Worship resources: http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/councils/churchsociety/downloads/cswhoismyneighbour.pdf
CHRISTIAN Aid Scotland and the Church of Scotland today (18 October 2010) launch a joint report to raise awareness of the billions lost to developing countries from tax evasion and avoidance and to call on the International Accounting Standards Board to introduce an international, country-by-country reporting standard.
Such a standard would oblige multinational corporations to report on their profits and other financial details in each of the countries or jurisdictions in which they operate.
Today’s launch of Paying our Dues – How Tax Dodging Punishes the Poor, and practical resources for churches and presbyteries is the direct result of deliverances agreed by the Church and Society Council at the General Assembly of 2010. These support Christian Aid’s view that that companies should be transparent and accountable for the tax they pay, in all the countries in which they operate.
Says a spokesperson: “International organisations such as the OECD recognise that tax dodging is likely to cost developing countries more than the total that they receive in aid in each year. Christian Aid estimates that their annual loss may be as great as $160 billion.
“The latest statement from the UN on the Millennium Development Goals also addressed the issue of tax. At their meeting in New York last month, leaders recognised the need to combat tax evasion and to curtail illicit financial flows at all levels.”
Kathy Galloway, head of Christian Aid Scotland, said: “Christian Aid is delighted to have the support of the Church of Scotland as we highlight the devastating impact that tax dodging has on the global economy. Especially in poor countries where the tax base is very small and millions live on subsistence incomes, it is shameful that companies which make large profits from the resources of these countries should be dodging fair taxes.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev John Christie, said:
“The Letter of James challenges us to work against injustice and speak on behalf of the vulnerable, the poorest and the marginalised. I am commending Paying Our Dues to all members and ministers of the Church of Scotland; it sets the context, both in terms of practical economics as well as the theological underpinning for how we as Christians might approach these issues.”
The spokesperson continued: “The campaign includes a request for supporters to contact four FTSE100 companies -Vodafone, Unilever, TUI Travel and Intercontinental Hotel Group to ask them to lead from the inside, and raise the call for new global accounting rules that require firms to report the profits made and taxes paid in every country they operate in.”
Many Church of Scotland members and supporters will join Christian Aid’s supporter day, including a lobby of the UK Parliament, in Westminster this Weds 20 October. See: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ActNow/dosomething/october-event.aspx
ENDS
If you would like further information, please Claire Aston at Christian Aid on 0131 240 1523 / 07961 303481 or Nick Jury at the Church of Scotland on 0131 240 2268.
Notes to Editors
1. Christian Aid works in some of the world’s poorest communities in nearly 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people build the lives they deserve. For more information: www.christianaid.org.uk/scotland
2. The Church of Scotland has made a deliberate decision to ensure that its resources, material, personal and spiritual, have a bias to the poor, responding to the gospel imperative following the teachings of Jesus to bring good news to the poor.
3. Christian Aid has a vision, an end to global poverty, and we believe that vision can become a reality. Our report, Poverty Over, explains what we believe needs to be done – and can be done – to end poverty. Details at http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/poverty-over-report.pdf
4. Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of 100 churches and church-related organisations that work together inhumanitarian assistance and development. Further details at http://www.actalliance.org
5. Follow Christian Aid’s newswire on Twitter: http://twitter.com/caid_newswire
MEDIA RELEASE posted by the Church of Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Nick Jury
Phone: 0131 240 2268
Email: njury@cofscotland.org.uk
Website: http://www.cofscotland.org.uk
