Issue 95 – 26, March 29, 2026
The G20 Meeting This Year
Every year, leaders from the world’s biggest economies meet in a summit called the G20. The purpose of the G20 is to talk about important issues that affect the whole world, things like the economy, climate change, and fairness in society. What these leaders decide can have a big impact on our lives.
L20, is the group which represents workers from these countries though their labour centrals like the Canadian Labour Congress. L20 has a clear message for these governments, they should work to reduce inequality, this means making sure that everyone has a fair chance, not just the millionaire/billionaire class.
Inequality happens when the millionaire/billionaire class take lots of money from the economy while others struggle to get by. This causes many problems, like poverty, poor health, and kids not having a fair shot at education. When only a few people control most of the wealth, it can also weaken democracy.
High inequality can lead to social unrest and political conflict. It can make society less fair and less stable. That’s why many experts say governments need to make policies that help everyone. These policies include paying workers fair wages, protecting the environment by switching to renewable energy, and making sure technology benefits all people, not just the rich.
When wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, it can make economies weaker. It can also lead to political problems, such as corruption or unfair influence by wealthy individuals or corporations.
L20, also warn that policies that favor big corporations or rely heavily on fossil fuels can make inequality worse. Instead, leaders should focus on fair taxes, so the rich pay their fair share, and investing in public services like health care, education, and social security. Working together globally is also very important because problems like climate change and pandemics affect everyone.
To fight inequality, many ideas are being suggested. One important proposal is to create an ”International Panel on Inequality”, a group of experts from around the world who would study how inequality happens and suggest ways to fix it. This panel would help governments make better decisions based on facts and research.
Other suggestions include making taxes fairer, especially taxes on the wealthy and big companies. Helping poorer countries with debt relief, so they can invest in health, education, and clean energy. Creating policies that ensure everyone has access to good jobs, healthcare, and education. Protecting workers’ rights and making sure they earn fair wages. Improving global rules on trade and finance to make sure they benefit everyone, not just the rich.
This year’s G20 meeting, December 14-15, 2026, is very important because it gives world leaders a chance to address some of the biggest problems we face today. They are being asked to focus on helping people, reducing inequality, and protecting the environment. If they do a good job, the future can be brighter and fairer for everyone.
Read more - 2-G20-Global-Inequality-
World Happiness Report
In recent years, many countries in North America and Western Europe have seen something surprising. According to the World Happiness Report, young people are much less happy today than they were 15 years ago. At the same time, social media use has greatly increased. Some people think that social media is the main reason for this decline in happiness. But is that really true? Scientists have studied this question carefully, and the answer is not so simple.
Two experts, Jonathan Haidt and Zach Rausch, believe that social media can harm young people’s happiness. They looked at what young people, parents, teachers, and social media company workers say. Most of these opinions are negative. They also reviewed scientific studies, mostly from the United States, that suggest social media can cause problems like depression and anxiety in teens.
Research from around the world gives us more clues. A big study called PISA asked 15-year-olds in 47 countries how much time they spend online. It found that those who use social media for more than seven hours a day tend to be less happy than those who use it less than one hour. This was especially true for girls in Western Europe, who showed the biggest drop in happiness with heavy social media use.
In parts of Latin America, social media platforms that help people talk and share are linked to higher happiness. In the Middle East and North Africa, even though teens use social media a lot, their happiness hasn’t gone down. Sometimes, heavy social media use is connected to feeling stressed or sad, especially on platforms where users just watch videos or look at pictures.
Many factors, like family, school, and economic issues, also matter. Still, the evidence suggests that social media use is an important piece of the puzzle.
Some countries are trying to help. For example, Australia recently raised the minimum age for using some social media platforms from 13 to 16. Other countries, like Denmark and France, are planning similar rules. The goal is to protect young people from the negative effects of social media.
The type of social media platform matters. Platforms that connect people are sometimes good for happiness, but those driven by algorithms and influencers can harm wellbeing.
Young people who feel like they belong at school and are part of their community tend to be happier, even if they use social media.
Many studies show that teens and adults often don’t want to spend so much time on social media. They wish they could stop or use it less. Many realize that social media can make them feel worse, more anxious, sad, or stressed.
Research shows that heavy social media use can be worse for teens from lower-income families. It can lead to more mental health problems and lower life satisfaction. This means that social and economic factors can influence how social media affects happiness.
Using the internet and social media can also change how much young people trust others and feel connected. For younger Europeans, heavy internet use has led to less trust and fewer face-to-face social activities, which can decrease happiness.
Heavy social media use can be harmful to young people’s happiness, especially in some countries. But it’s not the only cause of unhappiness. It’s important for governments, families, and teens themselves to understand how to use social media in ways that help rather than hurt wellbeing. As more research is done, we can find better ways to make social media safer and more positive for everyone.
Read more - News | The World Happiness Report