The Government of India has decided to reduce the tax rate on fuel to control rising inflation. Accordingly, the price of a liter of petrol has been reduced by 9.50 Indian rupees and the price of a liter of diesel by 07 rupees.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman says the reduction in fuel prices will cost the Indian government a trillion rupees.
Meanwhile, relief has also been provided to gas consumers. Accordingly, Indians will be able to purchase 12 gas cylinders at a concession of Rs. 200 per year.
The Indian government will lose 61 billion Indian rupees as a result of this subsidy.
The house of the owner of an IOC filling station in the Ipalogama area in Kekirawa has been set on fire by a group last night (21).
According to the Ipalogama Police, a group who had gone to the filling station to obtain fuel had become angry after running out of fuel and had set fire to the owner’s house.
The house was set on fire in the Ipalogama Thilakapura area. The fire had started when the power supply was cut off last night and it is said that the wife and two children of the filling station owner were at home at that time.
Neighbors and police put out the fire and it was reported that all the books of the two school children had been destroyed by the fire and one of them was scheduled to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level examination this time.
Once known for its dynamic food, music and culture, Lebanon is now in the midst of the worst economic crisis in modern history. With no clear resolution in sight, the country is experiencing rolling blackouts, a shortage of food and a monthly inflation rate of 56%. The Lebanese Lira joins a list of dozens of failed fiat currencies including the Venezuelan Bolivar, the Zimbabwean Dollar and Argentinian Peso.
TOPSHOT – A protester holding the Lebanese flag runs as protesters block the Jounieh Tripoli highway … [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
A small middle-eastern country with a population of only 5 million, Lebanon takes pride in its emigrant community with countless families in Canada, U.S. and Britain. The Lebanese diaspora is estimated to be about three times the size of the Lebanese population back home.
Many expats were able to find success abroad, bringing pride to Lebanon. Some notable Lebanese figures include writer Nassim Nicholas Taleb, barrister Amal Clooney, actress Salma Hayek, singer Shakira, billionaire Carlos Slim and former Chairman of Fox Broadcasting, Lucie Salhany. Each year, Lebanese expats visit their homeland and infuse billions of dollars to keep the economy liquid.
An Import-Based Economy
In 1997, the Central Bank of Lebanon pegged the Lebanese Lira to the U.S. dollar at 1507 to 1. Over the last two decades, the stability of the Lebanese economy depended on a fixed exchange rate to the U.S. dollar.
Currency stability encouraged expats to continue to send money home, buy property and even deposit cash in local banks. It is estimated that Lebanese abroad sent remittances worth up to 12.5% of Lebanon’s GDP, keeping the economy afloat. The dollarization of Lebanon contributed to its growing wealth divide, where Lebanon’s top 1% earned 25% of the country’s GDP, making it one of the most unequal economies in the world.
Lebanese Banking System
Revenue into Lebanon began to dry up due to upheaval in neighboring Syria, which pushed officials to engage in creative financial engineering to keep the Lira stable. To maintain an illusion of stability and incentivize deposits, banks offered interest rates as high as 14%, which in turn required more deposits to pay the high interest rates, creating a Ponzi scheme.
It took a while for people to notice the scam, however. Entering 2019, pressure on the Lira-Dollar peg continued to increase. Riad Salameh, head of the Central Bank of Lebanon, issued an order requiring all money transfer offices, such as Western Union and MoneyGram, to pay cash out in Lira rather than dollars, even where transfers were specifically denominated in dollars. This was the first red flag of a looming currency crisis.
Lebanese protesters gather outside a money transfer service provider calling on him to close his … [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Over the next few months of 2019, the demand for dollars continued to rise. Currency exchange booths and banks had an influx of retailers and individuals wanting to buy dollars. Merchants also needed larger amounts of dollars to cover imports, putting additional pressure on the peg.
Since the Lira was officially pegged at 1507 to 1, a black market for dollars began to form, allowing purchases of dollars at a higher price. But this was still the calm before the storm.
In August 2019, Fitch downgraded Lebanon’s credit rating from B- to CCC. A few weeks later, Jammal Trust Bank was forced to liquidate itself after being hit by U.S. sanctions for allegedly helping to fund Hezbollah. The bank had 25 branches in Lebanon, creating a huge blow to the Lebanese banking system. In the background, Lebanon started printing more Lira, but many had not yet noticed.
Protests
On October 17th, 2019, protests were set off by a proposed tax on WhatsApp phone calls. This was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’, as the protests were fundamentally about decades of corruption as well as Lebanon’s sectarian political order.
TOPSHOT – Lebanese demonstrators raise a new giant sign of a fist that bears the Arabic word … [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Lebanon’s political system is a complicated balance of power sharing and sectarian quotas for the country’s various religious groups consisting of Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze, and several Christian groups. The formula and quotas to maintain peace between these different groups extend to everything from allocation of public funds to entry-level jobs. This system prolonged a divisive atmosphere in Lebanon, making it a battleground for many of the ideological conflicts of the Middle East.
For a first-hand account, I sat down with Lebanese-Canadian actress Sarah Himadeh, who by a twist of fate became one of the leading activists during the protests last year. Her family originally fled Lebanon during the 80s. She recounts her experience of the protests:
“I was visiting my sick grandmother back in Lebanon last October and the protests started the day before I was supposed to head back to LA. I knew that this was a transformative moment for my country and there was no way I was going to leave. There was no way I wasn’t going to stand for my country, there was no way I wasn’t going to stand for a unified Lebanon. They say October 17th 2019 is the official date of the end of the civil war, because this was the first time we, all the Lebanese, from all factions came together. Martyr Square in Beirut was the most inspired and inspiring place in the world that day. And for months to follow. I’ll never forget it.
The Lebanese diaspora don’t necessarily want to be scattered all over. We don’t necessarily want to live in Toronto, New York, LA, London, Paris or Dubai. We want to live in the Lebanon we all long for. In its mountains, and on its shores. In an incorruptible and secular Lebanon. That’s where we want to live. And that’s what we were fighting for.”
Sarah Himadeh and friends in Martyr Square protesting for Lebanon. SARAH HIMADEH
Peaceful protests continued for months. The government cut power almost daily to its communities, but the Lebanese spirit could not be tamed as protesters danced in the streets. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned, but the people wanted more sustained change.
Protests were eventually paused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although quarantine provided some much needed relief from the streets, it further exacerbated the economic conditions in Lebanon. Many emerged from quarantine with no job prospects and no funds to buy necessities. As Lebanon runs out of fuel, citizens experience blackouts up to four days a week. And with a shortage of dollars to import grain and meat, Lebanon is facing famine.
TOPSHOT – A Lebanese woman stands next to her empty refrigerator in her apartment in the port city … [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Currency Crisis and Hyperinflation
As Lebanon’s economic unrest continued, those holding Lira rushed to buy dollars, driving the black market exchange rate as high as 10,000 Lira per dollar, up from the official peg of 1,507, devaluing the currency by 85%.
Banks began to limit withdrawals of U.S. dollars, first to $300 and then to none at all. Merchants started to refuse to take payment by cards for fear that banks would not honor the payments.
At a time when the pandemic already left so many with a shortage of food, food prices soared. Where 2 pounds of red meat used to go for $9 dollars, the same amount would now cost $43 or 65,000 lira. People lined up in front of bakeries and butcher shops, hoping to buy goods before prices rose the following day. But prices did continue to rise, and the Lebanese government continued to print more Lira. At the time of writing, the exchange of Lira to Dollar on the black market is 10,000 to 1.
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on June 29, 2020 shows the black market rate, as … [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Some political leaders proposed that the crisis presented an opportunity for Lebanon to take charge of its own food supply and develop its own agricultural industry. But farmers could not afford to build a new infrastructure, to buy seeds, fertilizers or other chemicals needed for crops.
On June 11, 2020, protestors in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-biggest city, threw petrol bombs at the central bank, setting it on fire.
Where does Lebanon go from here?
Lebanon cannot begin to rebuild its country without establishing a new monetary system, the backbone of every society. Waiting for the government to introduce a new national currency without regained trust in authority is futile. The people of Lebanon, however, have three other options to rebuild their economy without waiting for a government rescue.
Sarah Himadeh inside the Egg theatre leading a team to pick up and recycle garbage. In just 2 weeks, … [+] SARAH HIMADEH
1. Commodity Money
Money does not need to be the paper we are used to seeing in our wallet. Money can be anything that serves as a store of value, unit of account and a medium of exchange. Money is how our communities trade within themselves and with others. To accomplish domestic exchange, Lebanon could use any commodity they trust from grain to gold. An example of this method in modern history is Post-WWII Germany which briefly defaulted to using cigarettes as money for trade of basic necessities within communities, as cigarettes always have a predictable value. A stable unit of account such as grain, gold or even cigarettes, allows residents to buy food for their families, store keepers to receive a fair price for goods, and workers to earn a stable wage.
2. Dollarization
Lebanon cannot sustain itself as a closed economy, as it heavily relies on foreign imports of grain, meat and oil. Therefore, it needs to use a currency that is easy to spend across borders.
In 2009, after a similar wave of hyperinflation, Zimbabwe adopted dollarization, effectively abandoning its own currency and adopting the U.S. dollar as its main currency. This measure was in effect until 2019, when the country reintroduced a new Zimbabwean dollar. This is a tried-and-true formula of using a ‘safe haven’ fiat currency as a substitute, especially for countries with significant dollar-based debts and imports.
Adopting the dollar poses two main problems. The first is it gives ultimate control of your future over to the stability of America, a country known for bending political powers to its will through sanctions. The second is that there are simply not enough dollars to go around. The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented shortage for U.S. dollars globally, now used in over 80% of all global trade. With an already rising black market for dollars in Lebanon, driving demand for dollars further seems like the wrong direction.
Furthermore, there are many expat families who want to send money to their families in Lebanon, but cannot do so in dollars, as the dollars are being confiscated by banks and money exchanges. Those who do get their hands on dollars are much more likely to hoard them than to spend them within their communities, further constraining the economy.
3. Bitcoin
Proponents of digital currencies have long advocated that Bitcoin is tailor-made for these types of economic situations. For the newbs, Bitcoin is a digital store of value which anyone can use on their smartphone or computer. It is independent of governments, has a fixed supply (and therefore is not at risk of inflation), is not controlled by banks or other entities, and cannot be taken from you, unless you share the key to your digital wallet. It is also easy, fast and cheap to send to others across borders and locally.
Bitcoin is the currency of the people, effectively removing it from the grip of a corrupt government. Sounds far fetched? It’s not. Bitcoin is already being used as an insurance policy against corrupt governments in countries such as Cyprus, Ukraine, Venezuela, and El Salvador.
Venezuela provides a blueprint for cryptocurrency adoption. After undergoing its own currency crisis, it is now widely accepting crypto in over 20,000 small and large businesses. Just like Lebanon, Venezuela too was highly dependent on the U.S. dollar, which perpetuated its economic demise, giving too much power to its American counterparts.
The biggest challenge to switching entire communities to Bitcoin continues to be education.
“Majority of us are still in denial of the financial collapse. People are not looking for any alternatives to the current financial system. Education and awareness are key points in bitcoin usage and adoption. We need to teach people to trust this new thing they have never used before. How to get it and then spend it. There is a strong possibility that the Lebanese diaspora will infuse Bitcoin by sending to families directly, as they do not trust the remittance system,” says Marcel Younes, founder of Bitcoin du Liban.
There are wealthy expats who want to send money to Lebanon to help, but are unsure of how to do so safely and productively given the current infrastructure issues with banks and remittance shops. Using Bitcoin, families and donors abroad can send funds directly to those who need it, without undergoing any government scrutiny.
Once Bitcoin is within the communities of Lebanon, it can be used to trade within Lebanon for basic goods and services. Alternatively, it can also be used to pay for imports coming into the country, since Bitcoin can be sent and accessed anywhere in the world and converted into either dollars, or digital dollar-backed stablecoins.
Digital currencies provide the key to communities asserting their independence and taking control of their future, away from the corruption of governments.
It remains to be seen which path Lebanon will choose. One thing is clear after months of protests – the Lebanese are some of the most dedicated and most vibrant people in the world, and have the strength to overcome this period in history and thrive again.
A Lebanese child is pictured in Beirut’s Martyr Square during a gathering on Lebanon’s Independence … [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says that if Patali Champika Ranawaka, who is in the Opposition, joins the government and assumes the post of Minister of Power and Energy, he is ready to resign from the post at any time.
Wijesekera stated that it would be very good if Patali Champika Ranawaka takes over the ministry post.
Kanchana Wijesekera stated this addressing a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (21).
It is reported that a Treasury bill auction worth Rs. 90,000 million will be held on May 25.
Accordingly, bills of Rs. 45,000 million maturing in 91 days, Rs. 22,500 million in bills maturing in 182 days and Rs. 22,500 million in bills maturing in 364 days will be auctioned.
Sri Lanka’s new administration headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is gearing up to present a new, relief-based budget, around next month, replacing budget 2022 – for the first time in history since independence.
The Finance Ministry will prepare the new relief budget as the previous budget for the fiscal year 2022 has become unrealistic and unproductive at this critical moment of economic crisis coupled with recession and social unrest, ministry sources said.
The economic mess and decrease in revenue as well as the drop in productive activity had been created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdowns along with financial mismanagement and poor policies which affected economic growth, a former Treasury Secretary said.
An alternative budget is technically just like the full budget; it contains a complete set of accounts, including expenditure and revenue. The estimates are presented for the whole year like the full budget, he explained.
It can present revenue proposals and make major tax changes or introduce new taxes, he said adding that it is not constitutionally prohibited.
Almost all the budget estimates, revenue and expenditure proposals have become unrealistic and impossible to achieve under the present socio-economic crisis.
According to the details given in budget 2022, revenue is expected to grow by 46 per cent to Rs. 2.3 trillion in 2022. Several new taxes and tax increases in surcharge tax on profits, social security contribution, and financial VAT were proposed in this regard.
Even if the projected contribution from the new revenue measures (Rs. 333 billion) is considered realistic, the rest of the revenue base would need to grow by 24 per cent in 2022 – at least double the expected nominal GDP growth – to achieve the revenue target, a senior Treasury official disclosed.
Therefore this estimated revenue growth of 46 per cent was unrealistic and cannot be achieved under present man made economic crisis situation, he added.
It has now become a mission impossible to make relatively high allocations for defence, road development, and generally high levels of capital expenditure over allocations for education, healthcare and skills development proposed in the budget 2022, he said.
The expected real revenue forecast for this year is Rs.1.6 trillion compared to the estimated revenue of Rs.2.3 trillion in budget 2022, Finance Ministry data shows.
The new administration is taking action to increase the borrowing limit to Rs. 4 trillion from the present credit limit of Rs. 3.2 trillion. This proposal will be presented in parliament for its approval soon.
The former (Mahinda Rajapaksa) -led government has spent Rs. 1.95 trillion by the second week of May and the cash balance for the rest of the year is Rs. 1.25 trillion. It has been observed that budget 2022 has failed to focus on the management of external debt, the lack of a clear plan to regain access to international capital markets, and the related implications for dollar liquidity in the banking system.
It is reported that the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) will escape the control of the infamous Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s group after 12 years.
It is said that Padeniya and his team have informed that they will not contest the GMOA election this time, allowing for a new administration.
Sources said that they have decided not to contest the election as they know that they will face an utter defeat if an election is held.
During the tenure of Anuruddha Padeniya as President, the GMOA was heavily politicized and in recent times they have become visible to the public as a profession affiliated to the SLPP. At the same time, the GMOA was notorious for its arrogant activities.
The country also remembers the actions of Anuruddha Padeniya, the President of the Government Medical Officers’ Association, as one of the most powerful figures behind the ban on chemical fertilizers, which is wreaking havoc on the country.
However, some doctors who were part of the Padeniya group will also hold positions in the new administration, but doctors say there is hope for change.
Ashantha Nalaka alias Satha Nalaka was arrested by the CID yesterday (21) in connection with the May 09 attack on the Golf Face protest site.
The video of him assaulting a protester with an iron rod near the Galle Face Green was circulated on social media platforms.
He had earlier driven an army bus near the protest in front of the President’s Mirihana residence on March 31 and had blocked the road and later set the bus on fire.
He had also spoken out against the protestors during a protest in front of the Parliament entrance on the 5th.
The 43-year-old man was arrested by the CID while hiding in the Hokandara area and has been identified as a relative of an underworld gang member, police said.
The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have jointly decided to support Sri Lanka’s response to the ongoing economic crisis.
The three institutions announced their decision in a statement issued after the first joint coordinated meeting held on the 19th of May.
The Sri Lanka Government is mobilizing is Asian Development Bank (ADB) of around US$1300 million consisting of around US$ 780 million in the form of loans obtained as Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Asum of USD 70.9 million is raised by way of ODA grants and technical assistance annually By entering into around 38-40 agreements with donor countries and international agencies, finance ministry data shows.
Aisdian Development leads the Official Development Assistance (ODA commitments amounting to US$ 568.0 million, followed by the World Bank (US$ 217.8 million) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) a considerable amount.
“All three institutions are adopting a coordinated approach to sustain basic services and livelihoods and to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the people of Sri Lanka.”
This includes access to essential items such as medicines, cash assistance, gas and fertilizer through the reallocation of resources from existing projects, the statement read further.
The Government is making arrangements to mobilize foreign financing of around US$ 1,300 million or more on avarege by entering into with foreign development partners and lending international donor agencies annully to support the public investment program.
This consists of around US$ 780 million in the form of loans obtained as Official Development Assistance (ODA) and USD 70.9 million was raised by way of ODA grants and technical assistance.
In addition to the funds raised from ODA development partners, around US 500 million was $ raised through term loan facilities extended by the China Development Bank during the period under review.
This was raised at a variable interest rate of London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) at 6-month USD and 2.51 percent margin with a 10-year tenure.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) leads the ODA commitments during this period amounting to USD 568.0 million, followed by the World Bank (USD 217.8 million), European Union (USD 43.6 million), Germany (USD 12.5 million), Japan (USD 9.5 million), UN Agencies (USD 0.7 million). Commitments arranged to education and training was the highest among all the sectors which accounted for USD 400 million or 31 percent of the total followed by SME development (USD 165 million) and Disaster management (USD 129 million).
The Finance Ministry plans to obtain the approval of these countries and international financial agencies use part of their balance amount for the importation of fuel LP gas and other essential food commodities to overcome the present economic crisis as it has suspended development projects.
2022 has so far been a tumultuous year for Sri Lanka. With the country teetering dangerously close to defaulting, economists have noted that the situation will only get worse before it can get better.
TISL maintains its stance that the prevailing crisis has been caused by decades of misuse and mismanagement of public resources, kleptocracy, systemic corruption and an overall lack of transparency and accountability in both governance as well as in the public service sector.
At this important juncture, the decisions taken and the action or inaction of the leaders of the country will determine the uplifting or complete breakdown of the economy, with direct consequences to the lives of citizens. Therefore, ensuring maximum transparency and accountability of decisions at the highest level and taking immediate action to curb ongoing and possible corruption are essential if the country is to effectively implement any economic recovery plan. Hence, it is paramount that loopholes within the Constitution, national policies, laws, structures and systems are addressed in a manner that would minimize opportunities for corruption.
While a robust economic recovery plan is the need of the hour, if the people and systems that are entrusted with implementing such a plan are corrupt or perceived to be corrupt, there will be little to no acceptance from the people, who will have to bear the burden of this recovery plan.
In the light of the above, TISL hereby presents a set of recommendations that lays down the main anti-corruption reforms that are crucial immediately and in the medium / long terms, if Sri Lanka is to rise above the present crisis and bring about a real change:
1. Set the tone from the top – It is paramount that those who take leadership must have a clean track record that demonstrates their integrity and genuine commitment to serve the country, coupled with the required basic knowledge and expertise for their roles. A strong “zero-tolerance policy for corruption” needs to be adopted by the leaders, where they go beyond their word and reflect such principles in their action.
2. Ensure transparency of all decisions taken with regard to solving the present crisis – Introduce an open digital platform to share all information related to the foreign donations and loans obtained, along with detailed information on how such funds are utilized and on decisions made by the Finance and other relevant Ministries and the Central Bank. It is essential to have frequent and regular press conferences to keep the people informed of the actions being taken on economic recovery and to conduct open consultations with relevant stakeholders prior to making important decisions.
3. Repeal the 20th Amendment – This amendment that removed essential accountability measures in governance should be repealed in order to bring back the checks and balances in governance that were brought in by the 19th Amendment.
4.Introduce provisions to strengthen Parliament’s oversight on Public Finance – It is crucial to tighten the controls on public finance by converting the outdated financial regulations into a comprehensive Finance Law that will cater to the present times and ensure parliamentary oversight as well. In addition, Constitutional recognition and empowerment is required for watchdogs on public finance – the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprise), COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) and CPF (Committee on Public Finance), to enhance their effectiveness.
5. Introduce mandatory accountability measures on public procurement – As public procurement is a process that is heavily targeted for grand corruption, it is essential to convert the existing National Procurement Guidelines to a law, and to establish mandatory procedures to follow in case of unsolicited proposals. Re-establishment and empowerment of the National Procurement Commission to oversee public procurement is also important.
6. Abolish the executive presidency – The Executive Presidency as designed in our Constitution has proven to be an avenue that leads to the concentration of great power on one individual, often leading to the abuse of such entrusted power to the detriment of the country. Therefore, it is important to create a mechanism with a Prime Minister and Cabinet that is accountable to the parliament.
7. Empower the law enforcement authorities and ensure their independence, so that they can take action to end impunity, by fearlessly, proactively and vigorously pursuing the perpetrators of corruption, irrespective of their political power or social status.
8. Begin the process to de-politicize the public service, by introducing required Constitutional amendments that would enhance the independence of the public officials.
9. Act Immediately on the findings of COPE, COPA, COPF, which have continuously unraveled massive abuse of public resources within public institutions.
10. Conduct an immediate audit of all SOEs – A financial audit and an overall review of all State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) need to be conducted to ascertain losses and misuse of public resources and to take immediate action to stop ongoing corruption. These savings will help the Government to channel more public funds to secure essential goods and services.
11. Recovery of stolen assets – Law enforcement officials need to take steps to immediately commence investigations, asset tracing and the asset recovery process in relation to questionable assets of public representatives and public officials held within and outside of the country.
12. Show us the money – Political parties need to respect the call of the people to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability and make relevant policy decisions to voluntarily disclose their Asset Declarations to the general public, thereby paving way for a social audit of their assets. Steps need to also be taken to Amend the law on Asset Declarations, making public disclosure of asset declarations mandatory and introducing provisions to centralize the record maintenance and for regular review and proactive investigations on discrepancies.
13. Hold the enablers accountable – Public Officials, Big businesses, Banks and Financial Institutions, lawyers, accountants, real estate agents etc. are all part of the kleptocracy circle that pave way for, facilitate, support and benefit from grand corruption. Oversight entities such as the Public Service Commission, Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank, the Chamber of Commerce, The Bar Association, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants etc. and the citizens need to act as watchdogs and demand greater transparency and accountability from these parties as well.
14. Introduce the proposed composite law on Proceeds of Crime – Through this law Sri Lanka could establish an independent Asset Management Authority to manage recovered assets. This law will deal with all matters relating to recovery of stolen assets held overseas.
15. Introduce legislation to regulate election campaign financing, which is a starting point of corruption of public representatives.
Commenting on the current situation, TISL’s Executive Director Nadishani Perera stated “We urge the citizens to continue to actively seek information and knowledge on the types and impact of corruption and to be informed of the essential systemic and cultural changes needed to uplift the country. We stand with the citizens in demanding accountability and corrective action from our public representatives in a peaceful manner. Together we can weather this storm and create the change we thought may not be possible in our lifetime.”
