Action & Events
Bank taxes could save poor countries from financial disaster
Last week the news was dominated by stories of recovery and the banks celebrating their return to profit. Whilst green shoots, however sparse, may be visible in many rich economies, across large parts of the developing world the world’s worst economic recession in 80 years appears to be showing a lag effect – the first wave of impacts have already hit, but further waves are likely to break over poor countries during the course of 2010.
This week… More >>
Robin Hood Hits Back
Five days into the Saving Challenge and the numbers of people adding their support for a Robin Hood tax on the banks keep on growing. Nearly 2,000 people have spoken out against balancing bank bailouts with cuts to public services. They have called for another way, a fairer way. A world where the banks take responsibility for the damage they have caused to ordinary people here in the UK and across the world. You can read their ideas, add your voice to… More >>
CHOOSE ANOTHER WAY – CHOOSE TAXING THE BANKS >>
Add your name to show that you support taxing the banks to make Britain a fairer place. We need a debate that includes all the solutions, so tell us what do we need to protect, to fund, to fight for.
We’ll pull your ideas together into a report at theend of August. We’ll take it to the heart of government and you can use it to pressure your own MP. By putting our ideas together, we can make them stronger.
We’re serious. We want to… More >>
Bankers Splashing the Cash
The profit reports are in for the first half of 2010 and it’s good news for the banks. The pre-tax profits for the three big UK banks are all up. Barclays has clocked £3.95bn (up 44% since last year), RBS has jumped up to £1.14bn from £15m last year while HBSC has reported a whopping £7bn. According to The Economist, this trend is being repeated across Europe and the States.
And still no promise to start paying the taxpayer back, instead the bankers… More >>
The view from Sherwood: it may be summer but there’s no rest for supporters of the Robin Hood Tax.
Sun, Sand, Surf & Post-Its
This is the best thing we’ve seen this week. Richard Murphy, of Tax Research UK describes how a banker from the British Banker’s Association took the time out of his holiday to add post-it objectives to a Robin Hood Tax poster. If only the banker had taken the time to stick around to chat because we’ve got answers to all his questions.
From Westminister to Brussels
As the… More >>
The Robin Hood Tax continues to gather momentum in UK politics as pressure for a fair, ambitious bank tax grows.
City Minister: Now is the time for banks collectively to restore their reputation
On Monday, Mark Hoban, City Minister gave his strongest hint yet that banks could be hit with a financial activities tax on profits and pay of the kind recently suggested by the IMF. Although no final decisions have been agreed the encouraging news is that there is a Treasury team working on the details of how… More >>
Remember the dismissal of the Robin Hood tax as a ‘fairytale’? We do – those days are long gone. As the disappointment and failure from UK Budget and G20 summit the hits home the Robin Hood Tax continues to gather support from powerful places.
IMF tells Osborne – Triple your bank tax
In a recommendation to the European Commission The International Monetary Fund is pressing for Britain’s banks to pay an annual levy of up to £6bn, to protect against the impact of future crises and curb the more… More >>
Following the Budget announcement and the G20 in Canada, the Robin Hood Tax is being talked about in the UK and all over the world.
Before the Coalition Government’s Emergency Budget, we asked supporters to help us buy all the advertising space we could in Westminster Tube station. Our message to the Chancellor was simple: tax the banks, not the people.
In the lead-up to the UK Budget and G20 Summit, supporters of a Robin Hood Tax are making their voices heard across the globe.
UNISON, the UK’s leading public services trade union, showed their support for a Robin Hood Tax, with more than 2000 public service workers voting to support the campaign.
In the UK and abroad people have been asking their Government to introduce a tax on the banks, not the people. Check out our new e-action and ask the Chancellor for a Robin Hood Budget.
New Government. New start. Find out which MPs are pushing for a Robin Hood Tax in Parliament.
Our message to the Chancellor was simple: ‘Tax the banks not the people’. For the 2010 Budget, Robin Hood Tax supporters took over Westminster Tube Station to make sure our voice was heard.
In the run-up to the election, thousands of us sent messages to the main party leaders asking “Do you support a Robin Hood Tax?”. Here’s what they said:
A financial transaction tax is being discussed in both the UK and Europe. There’s also a new film competition to get people all over the world talking about the Robin Hood Tax.
Support for a financial transaction tax is growing in Europe, while campaigners in the UK are continuing to demand that the new Coalition Government introduce a Robin Hood Tax.
Supporters across the globe have been urging world leaders to introduce a Robin Hood Tax, while campaigners in Europe have seen a political shift towards a tax on financial transactions.
7 Countries. 3 Continents. Thousands of people. Two horses. ‘Make Finance Pay’ week is here. Last week 3,000 of you said ‘yes’ and joined a global week of action asking for the financial sector to start taking responsibility for the financial crisis.
With a new government in power, we need to step up the pressure and make sure that the UK leads the way on introducing a tax to help the world’s poorest people.
In the week before the election supporters made a final push towards spreading the word about the Robin Hood Tax.
With less than a week left to go before the election, it’s the last chance to make sure the three party leaders hear what we have to say about the Robin Hood Tax.
A group of young Robin Hood supporters decided to head to the heart of Sherwood Forest last weekend in full Robin Hood fancy dress, determined to make voices heard on the case for a Robin Hood Tax
Let the politicians know that you want a Robin Hood Tax. Put this up in your window and wherever you go to spread the word about the campaign.
When parliamentary candidates come knocking on your door, ask them if they plan to implement a Robin Hood Tax. Print out this door hanger and put it on your front door handle so that you have the information to back up your questions when they come canvassing.
With only two weeks left until the election, it’s time to find out what the main parties think about the Robin Hood Tax and get the word out to voters and politicians.
You can report what you’ve done and follow others’ actions below
Whatever you’ve done – whether it’s emailing politicians, telling a friend, putting up a poster, giving out leaflets or updating your Facebook status we want to shout about it. Use the comment thread below to share your action. If you’ve heard back from politicians please consider logging their replies – we’re already building a fascinating picture of the UK’s political landscape. Or if you have something to say about what you’ve heard from the… More >>
The simplest and easiest way to spread the word during the crucial days ahead of polling. Please print this and pop it in your window. If you can print a few more for friends, colleagues and neighbours, even better.
This Thursday (15 April), on the day that the first of the party leaders’ television debates takes place, Mutate Britain – an East London-based arts movement – unveiled a giant piece of street art challenging Gordon Brown and David Cameron to support the Robin Hood Tax campaign.
Street artist Dr D is highlighting the Robin Hood Tax campaign’s call that all the main political parties should support the introduction of a financial transactions tax on the banks.
As the election campaign heats up, Dr D – an… More >>
Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Women came out in force once again today to do battle with the bankers.
The main UK parties have now outlined their opinion on a bank levy in their election manifestos. Now it’s time to keep up the pressure and make sure that the Robin Hood Tax remains an election issue.
With the election date now set, the Robin Hood Tax is being discussed as a vote-winner in the media. This Saturday will see a band of Robin Hoods making even more noise about the campaign.
Today, April 7, is World Health Day. Progress made in health and in combating HIV/AIDS across Africa is at risk of unravelling as a result of the financial crisis. The Robin Hood Tax could help to reverse this worrying trend by raising money from those responsible for the economic situation.
Here are some ideas of how you can take action on the 10th April. Let us know what you are planning or how we can help you make your actions happen. Whether you do these ideas with two or twenty folk it all comes together to form a massive wave of action across the country. Please report back here or on Facebook so we can share your good work and use it to show politicians we want them to act on our good idea.
The campaign has been making progress all over the world this week. There’s also been an exciting development for the UK campaign.
Robin has been popping up all over the world this week to spread the word about his tax. He’s also been joined in the Forest by some new recruits to the merry fold.
Yesterday, Robin Hood and his Merry Band left the Sherwood forest to descend upon Brussels. We were there to send a message to the leaders of Europe as they gathered to discuss jobs, growth and climate change at the EU Heads of State Summit.
Robin Hood has been back to Westminster to deliver a very special Budget to the three main political parties.
I responded to BBC Five Live presenter, Victoria Derbyshire’s post on her facebook wall at about half eight this morning:
“Today: a parent, a business owner, a banker and you – what do you want to hear in the budget?”
The campaign is growing. This week politicians, students, economists, and the Archbishop of Canterbury have all come out in support of the campaign.
There was more high-powered debate on the Robin Hood Tax this morning, as representatives from each of the main political parties joined a panel discussion on how a financial transaction tax could help finance international aid. Representatives from all three parties were joined by David Hillman from Stamp Out Poverty who asked them to “choose between being the Sheriff of Nottingham or Robin Hood.”
Many supporters have asked what do the bankers think of the Robin Hood tax? On Sunday, Graham Allen, MP for Nottingham North finally got a chance to ask that question to the British Bankers Association.
On Wednesday, Graham Allen championed the Robin Hood Tax in parliament. On Sunday, Allen took the discussion to Angela Knight, the Chief Executive of the British Bankers Association in a televised debate on the BBC East Midlands Politics Show. Angela Knight stepped into the role played by Bill Nighy in the… More >>
My my, the merry folk of Sherwood have been busy this week. What with making the media merry, organising events and keeping tabs on parliamentary debates in the UK and Europe, Robin will enjoy his Friday-night cup of mead this evening.
Local and national radio could do with a few merry tunes to brighten up the airwaves. Why not help us blast out our message to the nation and ring, text or tweet your favourite radio show requesting a song featuring heroes and villains?
Robin’s campaign got an enormous boost this week when Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of a resolution on “making financial transactions taxes work” by a massive 536-80.
‘It’s a simple and beautiful idea that has found its time,’ said Bill Nighy as he introduced the Robin Hood Tax campaign film to the packed audience at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) this morning.
It’s been another action-packed week here in the Forest. Robin and his band have been in a cheery mood – the sun is shining and there have been people blowing their horns in support of a Robin Hood Tax all over the world, from leafy-green Sherwood to the Australian outback. Read on for a round up of what the merry folk have been up to.
A Robin Hood Tax Early Day Motion has been tabled in Parliament and is attracting significant parliamentary support. See the full list of current signatories and ask your MP to sign using a quick and easy online form.
Today was a great day. 2543 people asked their MP to attend a parliamentary briefing. Hundreds of people tweeted about the event, hundreds more talked about it on Facebook and 65, yes 65 MPs attended. A band of four merry folk talked at the briefing. And Committee Room 17 of the House of Commons was packed to capacity. Some people said they’d never seen anything like it.
We had been busy laying plans in Sherwood and the scribes penning invites, but we needed public pressure… More >>
Ask your MP to attend the Robin Hood briefing in the House of Commons next week.
112,000 Facebook fans, 350 economists, 28,000 signups, 250,000 video views and 58,000 ‘yes’ votes on this site. Phew! Our “good idea” certainly seems to be going down well. The only small number in this campaign is the 0.05% we think banks should contribute to make the world a better place. Here’s the story so far…
The campaign has three variations of its logo. There is also a square format for use on social network profiles.
Want to get involved? The Robin Hood Tax needs Merry Men! We’re looking for people to spread the word far and wide about how we can turn a crisis for the banks into an opportunity for the world.
The Robin Hood Tax campaign is laying plans for actions all over the UK, more about that later. But really, you are the campaign, so let’s start making it happen right now.
To make this idea as popular and unignorable as possible we need to be visible all over the place. Here are some ideas for making that happen in your house and on your street.
Two great posters designed for use by supporters. L0.05e change has already been a big hit in universities. Why not download, print, take a pic then upload it to our Facebook page?
On Saturday the 10th we hope to get as many people as possible talking and thinking about the Robin Hood Tax. We think it’s a great idea, now we need to share it. The best way of doing this is getting out on the streets, or making your street, local cafe, community centre on anywhere else merry with a leaflet drop.
On Friday and Saturday we will have posters and leaflets available for collection in Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow.
Manchester:
Friday 9th: Oxfam Campaigns, Green Fish Resource Centre,… More >>
Print it off, cut it out, put it on and take a photo and upload it to our Facebook page, your favourite photo sharing site, or your Twitter account.
Projecting the campaign poster onto the side of the Bank of England building in London on 9th February 2010.
Bleary-eyed commuters were encouraged to “be part of the world’s greatest bank job” on Tuesday morning, as our campaign for a Robin Hood Tax began in earnest.
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