The Robin Hood Tax Campaign's 'Bankers' Billion Pound Pop-Up Casino' took place outside St. Paul's Cathedral at the Occupy Camp, this Saturday 29 October

To accompany pictures sent to picture desk.

Organised through the global ‘Occupy’ movement, actions happened in more than 20 cities around the world in support of a Robin Hood Tax, ahead of the crucial G20 meeting next week.

Using giant chips on a huge astroturf casino board, bankers placed bets against the public in a game they were guaranteed to win. Nurses and teachers have lost their jobs and millions have been pushed in to poverty by banks’ behaviour. The Robin Hood Tax is a viable way to curb the financial sector’s addiction to casino banking, whilst generating billions in revenue to help people who’ve lost out as a result of their reckless game.

David Hillman, spokesperson for the Robin Hood Tax campaign, said:

“Today people around the world are putting pressure on the G20 to secure a Robin Hood Tax next week in Cannes.

“The Occupy movement is right that Governments should make the banks work in the interest of society, because at the moment we have it the other way round.

“The financial sector’s addiction to casino banking caused a crisis that put millions out of work and into poverty. A Robin Hood Tax could help bring the banks back under control and ensure they pay their dues to our economy and society.”
Contacts:

Simon Chouffot 07725 879 580 simon@robinhoodtax.org.uk

Anna Nolan 07798 665 694 anolan@oxfam.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Organised through the ‘occupy’ movement, the Robin Hood Tax global day of action happened in more than 20 cities around the world, including: London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburg, Berlin, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Montreal, Durango, Calgary, Washington DC, Santa Fe, Denver, Sydney, Amarillo, Edmonton and Salt Lake City.

The action is designed to put pressure on the G20 ahead of their summit next 3-4 November in Cannes. Bill Gates is due to report to the G20 on this issue.

The Robin Hood Tax campaign is a coalition of 115 UK organisations including Actionaid, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, Stamp Out Poverty and the TUC: www.robinhoodtax.org.uk

The campaign has a quarter of a million supporters and is endorsed by over 1,000 economists and politicians from all main political parties.

The Robin Hood Tax campaign is calling for new financial sector taxes to help tackle poverty and climate change, at home and abroad.