In early 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic was touted as "the great equalizer." As COVID-19 cases rose and the global death toll dominated daily headlines, things never seemed so daunting. Nobody was safe and we were all in the same boat. So why does the world still feel as unequal as before?

The world expected a great change to come once countries started to get back on their feet. Children are going back to school. Offices and businesses are reopening. But the new normal is looking a lot like the old normal.

"The great equalizer" demonstrated — and exacerbated — the massive imbalances present around the world. The prediction was that COVID-19 would unite the world. But in some cases, we stand more divided than before.

The pandemic presented many opportunities — to mend international ties, heal our environment, promote equal access to education, and address poverty.

Billionaires got richer as people struggled to keep their housing. Millions of children around the world stand to miss out on their education. Vaccine inequity continues to affect disadvantaged nations, with only about 0.3% of vaccines having been administered in low-income nations.

But our time to act has not run out. There are still so many ways we can continue to push for change. We’ve seen what countries can do in crisis and we know that more can be done.

Here are five ways we’ve wasted the potential of the global pandemic recovery — and how you can still help.

  1. Environment
  2. Global Health Care
  3. Education
  4. Employment
  5. Poverty

Read the full article about global pandemic recovery by Kate Nakamura at Global Citizen.