Robin Hood Tax Global Week of Action 15-22 May 2012

1. Introduction

The global campaign for a Robin Hood Tax has come a long way since it started two years ago. National campaign coalitions have been established in 14 countries and millions have people have joined the movement. Influential voices have thrown their weight behind the idea – from Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Vatican. The tax has been recognised as being technically feasible by the IMF and European Commission, and has the backing of over 1000 economists. It is also politically viable - governments, particularly in Europe, are now on the verge of delivering a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) that could generate billions for good causes at home and abroad, as well as help regulate the financial sector. This year we need to demonstrate that people around the world are uniting to demand a Robin Hood Tax. The summer of 2012 is the make or break moment for the global campaign; when European governments will at last agree who’s in (and who’s out) of FTT ‘coalition of the willing’, and when elections in countries like France and the US later in the year, offer of opportunity for the public to demonstrate their support for the FTT to candidates and political parties vying for votes.

2. Campaign Timeframe

The Robin Hood Tax Global Week of Action will take place from 15th – 22nd May, to mobilise global action around, and in the run up to, key inter-governmental meetings:

 G8 Summit: 18th - 19th May 2012 at Camp David, Maryland, USA which will coincide with the launch of the US Robin Hood Tax campaign;

 European Finance Ministers Meetings (ECOFIN): 15th May 2012 and 22nd June 2012;

 European Heads of State Meeting: 28th -29th June, when we expect key agreements to be made on the future of the FTT in Europe.

3. Campaign Objectives

1. Mobilisation of a critical mass of people around the world through use of social media, so that key governments in Europe are pressed to translate their rhetoric into reality and move to implement an FTT:  A spike in social and digital media on the FTT– reaching an audience of 2 million.

2. Support the development of Robin Hood Tax/FTT campaigns in G20 countries and beyond:  Including the US, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and India.

3. Demonstrate the strength and breadth of the global Robin Hood Tax movement through:  Ensuring that target countries in Europe and the G20 (see below) participate in the week of action;  Encouraging new regional and global networks / organisations to join the FTT campaign;  Offering a range of global campaigning products which can be used by national coalitions.

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4. Proposed Campaign Actions

As with previous days of action, we have developed a menu of activities to allow national coalitions to develop plans that work for them:

1. Generating digital and traditional media coverage

 Mobilising bloggers and online influencers to help reach out to larger audiences to generate a social buzz about the Robin Hood Tax campaign and grab the attention of our campaign targets. We will look to build on the momentum generated by the ‘Occupy’ movement’s mobilisation plans earlier in the month, and provide briefings and materials that bloggers can use to discuss RHT week of action and FTT with their audience.  National coalitions should also look for opportunities to gain traditional media coverage, pegging activities around national hooks or international meetings like the G8 Summit or ECOFIN meeting on 15th May. We hope to produce several new media products to help achieve coverage; for example, the ITUC are planning to run polling on the FTT in 10 of the G20 countries which we plan to release during the week of action.

2. Mobilising supporters to demonstrate the breadth of the Robin Hood Tax campaign

 ‘Tweet Chicago’ – a Twitter action which will allow people around the world to virtually join the Nurses demonstration in Chicago - sending messages to world leaders via Twitter that will be displayed on placards and banners during the protest. (See when Oxfam did this for the G20 protest in Nice in November - http://www.flickr.com/photos/oxfamfrance/sets/72157628034490714/)  A simple and fun offline activity that demonstrates the breadth of the international Robin Hood Tax movement and generates photos and online content that can be shared online and spread the campaign. We are proposing that supporters and partners organise simple photo stunts of a national approach to Robin Hood in your own country – for example with Robin wearing elements of traditional clothing (eg a kilt in Scotland), or through national symbols or in famous locations in your country. These images will be collated to demonstrate the passion, creativity and support of Robin Hood Tax campaigners around the world, and help to spread the campaign online.

3. Lobbying key European embassies:

 In countries outside of Europe and the G8, we are calling on partners and coalitions to lobby the embassies of key European governments who are leading the negotiations on a European FTT. These are the embassies of France, Germany, Spain and Italy. This may involve organising a joint civil society letter to the Ambassadors of these countries and/or organising an ‘embassy tour’ – seeking meetings with Ambassadors or staff of these embassies and organising a simple photo opportunity outside with a Robin Hood delegation!

5. Campaign Outreach

1. Target countries  In Europe: France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Spain, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece  In the G8/G20: US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, India, Mexico, Japan;  Key countries in the Global South, particularly those attending the G8 Summit (tbc confirmed but likely to be South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal). 2

2. National alliances/coalitions and partners

National FTT/Robin Hood Tax coalitions will be leading the Global Week of Action in each country. We will also work with established global networks who have supported FTT global events in the past including:

 Oxfam International  ITUC  GCCA  Stop AIDS Alliance  Global Campaign Against Poverty (GCAP)  Global Campaign for Education (GCE)  350.org  Avaaz

Country contacts will be identified for each participating country and national plans will be collated through a googledoc spreadsheet. Two global briefing teleconferences will be organised for all coalitions and partners participating in the Global Week of Action – one in mid-April and the other during mid-May, just before the week kicks off.

6. Campaign Products and Materials

Coalitions and campaigners will be provided with a Campaign toolkit to help them take part in the Global Week of Action. This will contain:  Social media guide for national coalitions  Template press release  Offline materials, including Robin Hood Hats, banners etc (on request)  Template lobby letters to targeted embassies/Ambassadors  New media products such as an op-ed by an influential and high profile figure (tbc)  Instructions for feeding back on national activities and embedding online content  Code for embedding a slide show of images from around the world

7. Campaign Team

Overall coordination: Rokhsana Fiaz ([email protected]) Adam Musgrave, UK ([email protected]) Online mobilization: Anna Nolan, US ([email protected]) Sanda Van Dam, Netherlands ([email protected]) Policy : Alexandre Naulot, France ([email protected]) David Hillman, UK ([email protected]) Outreach: Leila Zadeh, UK ([email protected]) Ken Zinn, US ([email protected]) Paul Zeitz, US ([email protected]) Media: Jon Slater ([email protected])

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