Robin Hood Week of Action!

This week charities, celebrities and professionals alike have joined forces to push the Robin Hood tax back under the noses of politicians! This weekend the G8 summit, held in America, will look closely at the effectiveness of past aid commitments and consider how best to alleviate poverty for the 50 million people still struggling to survive. Shortly after this, European Finance Ministers and European Heads of State will meet to decide the fate of the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) in Europe. This is a vital time for the campaign as countries will have to decide whether they are in, or out.

Despite over 1000 economists supporting the tax and advocating it as something which is not only morally right but also something which is technically feasible. The task now is to spread the word so that, when election time comes, it is politically advantageous for candidates to demonstrate their support for FTT. This small tax could generate billions for good causes both internationally and at home and could ease the burden of this double-dip recession.

With campaigners mobilised in over 14 countries mobilised, activists are tweeting, blogging, flyering and conducting eye-catching stunts to get the message out! This tax isn't complicated and it doesn't have a catch!

The Exeter University Oxfam Society made use of the new Forum Project on campus (a multi-million pound hub of student activity) and let people know exactly what is being proposed. Taking advantage of the many students revising in the cafes and study spaces they encouraged their captive audience to take action online or to fill out petition cards then and there!

At the same time, information postcards were strategically placed between books in the library to catch the eye of those who might be most interested (see the economics and politics aisles below!)