Here is a letter from Dennis Howlett, National Coordinator of Make Poverty History, asking for your help:
Dear Canadians,
Right now, we have an amazing opportunity to put in place a way of raising the money needed to end global poverty and help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change. This is because the French government has proposed adopting a global Financial Transaction Tax, also known as the Robin Hood Tax, at the G20 Summit they will be hosting later this year. Finance Ministers from the G20 countries will be meeting in Paris a few days from now and the Robin Hood Tax will be high on their agenda.
Send a message to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty now asking him to support the Robin Hood Tax.
The Robin Hood Tax is a very small fee of 0.05% on all financial market transactions of stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities and derivatives. The fee would hardly be noticed by banks and long term investors, but it would help curb short term speculators whose casino- style trading was one of the causes of the global financial crisis a few years ago. It’s a tax that would not be paid by ordinary Canadians.
This tax would raise hundreds of billions of dollars each year that could be dedicated to poverty reduction and helping poor countries cope with climate change. With many donor country governments dealing with large deficits, and aid budgets in many countries frozen or declining, it is critical that we find other innovative ways to raise the necessary funds.
Make Poverty History is participating with our partner groups around the world in a Global Day of Action for the Robin Hood Tax. You can join in and show your support by taking action now:
- Sign the online petition and join people all around the world in calling for the adoption of the Robin Hood Tax at the G20 Summit in November.
- Send a message to the Finance Minister and your Member of Parliament. Let them know how important the Robin Hood Tax is to you.
- Share the campaign with your friends on Twitter and Facebook. Help us grow this campaign!
Although the Canadian government opposed the Financial Transaction Tax and other proposed taxes on banks prior to the Toronto G20 Summit, I had an opportunity to discuss the merits of the FTT with Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty last fall. At the end of our meeting, he said, “Well, maybe I will have to have another look at this idea.” Our online action and lobbying efforts can make a difference. We need to keep up the pressure.
Please send an email to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty now asking him to support the Robin Hood Tax.
Thank you for your support.
Dennis Howlett,
National Coordinator
Make Poverty History