A Fairer Tax System is a Global Human Rights Imperative
Diplomats from dozens of countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, in November for a new round of negotiations on a United Nations treaty for international tax cooperation. The scene itself is important: representatives from across the globe meeting in an African capital, under the UN’s auspices, to shape economic rules that would govern a key aspect of the global economy. Unlike when many aspects of the current regime were hammered out, this time, all countries have an equal seat at the table.
Much of the international tax system was designed more than a century ago, for a world dominated by colonial powers and where today’s globalized and digitized economies were unimaginable. Since its founding in 1960, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a club of wealthy nations, has taken on the role as the dominant forum for global tax negotiating.
Around the world, economic inequality is fueling both the rise of authoritarianism and protesters going to the streets to demand change. Tax policy is inextricably bound up with those issues. Indeed, it was Kenyans who sparked the wave of “Gen-Z” protests in 2024, protesting a tax bill that would have filled budget gaps by, for example, taxing menstrual products and mobile money transfers used by informal workers.
Rules for cross-border taxation set out in the 1920s and fine-tuned by the OECD form the basis of thousands of bilateral tax agreements between countries. Companies and individuals exploit their loopholes with ease, often contributing little or nothing in taxes even as they amass fortunes larger than many governments’ budgets.
I would like to quote a Bible verse in Charlie Kirk's honour, as Wikipedia informs me that he was a very religious man, and thus no doubt well acquainted with the Bible and its message.
"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." - Matthew 26:52
Australia spends billions of dollars more on tax breaks for property investors than on social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined, according to research by the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss).
The analysis comes as new data from the Productivity Commission reveals the share of homes dedicated to social housing has dropped to a record low 3.6%, from 5.7% in the 1990s.
The collapse in accessible homes for low-income families coincides with an affordability crisis that has seen rents soar, waitlists for social housing blow out and rising homelessness.
A week after the OECD called on the Albanese government to boost its investment in social housing, research by Acoss reveals that tax concessions for landlords cost $12.3bn in 2025.
In contrast, total expenditure on the key housing assistance programs totalled $9.6bn.
Groups file OECD complaint against the world’s largest advertising and PR firm, say its work enables major polluters to harm environmental a
Excerpt from this story from DeSmog Blog:
Climate campaigners have filed a complaint against WPP, the London-based advertising giant, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), stating that it has violated key corporate guidelines on climate and human rights.
Adfree Cities and the New Weather Institute filed the complaint today with the UK branch of the OECD.
They charge that WPP’s work for major fossil fuel polluters like BP, Saudi Aramco and Shell, along with its work for other heavily polluting industries such as carmakers, airlines, and plastics, makes the company accountable for enabling pollution as well as human rights violations. According to DeSmog’s research, WPP — the world’s largest advertising agency by revenue — also works with TotalEnergies, as well as a number of other oil and gas clients.
“The complaint significantly raises the legal risks for advertising firms,” said Harj Narulla, a barrister representing the climate campaign groups and co-author of the complaint. “By continuing to work for polluting clients, WPP is failing to meet its own environmental commitments and contributing to harm on a global scale.”
The groups filed the complaint at the OECD’s “National Contact Point” in the UK, where WPP is headquartered. The campaigners say this is the first time the OECD has received a complaint against an advertising company.
“While claiming to take the climate crisis seriously, WPP has become the chief propagandist for some of the most polluting corporations on the planet — many of whom are shredding their own, already limited green pledges,” Andrew Simms, co-director of the New Weather Institute, told DeSmog. “This complaint is designed to compel WPP and its subsidiaries to comply with international rules it has signed up to, and the promises and claims it has made.”
Simms and his co-complainants say that WPP must disclose the emissions generated by its work for high-polluting clients, also known as “advertised emissions”; conduct due diligence to prevent damage to the environment and human rights as a result of its business operations; and drop clients not aligned with climate goals.
“All this would just bring WPP into line with what it already claims to live up to,” said Simms.
As of 2024, WPP had more fossil fuel industry contracts — at least 79 — than its major ad industry rivals, according to research by campaign group Clean Creatives.
The global challenge of the green transition, aimed at achieving net-zero emissions, is expected to reshape the labour market significantly.
The global challenge of the green transition, aimed at achieving net-zero emissions, is expected to reshape the labour market significantly.
This shift presents both economic and redistributive challenges, with a particular concern for young people entering the job market. Education plays a crucial role in preparing students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed for green careers.
However, there is a gap in how well schools are preparing students for these opportunities. Effective career guidance systems are essential to serve as bridges between students' interests and labour market demands.
This study examined 87 programmes within primary and secondary education across 20 OECD countries, aimed at enhancing students' understanding of and progression towards green careers.
These programmes, though not exhaustive, provide valuable insights into the conceptualisation and implementation of green guidance programmes, which are expected to become increasingly important in the future.
The deal was reportedly reached after three months of secret talks between Indonesia, Israel and the Organization for Economic Cooperation a
The world’s largest Muslim-majority nation is set to normalize relations with the Jewish State, according to a report Thursday by the Ynet news outlet.
The deal was reportedly reached after three months of secret talks between Indonesia, Israel and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which the Jakarta government wants to join, and which Israel belongs to.
After weeks of talks, the OECD and Indonesia agreed that Jakarta would have to establish diplomatic ties with Israel prior to the vote to approve its entry to the organization.
Indonesia has opposed Israel’s military operation in Gaza that followed the invasion and war launched by Hamas on October 7. Jakarta also supported South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.
Earlier this week, however, for the first time an Indonesian aircraft participated in an airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It is also the first time an Indonesian aircraft has flown through Israeli airspace.
“I want to sincerely thank you for our very constructive discussions over the past few weeks and for Israel’s important decision to allow talks between Indonesia and the OECD regarding its joining the organization,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann wrote to Foreign Minister Israel Katz in a formal letter notifying him of the agreement.
“As discussed with you and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the precondition of the start of diplomatic relations prior to any decision to invite Indonesia as a member of the organization is included as a clause in the OECD Council’s official conclusions for the talks … As we discussed, this process will have a positive long-term impact, so it was crucial to allow the process to begin,” he added.
New membership in the OECD requires the establishment of diplomatic relations with all of the organization’s 38 member states, in addition to unanimous approval of the application.
It’s not a simple process. Indonesia’s legislation, policies and regulations will have to undergo review by 26 different committees — a process that could take up to three years — before receiving approval to join the OECD. Each of those committees will include an Israeli expert who will have the right to veto Indonesia’s accession if the country fails to make good on its promise to normalize ties with the Jewish State.
“I am pleased to announce the Council has officially agreed to the clear and explicit early conditions according to which Indonesia must establish diplomatic relations with all OECD member countries before any decision is made to admit it to the OECD,” Cormann wrote two weeks ago in a letter approved by Indonesia before it was sent to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
“Furthermore, any future decision to accept Indonesia as a member of the organization will require unanimous agreement among all member countries, including Israel. I am convinced that this provides you with assurance at this crucial point,” the letter read.
In response, Katz sent a letter back to Cormann, welcoming the news.
“I share your expectation that this process will constitute a change for Indonesia, as I anticipate a positive change in its policy toward Israel, especially abandoning its hostile policy toward it, leading the path to full diplomatic relations between all sides,” Katz wrote.
