<b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Hi folks,</span></font></b><div class="gmail_quote"><div><b style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">
</span></font></b></div><div><b style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Wanted to alert you to some good stuff happening in London at the moment looking at the issue of tax havens.</span></font></b></div>
<div><ul><li><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Event tomorrow - 2pm in the City of London - </span></font></b><font color="#222222" face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/150406711789167/?fref=ts" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/150406711789167/?fref=ts</a> / <a href="https://www.therules.org/en/actions/london-tax-haven" target="_blank">https://www.therules.org/en/actions/london-tax-haven</a></span></font></li>
<li><span style="white-space:pre-wrap;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Arial">Sign the open statement (almost 20K have so far) b- <a href="https://www.therules.org/en/actions/stop-stealing-our-wealth" target="_blank">https://www.therules.org/en/actions/stop-stealing-our-wealth</a></span></li>
<li><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Check out the viral video at </span></font></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocWcI72Wbs&feature=youtu.be" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:13px;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:Arial" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocWcI72Wbs&feature=youtu.be</a></li>
</ul></div><div><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Do help spread the word!</span></font></b></div><div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5"><div><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><br>
</span></font></b></div><div><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Cheers,</span></font></b></div><div><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Ro</span></font></b></div>
<div><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></font></b></div><div><b style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><font face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Hello!</span></font></b></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><b style="font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It’s time to tackle the ‘<span>Tax</span> <span>Haven</span> <span>Capital</span> of the <span>World</span>’</span><br>
<span style="font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This week phone boxes across London will be looking a little different. What may look like tourist posters are in fact </span><span style="font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">a message from citizens around the <span>world</span> about the real causes of global poverty and what we can do to make a real difference. It’s time to take another look at that urban island paradise and get to know it better: "Visit the City of London - The <span>Tax</span> <span>Haven</span> <span>Capital</span> of the <span>World</span>". </span></b></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px"><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<b style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;font-weight:normal"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;font-size:13px;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:Arial"><br></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Every year multinational corporations and corrupt politicians siphon off around $1.26 trillion of the <span>world</span>'s wealth, using elaborate schemes to transfer profits to countries with little or no <span>tax</span>.</span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> The majority of this wealth is stolen from some of the <span>world</span>'s poorest countries. This means they lose at least $100 billion every year in <span>tax</span> revenues; money that should be paying for essential services like schools, hospitals and roads. </span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The City of London, a square mile within London itself, is the most important global hub of the <span>tax</span> <span>haven</span> system, through which billions in untaxed profits flow every day.</span></b><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></b></span><div>
<font color="#222222" face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></font><div><span><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uBdtEDl0xC4YoMDk5wS_rBU74GUSwXvfwROfsJoMAe5KHxzq59CtQr6kSRPXLkkXtwgMhgRScgpHYOVjhtHI5ryRr6HKH5D2RDc4pZu-RCuHal3PSY25dYRUog"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;font-weight:normal"><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></b></span></div><div><b style="font-size:medium;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">How does the City of London get away with this?</span><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It’s complicated, but here’s part of the answer:</span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> the local council has a private fund worth about $2 billion, which is used to influence politicians here and abroad.</span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> It’s impossible for us to know where the $2 billion comes from and what it’s spent on, as key parts of the City of London Corporation are exempt from Freedom of Information laws.</span><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Cameron has some high profile international seats of power right now, including being Chair of the G8. So it's pretty embarrassing to him that </span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">he's pledging to tackle <span>tax</span> avoidance by corporations in developing countries and the UK, while at the same time keeping the City of London's secrets.</span><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">That's why we need to spread public outcry among UK citizens, to whom he’s ultimately accountable. </span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">People around the <span>world</span> are already making the calls, but they need our voices behind them to show that this is a global problem and that the <span>world</span> is watching.</span><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">How can you get involved?</span><br>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In London?</span><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Join us in the </span><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">City of London on March 16th for our day of action</span><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to expose the hidden London and call on David Cameron to clean up his own backyard. We'll have international guest speakers, music and much more. </span><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Be at the Royal Exchange at 2pm, just by Bank tube. Online RSVP: </span><a href="https://www.therules.org/en/actions/london-tax-haven" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://www.therules.org/en/actions/london-<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">tax</span>-<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">haven</span></span></a><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; facebook event: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/150406711789167/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://www.facebook.com/events/150406711789167/</span></a><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></li>
</ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Around the <span>world</span>?</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - We’re </span><span style="font-weight:bold;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">coming together from around the <span>world</span> to sign an open statement</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, which will be published in a major UK newspaper: </span><a href="http://email.therules.org/wf/click?upn=yj-2FSkiQCdSqhqrcsrdDefsX789Tz5uTj86s2zpIXmF8xTAL4gUS7gPdqndnlfz6Nvfr0WkNq836H0y7Vdplx5J2934YDbyldZsYRHRta1bENxTplHIwLU4nTMD0gfBSBjrMNb5ClIrMzkJfsSllqGp0ckgznzDzuCm-2B1ubdiiVKEgQtg0P45ol1sTZWsnclZ_dP-2FuRlEevMmcVFPqVKUWUlhTTyJB-2BhDIIzr7ezvO732o202GVmzsM7CKtoO8N-2BDj4KxQWmE8eFeXFMrHQU0mWSffA4V-2BRaDk80NEWa0LNp7jeoFQ2zcUsip-2BOCtftS2TH4oo33yTTpaIIYpv1OY8CTJJeBjUdnjsJ-2FJ2MIKnO4uDiOehfK4TZj4GFHqFn23n9r-2BN5e53lDf36nmiszQNLhxzrhCRGCF53Z6J0sk2QuzCEcbwtpc4i-2FseNU-2BVkHQON8ER5e7OwXqF7Gm81m4-2BwpcZP-2B0JU63kyhVC7cT-2FLXU-3D" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Add your name to the </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">open</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">statement</span><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> before it's published.</span></a><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> If you don’t have internet access, dial this phone number (+44 (20) 332-22485 / 020 3322 2485 in UK) and place a missed call - you’ll have registered your support without it costing you a penny.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We're on our way to striking at the heart of the financial corruption that causes poverty and inequality worldwide. Let's use our collective voice to make sure we're changing the rules that allow this system to exist. </span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Please forward this email on to people to help us make this massive. </span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">More information at </span><a href="http://londontaxhaven.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://londontaxhaven.org</span></a><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; follow the hashtag </span><a href="http://piratepad.net/ep/search?query=hiddenlondon" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></a><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?hl=en#" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">#hiddenlondon</a> <span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> on twitter for latest developments.</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With hope,</span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">/The Rules team</span><br>
<span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sources:</span><br><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:Arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">$1.26 trillion of the <span>world</span>’s wealth - see Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2000-2009, Global Financial Integrity. January 2011.|<br>
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