Today is a great day for those of us who want to see a fairer world, with just a little bit from the rich going to make a really big difference to the millions who live in poverty. Oxfam has got together in a merry band with around 50 other organisations from greens to UK poverty charities, faith groups and our partners in international development – to demand a tax on the rich bankers! The so-called ‘Robin Hood Tax’ has been so popular that it was NUMBER ONE TRENDING TOPIC on Twitter today!
Just pack your quiver and hot foot it to http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/, where you’ll find out much more about how it all works and you can join the Merry Band.
YES, it’s an idea that’s incredibly simple but it could have huge, world-changing consequences.
Basically, we levy a very small transaction fee of 0.05% on big financial transactions in the trading sector (not high street banks, so it won’t affect the ordinary consumer). This small levy could generate as much as £250 billion a year in global revenue that could then be used to address some of the most pressing needs around the world, such as climate change and basic health services. It would help to tackle the huge public finance deficit for developed as well as developing countries, making it easier to pay for vital services that will be hit by the fallout of the banking crisis.
Wow! What’s not to like?
We’ve been tweeting and Facebooking like mad on this today and you can add your voice to the big noise – we have to show just how much momentum there is behind it.
So if you think it’s a good idea, go and have a look at http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/, join the Merry Band, then Tweet, Facebook and blog to your heart’s content!
We’ll be planning a Robin Hood ’flash mob’ at a secret locations in the South West soon – watch this space and follow oxfamsouthwest on Twitter to find out more. Mr Hood would love it!