Tuesday 30 March 2010

Robin Hood Tax Campaign

British Unitarians have given their support to the “Robin Hood Tax” campaign to establish a tax levy on international bank transactions to create a fund to combat international poverty and fight climate change. It will also raise funds to stop cuts in vital public services.

The Robin Hood Tax is based on an original idea by the economist James Tobin. A tax of 0.05% on the billions of pounds sloshing around the global finance system every day through transactions such as foreign exchange, derivative trading and share deals can raise hundreds of billions of pounds a year.

The British General Assembly is one of dozens of voluntary sector, trade union and faith organisations who are supporting the campaign.

Ideally the campaign would like to see an international system of transaction taxes, but there is no need to wait. Individual countries – and the European Union – can easily get started now. Rather than wait for international agreement, it is hoped to build the Robin Hood Tax country by country.

The Robin Hood Tax campaign is in touch with similar campaigns in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and in particular the USA, and with groups operating at EU and global level. All are at different stages of development, and it would be especially good to see more campaigning in the global south.

It would be valuable to know if other members of ICUU are currently involved in this campaign or are interested in working with us on it. This could help stimulate and better co-ordinate campaigning and show solidarity within our global Movement

If you wish further information on the Robin Hood Tax http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/

Please do feel free to get in touch.

Derek McAuley
Chief Officer
General Assembly Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
Dmcauley@unitarian.org.uk

Wednesday 24 March 2010

New ICUU Information Resource

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) has launched a new email mailing list for the circulation of announcements about ICUU as well as news about developments in Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism in other countries.

It is not a discussion list and emails will only be posted by ICUU staff.

Subscribing to the list is a great way to keep up with international liberal religion and ICUU programs and activities.

Anyone is welcome to be a subscriber.

To get this information delivered directly to your email inbox, sign up at:
http://www.icuu.net/events/mailing_list.html.

Monday 22 March 2010

ICUU Presence at UUA GA in Minneapolis

ICUU Executive Secretary Steve Dick and Program Coordinator Jill McAllister will represent ICUU at the 2010 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association from June 23 to 28 at the Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Attendees can meet Jill and Steve at the ICUU booth in the UU International Organizations Village (Booth #227) in the exhibit area at the Assembly.

ICUU will host a number of special events in the Village including a live quiz show on International U*U ABCs (win a t-shirt), Face to Faith Encounters and a challenging session on How Not to Be A U*U Tourist. Special guests from U*U groups in other countries will also make an appearance.

The schedule of events and other announcements can be found on a special website set up at www.UUinternational.org.

ICUU will share the International Village at the UUA General Assembly with the International Convocation of UU Women, Project Harvest Hope, UU Global Aids Coalition, UU Partner Churches Council, UU United Nations Office and the International Resources Office of the UUA.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

President to give John Relly Beard Lecture in UK

ICUU President Brian Kiely will deliver the John Relly Beard lecture on the 8th of April as part of the Annual Meetings of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.

The lecture is sponsored by the professional body of Unitarian ministers in Great Britain and is in memory of the Rev John Relly Beard, a famous forebear responsible for many accomplishments including the establishment of Unitarian College Manchester.

Beard had an early interest in liberal religion abroad and he edited a book of essays on international Unitarianism in 1846 titled "Unitarianism Exhibited in its Actual Condition". (Available on line at http://www.archive.org/details/unitarianismexhi00bear)

Kiely’s subject for this year’s address will be “The Center and the Circle: The Challenge of International Ministry” and it is the first time the lecture will be delivered by someone from outside the United Kingdom.

When asked to describe his subject, he remarked: "Unitarianism is not really a global faith. Rather it is a collection of indigenous expressions of the liberal religious spirit. That truth combined with economic and varying educational conditions around the globe make international Unitarian ministry challenging indeed."

The ICUU President will be a guest of the British Unitarians at their meetings and he welcome the opportunity to learn more about how they see their role in the international liberal religious community. The British General Assembly is a founding member of ICUU. More information about Unitarians in the UK can be found at www.unitarian.org.uk.