Taxing African wealth
Most Africans are poor. Everyone knows that. But they needn’t be. On current estimates, for every dollar of aid that flows into Africa, five dollars of financial assets flow out into private bank accounts in the rich world – money that’s never taxed. Africa has the fastest growth of millionaires in the world, but the burden of building much-needed infrastructure keeps on getting pushed back to those who can least afford to pay. For African economies – and the many other countries in the Majority World that are straining under the burden of debt – tax revenue means self-reliance, economic freedom, and money to improve education and health. So why are developing countries relying on aid, rather than taxing those who profit most from their countries? Discussing what is emerging as a major social justice issue for this decade, recent Radio New Internationalist guests challenge the accountants and politicians of the world to ‘Go figure!’ They explain how countries’ coffers are being plundered to leave populations in poverty, and in the process prove how vibrant – and important – tax issues can be.
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
New Internationalist (NI) workers' co-operative exists to report on issues of world poverty and inequality; to focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and the powerless worldwide; to debate and campaign for the radical changes necessary to meet the basic needs of all; and to bring to life the people, the ideas and the action in the fight for global justice.
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