G8 Blog: Verdict - Robinhood down but not out!

The naked truth revealed today in Huntsville, Canada

Verdict: Robin Hood down - but not out - at G20 Summit

June 28, 2010

After G8 disgracefully dropped the ball on aid at what has been dubbed the ‘Summit of shame’, the G20 today missed their chance to score against poverty by failing to move towards a Robin Hood Tax on banks.

The Canadian prime minister managed to persuade countries like South Africa and India that this ‘taxing banks’ business’ would be an imposition on poor countries, when in fact the opposite is true. Big financial centers and the real casino banking is taking place in rich countries and this is where the money would come FROM. It should go TO fighting poverty and climate change, both home and abroad.

Let’s look at the context of these two Summits:

• Aid levels have been frozen despite the commitment to increase it to 0.7% (40 years later, and only five – Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Luxembourg – have kept this promise)
• Climate change is hitting poor people now, Oxfam estimates that in Asia alone, about 1 billion people would face risks from reduced agricultural production, reduced water supplies or increased extreme weather events
• The economic crisis, mostly created by financial speculation in rich countries, is also hitting poor countries harder where people are already on the frontline of poverty.
• Almost 1,000 women die unnecessarily every day in childbirth and in complications related to pregnancy.
• 1 billion people are still going to bed hungry every night.

These problems are interlinked, unnecessary and morally unjustifiable. Rich countries should stop hiding behind their creative accounting and face up to the fact that they need to deliver on their promises and start investing in the future. Now.

The deadly numbers game:

• $1 billion+ is what the Canadian government has spent (to date) on three days of Summit security
• $1 billion - the amount Canada has pledged for child and maternal health over 5 years (Oxfam estimates the need equates to $10 billion annually)
• $1 billion - what Canada should contribute to the Fast-Start Climate Fund
• $ 2 billion – what Canada spends on subsidizing the fossil fuel industry annually
• $20 billion – ‘missing’ so far from G8 promised aid (of $50bn promised, $25bn of which to Africa)
• $650 billion - what a Robin Hood Tax could raise annually
• $2 trillion - total amount given in aid in past 50 years
• $18 trillion - total amount spent in 2009 to bail out banks

Of course, it is not all a numbers game. However, money can literally mean life or death for people in poor countries, and money that has been delivered through past Summits has been proven to make a BIG difference. Two examples are debt relief for the most vulnerable countries, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which saves 3,000 lives a year.

As it stands the G20 today ‘agreed to disagree’ on whether or not everyone should implement some form of bank tax. Some will and some won’t. It is however fair to say that none of the options on the table so far has been extensive enough to qualify for what we would dub a true Robin Hood Tax – a tax that is big enough to raise $650 billion a year globally, and that will be used for ‘global goods’: fighting poverty domestically, cover the shortage of funds needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries and fighting poverty on a global scale.

See you in Seoul!
The Robin Hood Tax is a great idea whose time has come. And the game isn’t over yet. When the G20 meet next in Seoul in South Korea we will make sure that world leaders are reminded of the benefits this tax could bring. Until then, make sure you add your name to the campaign.

See you somewhere sometime soon in the Sherwood Forest!

People First! 10,000 activists march for social justice

June 27, 2010

In a powerful display of civil society solidarity yesterday, ten thousand people took to the streets of Toronto to call on G20 leaders to end poverty, tackle global warming and create a global economy that's fair for all of us.

Oxfam was a strong presence at the event. A crew of members, staff, and volunteers braved rain and exhaustion to march with coalition groups.

The energy of positivity and solidarity that that made up the bulk of the rally provided stark contrast to the Summit meetings themselves, the results of which have been largely disappointing.

Instead of new money for old promises, we got old money, re-pledged, recycled and renamed. The promise made at Gleneagles in 2005 to increase aid by $50 billion by 2010 was abandoned. And the small G8 initiative on maternal and child health seems like little more than an attempt to divert attention from overall failure to meet aid promise.

We’re often asked what we’re doing at these Summits. Why do we rally, and have stunts? What’s the deal with the Big Heads, anyway?

Put simply, The Big Heads help us communicate Big Ideas. First unveiled at the Kananaskis G8 in 2002, they intended to be sassy but not disrespectful. They let us construct three dimensional political cartoons that attract the attention of the media and to energize our supporters.

As to why we’re here … we have to be. G8 leaders can play a critical role in marshalling the will and the resources to tackle these urgent issues. So they need to hear from us. And we’re in Toronto to make sure they do.

A wedding for the masses

June 27, 2010

The Oxfam International team pulled off the final stunt of the G8/G20 Summits today without a hitch. In the heart of downtown Toronto, merry men and women from across the land gathered to witness a historical union – the wedding of Chancellor Merkel of Germany and President Sarkozy of France. G20 leaders also gathered in the audience, though some weren’t as supportive of the partnership as others. The pair’s relationship was sparked through their shared commitment to the idea of a Robin Hood Tax – a tiny tax of 0.05% that has the potential to raise $650 billion a year globally.

Of course Robin Hood led the ceremony, and the merry men and women in the audience celebrated when he announced how money generated through the tax could be used:

• In just one day , enough money will be generated to provide secure, safe and affordable housing for low and middle income Canadians.
• In less than three months, enough money will be generated to bring solar power to 2 billion people around the world.
• In just over four months , enough money will be generated to pay off the debts of the world’s 48 poorest countries – freeing up much needed resources that could be used to hire more teachers and nurses.

There were some objections however. Prime Minister Harper announced that Canadian banks had not contributed to the recession and therefore should not be taxed. G20 leaders from Australia, India and Russia cheered in support of his position. A merry woman of the people stood up to clarify that this is about taxing the casino banking in rich nations, the proceeds of which would go to helping poor countries. The Robin Hood Tax is a perfect solution as it raises billions of dollars to this end while taxing the most profitable industry in the world that played a part in the global economic recession.

The wedding continued despite this interruption. Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy walked down the gold carpeted aisle, hand-in-hand, and ready to make their case for the Robin Hood Tax at the next G20 is Seoul, South Korea.

G8 leaders meeting in Toronto managed to live down to my worst expectations.

By: Bill Nighy
June 26, 2010

I arrived at the G8 by a roundabout route. Just a day earlier, I was standing in Dandora, a toxic tip on the edge of Nairobi where little girls as young as five-years-old live on a mound composed of toxic and human waste. They survive by competing with wild pigs for scraps of rubbish, forced to sell their bodies to get access to the richest pickings.

I was there to bear witness to the good work aid does before travelling to the Toronto summit as Oxfam’s Global Ambassador. Comic Relief, a British charity, rescues children from this dump and gives them schooling in a safe, almost fairytale environment.

At the G8, I have been lobbying for action, with TV and radio appearances to do what little I can to put pressure on leaders to live up to their aid promises first made in 2005 in Gleneagles, Scotland. G8 governments are $20 billion short on those promises due this year. It takes $220 to rescue a girl from Dandora. Just think what a difference that could make in Africa and elsewhere.

The summit did bring the promise of $7.3bn to improve maternal and child health. Good news, you might think, when a shocking 1,000 women and girls every day die unnecessarily from complications in childbirth and an estimated $10bn-a-year is needed to solve the problem.

Sadly, the good news is limited. The money will come over five years. The G8 has promised only $5bn, the rest will come from a combination of other countries and the Gates Foundation. I find it incredible that with a promise of $1.5bn over five years, Bill and Melinda Gates are providing almost a third of the total of the club of the world’s richest economies.

Worse, the promise of ‘new’ aid is a scandal of creative accounting. With no increase in overall G8 aid, their money will have to be taken from other pots, from the budgets for food, clean water, health or education. I wish someone would tell me how it can be right that a mother’s health should be secured by sacrificing her child’s schooling.

Now attention shifts to the G20, which has the opportunity to make good the G8’s broken promises. Leaders will discuss a simple but brilliant idea for a tax on banks and hedge funds – dubbed a Robin Hood Tax - that could raise $400bn-a-year for good causes. Oxfam are pressing for half this money to help poor people hit hardest by the economic slump, hunger and climate change.

Gambling by the financial sector was a big cause of the economic crisis but banks, bailed out to the tune of $17trillion are now returning to bonuses as usual. Banking is the most profitable industry on earth but is taxed the least. With rich governments unwilling to make good on their own promises, surely they can ask bankers to spare some of their small change to help the girls from Dandora and millions more who need a little help from us to get to first base with a chance then to help themselves.

There is no banker on earth who could stand beside me on Dandora’s toxic tip, watch little girls as young as five-years-old compete with wild pigs for rotting food to eat and comfortably reach for their bonus instead of supporting a Robin Hood Tax.

I formally invite senior bankers to come, see what I have seen and decide for themselves.

Bill Nighy interviews the G8 leaders one-on-one in Huntsville, Ontario

June 26, 2010

Celebrity Bill Nighy travelled to Huntsville, Ontario to ask the G8 leaders hard hitting questions about what they plan on delivering a this year’s Summit. The interviews took place at the Secluded Bed and Breakfast just on the outskirts of town, which provided an intimate setting and a unique chance to get up close and personal with the world leaders.

First up was Prime Minister Harper, chair of the negotiations. Clad in a Calgary Flames hockey jersey, he proudly announced that he saw himself playing a key role in blocking key decisions from getting on the agenda. Bill Nighy appeared distraught, though not surprised. Highlights included Prime Minister Kan tattling on the rest of the leaders for picking on him because he’s a newbie to the Summits, Berlusconi pulling a fast one on Bill Nighy and slipping off screen as he was asked what he had contributed to past Summits, and of course, Bill Nighy doing his best Ali G impressions between cuts.

The interviews with the G8 leaders were a tad worrisome, maybe they were just nervous for the upcoming negotiations. Here’s to hoping they prove us wrong this year. Cheers.

Smoke and Mirrors Won’t Save Lives

June 25, 2010

As Oxfam team gets ready to leave our new friendly home in Huntsville, and with the G8 leaders are rolling into town, we just got the word that an announcement on funding for maternal mortality has been made(strange since they haven’t even started meetings yet…). What seems like a positive message on the surface in fact could spell disaster for millions of poor people. Why? World leaders are in effect sweeping their old promises of $50 billion in extra aid under the carpet and are now shuffling old cash around to pay for this new initiative. This could mean that poor people, already hit the hardest by climate change and the financial crisis, have to choose between putting their child into school and paying for maternal health care. Many are outraged and speaking out about this injustice.

Dorothy Ngoma, Executive Director of the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi, says:
“As a mid-wife, I believe it is crucial to invest in the health of mothers, but I also know the importance of food on the table and clean water to drink. No one should be forced to choose between these. New promises won’t do much good if old ones are ignored.”

‘Creative accounting’ – a deadly game for poor people

It seems like just as quickly as the political leaders get voted out (see G20 ‘newbies’ as David Cameron, Naoto Kan, Julia Gillard), the memory of past commitments fade and get replaced by shiny bright new ones.

When it comes to the ‘old aid promise’, the verdict is in: world leaders are still $20 billion short. Oops. Sounds like a lot? The introduction of a Robin Hood Tax (also known as a Financial Transaction Tax) could raise $650 billion per year.

Are the G8 leaders lost?

June 25, 2010

The Oxfam team had an early start today as we left the Highwayman Inn in Orillia, Ontario and travelled to Huntsville in the wee hours of the morning to set up our second Big Head stunt for the G8 Summits. Although we were right on track, it seemed as though The Big heads had lost their way. They had reached a crossroad and were facing a tough decision: Will they exhibit leadership and mark this G8 Summit as a turning point in the fight against poverty, or will they just be lost tourists, stumbling around in Canada’s cottage country?

In an attempt to reach a consensus, the Big Heads gathered around a map trying to figure out how they should lead the negotiations. Prime Minister Harper was convinced that sticking with the current path was the best choice, while Chancellor Merkel and President Obama wavered about changing course. Let’s help the G8 leaders find their way. While the G8 negotiate our future, they know that a billion people will go to bed hungry tonight, up from 800 million two years ago. Furthermore, an extreme situation is facing West Africa today, where more than 10 million people are facing severe hunger and malnutrition because of drought, poor harvests and rising food prices.

We cannot afford to endorse a business as usual scenario and must make the choice clear to our leaders. Last year, the G8 promised $22 billion over three years to fight food insecurity. However, the G8 must be floundering as that money has yet to materialize. Let’s make sure they find their way in 2010.

The naked truth revealed today in Huntsville, Canada

June 24, 2010

The truth about the G8 leaders was revealed today in Huntsville. Although maternal health is touted as being a priority at this year’s Summit, the reality is that 350,000 women continue to die each year in childbirth. Over the two days of Summit negotiations, almost 2,000 women will die . The Big Heads sent a strong message to the world as they gathered around a real lake: G8 leaders it’s time to turn over a new leaf - a new maple leaf that is - and keep your promises.

The Big Heads drew media attention this morning at The Cottage in Huntsville by hiding behind a big banner stating, “Keep Your Promises.” After short deliberations, they decided to revert to old tactics of broken promises exposing them for who they really are by letting the banner slip. The Big Heads were left standing, desperately trying to conceal themselves - only their most intimate parts were covered by skimpy maple leaves.

Broken promises don’t make nutritious meals, buy school books or life-saving medicines. We don’t need more talk; we need action. Five years ago, leaders gathered at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland responded to growing public pressure to fight poverty and pledged to increase overseas aid by $50 billion by 2010, with $25 billion of this going to Africa. But five years on, they have come up $20 billion short. The G8 should pledge to provide half that sum, $10 billion annually in new money, and to spell out that it will address the discriminatory barriers that deny women quality healthcare. An emergency plan is now needed to get us back on track. G8 leaders must not sweep these promises under the rug.

We demand that the negotiations in Muskoka mark a turning point in Summit history by going beyond talk to committing new money to tackling maternal mortality worldwide.

Tonight, more than 1 billion people are going to bed hungry

June 22, 2010

Families in the Liben District of Ethiopia face shortages of everything – rain, pastureland, food. Since the drought combined with soaring food prices last year, entire communities are facing the hard pangs of hunger. In all Ethiopia, hunger regularly stalks almost eight million people.

And in West Africa and the Sahel, almost 10 million people face a food crisis following erratic rains that have caused poor harvests and water shortages. Such bad weather is becoming sadly common due to climate change.

"Drought is like fire," said one elder from Ethiopia. "It just destroyed every household."

Read more about Oxfam's response to the food crisis in West Africa here.

Women hit the hardest

More women than men are hungry, yet women are a key part of the solution. They produce 60 to 80% of the food in developing countries, and play a crucial role in feeding their families and communities. But women food producers often lack fair access to land, water, markets, and credit, and are battling the impacts of climate change on their own.

What is on the menu at the G8/G20 Summits?

This week, on the other side of the world from the hungry people of Ethiopia and West Africa, the leaders of G8 and G20 countries will meet in Canada to discuss some of the world's most pressing issues – including how to address global hunger.

We live in a world that has the capacity to produce food for everyone – and yet, more than one billion people around the world are chronically under-nourished. That number is up from 800 million only two years ago. The dramatic increase in hunger in the last few years is the result of the spike in food prices in 2008 and the global financial crisis that followed swiftly behind.

Families have to make heartbreaking choices to put food on the table – choices like taking girls out of school, selling their only goat or forsaking health treatments. Every day, over 25,000 people die from hunger-related causes. This is simply unacceptable.

Promises, promises. Will world leaders fork out?

In 2000, world leaders promised to halve the number of people who suffer from hunger by 2015. Unless world leaders dramatically increase their efforts, we will not come close to reaching that goal.

At G8 and G20, we'll be expecting significant new money on the table. Because no one should have to go hungry.