Discussed today on Ratigan - Vodafone fails to pay 6 Billion pounds in taxes, people take action

[eleny]

This happened in October but is pertinent today because of the Swiss bank info given to Wikileaks. There's a video of the flash mobs in action at the link below.

Vodafone flagship store SHUT DOWN
Posted on October 27, 2010 by b2458284

Today was a brilliant success. 70 activists shut down Vodafone’s flagship store on Oxford Street for the day to demand that the government force them to pay the £6bn tax that they owe the British public.
http://ukuncut.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/hello-world/

[malaise]

1. It will spread

That was an excellent discussion.

[eleny]

2. The 6 billion pounds in taxes they skirted paying could have paid for some recent cuts in services

For instance, it was brought out that this amount would have paid for the housing subsidies provided to 200,000 poor in Great Britain.

[WinkyDink]

7. Pretty sure that was the point of the protests.

[malaise]

16. It is simple

We have to boycott their business. Only then they will know we are serious.

[eleny]

3. I wish I heard the whole interview

The flash mob I posted about happened back in October. I think they discussed in relation to the info Wikileaks has received and how it could be illuminating for the American public.

[Cassandra]

5. Here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31510813/ns/msnbc_tv-the_dylan_ratigan_show

[eleny]

8. Thanks for the link!

[WillyT]

4. Here Ya Go:

UK Uncut plans more tax avoidance protests for 30 Jan
by Nick Huber
14 Jan 2011

<snip>

UK UNCUT, a fast-growing group of activists protesting against corporate tax avoidance and public spending cuts, has said that its next national day of protests will be on 30 January.

The protest group - which last year forced the closure of a number of Vodafone and Topshop stores after activists staged sit-ins - said its next protests will "ram home the message that the cuts are ideological and unnecessary."

UK Uncut, which uses social media technology to organise protests, said it was planning to use Twitter, a micro-blogging site, to give training sessions in "non-violent direct action techniques", as well as legal information, and "online brainstorms for tactics and targets that people feel ‘have got away with it lightly so far'".

Clare Collins, who supports UK Uncut, said: "Whilst ordinary people are rushing to complete our tax forms, threatened with fines if we miss the deadline, rich corporations and individuals are dodging £25bn of tax every year."

"They can employ armies of lawyers and accountants to exploit legal loopholes and dodge billions in tax they owe to us. And the government doesn't lift a finger to do anything to stop this, if they did, these cuts wouldn't be necessary."

<snip>

More: http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/1937244/uk-uncut-plans-tax-avoidance-protests-jan

And...

******************************************************************************

Union Allows You To Vote For Your Favourite Tax Dodger
14/01/2011
By Claire West

<snip>

Members of the public are being asked to choose who they think contributes the most to the rising problem of tax dodging, which costs our economy billions of pounds every year.

An online poll, launched today on the False Economy website, invites people to choose from a list of ten candidates nominated by the Tax Justice Network for their part in tax avoidance - an issue which has sparked high street protests by UK Uncut, a new network of activists.

The list includes Philip Green's Arcadia Group and Vodafone, as well as HM Revenue and Customs for cutting jobs and chancellor George Osborne for his part in making the UK a safe haven for tax avoiders.

- For information and to vote visit: www.taxshirkers.org.uk

The competition, being run by False Economy, the Public and Commercial Services union, the TUC and charity War on Want, closes at midnight on 30 January and the organisers will visit the winner to present them with their prize.

Clifford Singer, campaign director of False Economy, said:

"David Cameron said we're all in this together. But while those at the bottom and in the middle suffer for the consequences of the banking crash, some of our richest individuals and corporations think they can get away without paying their fair share. It's time to clamp down on tax avoidance."

<snip>

More: http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?CID=&NID=7102&Title=Union+Allows+You+To+Vote+For+Your+Favourite+Tax+Dodger

:hi:

:kick: & Rec !!!

Onedit: Oops, Forgot: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/

[eleny]

6. Ratigan's guest said it's the front page story in the biggest British newspaper

Thanks a million, WT!

[WillyT]

14. Anytime eleny, Anytime !!! - Did You See This ???

Link: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23914725-the-clicktivists---a-new-breed-of-protesters.do

:woohoo:

:kick:

[eleny]

18. Oh, the benefits of a homogeneous society!

Btw, leave it to the Brits to come up with a name that you really can't say 3x and very fast. :blush:

[upi402]

9. That was a great interview

I saw the House of Commons and couldn't help thinking how utterly stupid Bush was. Labor is getting beat up for failing to do anything when they had power, as a rebuttal for enabling tax favors for the rich now.

[inna]

10. rare opportunity to watch Dylan. I think he's going down, though.

[eleny]

11. I'm getting away from watching any of them these days

Trying to find quiet time and reading more non fiction.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. It will come here too

[eleny]

19. We've done it before and hopefully we can do it again

Now that we have more than pay phones and mimeograph machines it should be a no brainer.

The sad thing is that it's going to reach the epic proportions of calamity you so often talk about.

[drm604]

13. K&R

:kick:

[xchrom]

15. Recommend

[WillyT]

17. Kick !!!

:kick:

[WillyT]

20. And Again !!!

:kick:

[Kaleko]

21. Really exciting stuff! Recommended.

[snot]

22. K&R'd