Today Oxfam’s thoughts are with all of the people who have been affected by the earthquake in Wellington and the South Island last night – those who have been evacuated, those whose homes were destroyed and those who lost friends or family members.
News & Media
Oxfam: Rigged and unjust global tax system crippling the world’s poorest
The New Zealand Government has a huge opportunity to demonstrate leadership on the global stage in reforming the world’s rigged and unjust global tax system, Oxfam said today.
“The Paradise Papers have laid bare the extent to which multinationals and extremely wealthy individuals continue to exploit a broken global system that allows them to avoid paying their fair share of tax.” said Rachael Le Mesurier, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand.
“It’s time for the world’s political leaders to put the interests of the public – who are paying their fair share of taxes – over those of corporates and the super-rich and put a stop to tax scandals like this, once and for all,” she said.
“Tax avoidance fuels poverty and inequality everywhere. When the super-rich and corporations such as Apple and Nike avoid taxes, ordinary people – and particularly the poorest – pay the price as governments, especially in developing nations, increase their taxes or cut funding for vital public services.
“Tax cheats are robbing governments in the poorest countries of much-needed funding for clean water, education and healthcare. Corporate tax avoidance alone costs poor countries at least $100 billion every year – enough money to provide an education for 124 million children and prevent the deaths of at least six million children.
“When it comes to tax it is still one rule for the super-rich and another for everyone else,” said Le Mesurier. “This is unacceptable in a system that funnels tax revenue away from where it is needed most in developing nations – where many of these multi-nationals earn revenue.”
Oxfam is calling on the New Zealand Government to be part of a global solution for greater tax transparency and close the loopholes that allow companies and the super-rich to avoid tax.
Le Mesurier said Oxfam welcomes Labour’s commitment to establish a Tax Working Group and the opportunity it provides New Zealand to demonstrate leadership on a global scale in reforming the world’s broken tax system. Oxfam urges that the terms of reference for the group include NZ joining the global momentum for greater tax transparency.
“New Zealand has a real opportunity here to work with other political leaders and shut down tax havens by establishing a global tax haven blacklist; end tax secrecy so that it’s clear if corporations and the super-rich pay their fair share of tax; and kick start a new round of tax reforms that rebuild the tax system in the interests of the majority and not the few.
“Tax transparency is an essential step in fighting global tax avoidance. We need multinationals to publish their profits, taxes and assets for every country in which they operate. Making this information public would mean we don’t have to rely on leaks and scandals to find out if companies are paying their fair share.
“It’s time for global corporations to clean up their act. Until real action is taken, the super-wealthy and big companies will continue to shirk paying their fair share of taxes – and ordinary people and the world’s poorest pay the price.
Join Oxfam’s movement to End the Era of Tax Havens.
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Contact
For more information, or to organise an interview, contact Lucy Grogan, Media and Communications Manager at Oxfam New Zealand on 021 88 11 62 or (09) 355 7413
Heavy rains in Haiti halt emergency response – Oxfam pushes for more support
The emergency response in Haiti is at a standstill following nearly 48 hours of heavy rains. Helicopters are grounded, ships moored and nearly all road access blocked. Oxfam, already responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, is now pushing for more and immediate international support.
[Read more…] about Heavy rains in Haiti halt emergency response – Oxfam pushes for more support
Oxfam ready to respond to Super Typhoon Haima in Philippines
Oxfam is preparing to respond to Super Typhoon Haima as it heads for the northern Philippines, should assistance be requested.
[Read more…] about Oxfam ready to respond to Super Typhoon Haima in Philippines
Malnutrition rising: ending hunger by 2030 at risk, warns Oxfam
Oxfam is deeply concerned that malnutrition is up and the huge number of people suffering from chronic hunger has remained virtually the same as last year, according to new Food and Agriculture Organization findings presented this week.
[Read more…] about Malnutrition rising: ending hunger by 2030 at risk, warns Oxfam
1.5 million people without running water in Aleppo for five days
The people of Aleppo continue to be caught in the conflict, losing their lives and loved ones in airstrikes and facing other serious health risks as access to necessities like medical care and clean water is cut off.
Syrian forces and allies, backed by Russian and Syrian aerial bombardment, launched a military operation on September 22 to retake besieged East Aleppo from the opposition. The government siege has left 250,000 people trapped with no access to aid and they are now facing constant attacks from the air.
Right now, more than 1.5 million people in Aleppo have been without running water for five days, as vital water infrastructure and power sources have been destroyed.
“Deliberately targeting water supply, whether through air strikes on facilities or cutting off water, is a war crime,” said Andy Baker, Oxfam’s lead on the Syria crisis response. “Warring parties must immediately halt attacks on civilian buildings such as schools, hospitals, homes, and water infrastructure. They should allow repairs to be made to the water network, including by halting fighting in key areas, in order to pump clean and reliable water to hundreds of thousands of civilians in Aleppo.”
Without this clean water being pumped, residents on both sides of the city—opposition-held East Aleppo and government-controlled West Aleppo—are relying on water from wells or delivered by trucks. These sources are unreliable and sometimes contaminated, which can lead to water-borne illnesses like diarrhea and can be life threatening without proper nutrition and resources.
Nassim, 65, a resident of East Aleppo reported that food was scarce. “Fetching water from the local wells is another daily challenge, as going out is dangerous and the water quality is an issue. You can’t be sure if the water is safe or contaminated,” said Nassim.
Walid, 35, from West Aleppo said,“Queuing to get water is a time consuming struggle, and buying water is becoming expensive. You need to pay more to get water first from truckers. Winter is coming and we have no electricity, and fuel is not available. The situation is becoming unbearable.”
Oxfam has installed a generator to power one of the water pumping stations while the national grid is down. We have equipped three wells in West Aleppo to produce around 500,000 liters of water per day, and installed eight water purification units on the Qweik River to produce also 500,000 liters, though four of them are currently being repaired after sustaining damage. Oxfam also has 3,500 hygiene kits ready to be distributed in East Aleppo, but the convoy cannot currently access the oppositionheld part of the city.
Oxfam is calling for an immediate and complete ceasefire in Aleppo and an end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure as the Syrian-Russian offensive enters its third week.
