Petition Scotland Backs The Robin Hood Tax. The Petition I support proposals for a new Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) and believe Scotland should send a clear and united message in support of the measure. Branded the Robin Hood Tax by Oxfam and other campaigners, it would not affect retail banking like individuals' savings and mortgages. Instead it would target speculative trading on things like shares, bonds, foreign exchange and derivatives. The recent economic crisis was triggered by the financial sector but has inflicted immense costs and hardships on ordinary citizens in both the developed and developing world. It is therefore time for those who caused the crisis to make a greater contribution to help safeguard livelihoods and lives, both at home and abroad.
A tax of this kind is the fairest available tool to generate the extra funds and I support the Robin Hood Tax campaign proposals which state these funds be used to tackle global poverty, climate change and to curb cuts to crucial public services. Robin Hood Tax kicks off in G20 Cannes. Many initiatives swept off the table – but the strongest survive Cannes – What should have been a watershed G20 summit for shared global prosperity fell short of its potential – but some of the strongest ideas, especially the Robin Hood Tax, did overcome the opposition of some countries, says international agency Oxfam.
“It’s shameful that measures that could have helped pull millions of people out of poverty and contribute to global growth got ignored or paid lip-service,” said Oxfam spokesperson Luc Lampriere. “But there are genuine rays of hope – like a Financial Transaction Tax – that could benefit the poorest people in the world.” “An FTT has kicked off in Cannes,” Lampriere said. France, Spain and Germany remain champions. Brazil, Argentina, Ethiopia and South Africa swung in behind, all affirming that revenues will be used for development. “The G20 took a first step on increasing market transparency and piloting regional food reserves. Taxe sur les transactions financières: Sarkozy très content mais très flou. A l'entendre, on aurait dit que la fameuse taxe sur les transactions financières était déjà à l'œuvre.
Dans sa dernière conférence de presse, en clôture du G20 de Cannes, Nicolas Sarkozy a multiplié les références à ce projet, auquel la France et l'Allemagne ont réussi à rallier quelques autres pays mais qui n'a pas fait l'unanimité. «Au début, la France était absolument seule sur cette question, a rappelé le Président. Aujourd'hui, y sont favorables la Commission européenne, l'Allemagne, l'Espagne, l'Argentine, l'Union africaine, l'Ethiopie, l'Afrique du sud, le Brésil et le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies». Sans aller jusqu'à approuver le principe d'une taxe, Barack Obama approuve le principe d'une «contribution» du secteur financier. Le G20 en direct: L'idée d'une taxe sur les transactions financières aurait été acceptée.