defying the odds and making a difference. Links in the comments. #romaforeurope ? Photo: Akos Stiller

350 trans and gender diverse people were reported murdered worldwide in the last year, up from 321 reported cases the year before. On this #TransDayOfRemembrance, we—along with our grantee Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice—remember those who have died and hope their memory inspires greater visibility, resilience, and protection for trans people worldwide to thrive.

The Ideas Letter is our online magazine and newsletter that delivers political and cultural perspectives to readers who are open to the unconventional with commissioned pieces and curated articles from other sources. Read and subscribe for free:?https://theideasletter.org

Today, we’re launching The Ideas Letter, an online magazine and newsletter that delivers political and cultural perspectives to readers who are open to the unconventional with commissioned pieces and curated articles from other sources: theideasletter.org “The mission of The Ideas Letter is to provide readers with contributions from across ideological and intellectual aisles, from a range of disciplines, intended to bolster debate around issues of consequence,” said Leonard Benardo, Open Society’s senior vice president. It’s the first project of its kind for us at Open Society and is shaped by the spirit of our mission to support free expression and intellectual exchange—as imbued by our founder, George Soros. “No one person or institution has a monopoly on the truth, and that is why The Ideas Letter is so crucial. It promotes diverse perspectives, some of which we may not agree with, but always ones that seek to challenge our thinking,” said Binaifer Nowrojee, president of the Open Society Foundations. This launch follows its soft launch in October of last year on Substack and marks its move to a dedicated website that will enhance readers’ accessibility and engagement. Today’s 28th issue is a special edition, entitled “America in Decline?” It brings together ten distinguished writers from around the globe to examine one central question—whether the United States is truly in decline or undergoing a creative transformation. Early issues of The Ideas Letter have explored topics such as workers’ disenchantment with social democracy; anti-imperialist excuses for authoritarianism in Tunisia; and the enduring, cosmopolitan allure of the New York Intellectuals. We invite you to read the latest issue and subscribe for free to receive The Ideas Letter via email at theideasletter.org #OpenSociety #TheIdeasLetter #Debate #Discussion #OnlineMagazine #Perspectives #Critique

The Open Society Foundations have long worked to build a more inclusive and equitable democracy in the United States. Today, we are still driven by and will not waver from our core values of justice, democratic governance, and human rights for all.

Today is #ElectionDay in the United States. Are you voting and have questions? Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE for nonpartisan assistance to vote from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Global calls for reparative justice are rising, addressing the injustices of slavery and colonialism. We support the movement, including by unifying its key voices, promoting academic partnerships, and enhancing legal frameworks. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecypMN27 #OpenSociety #Reparations #RacialJustice #SocialJustice #SocialChange

Forced relocations and evictions. Longstanding neighborhoods torn apart. That’s what is happening now in communities across Denmark under the country’s so-called Ghetto Laws. Passed in 2018, these laws aimed to “eradicate ghettos”: residential areas with the hallmark feature that most of their residents are classed as being of “non-Western” background. This classification is not in fact based on geography, and it applies to Danish citizens and those born and raised in the country. The government justified the laws as efforts to “eliminate parallel societies,” which they said were caused by “religious and other values” that are “different from” the (white and Christian) Danish “majority.” But the neighborhoods are fighting back. With the help of the Open Society Justice Initiative, residents of one of the affected neighborhoods—Mj?lnerparken in Copenhagen— have brought cases against the Danish state charging that the “Ghetto Laws” violate European Union protections against racial discrimination. The cases surround the government-approved sale of 200 family homes that would evict all residents in them. Most residents have experienced great distress, and for some who are former refugees, re-traumatization. For all these residents, nothing will ever be the same. As Europe continues to swing closer to the far right, it’s crucial that the EU fulfills its promise and that no member state is permitted to discriminate by hiding behind proxy wording for ethnic origin. Or using integration as a guise for treating racialized groups as second-class citizens. Share this post and read more about the case and hear from the residents: https://osf.to/4fqYAJ1 #OpenSociety #GhettoLaws #Denmark #RacialDiscrimination #ForcedEvictions