Meet the Tax Superhero Of The Year
The snazzy red glasses of Eva Joly, in the manner of Clark Kent's Earthly disguise, mask a mysterious secret. For, though it may not look like it from her mild-mannered exterior, she is a superhero.
At least, she is in the eyes of Greenbelt partners Christian Aid, who have crowned Eva as the winner of their Tax Superhero of the Year award, which "recognises outstanding individual work on the potential of tax to change the world".
Eva Joly is an activist, European politician and former judge. She was born in Norway, and is a Member of the European Parliament. She chairs the European Parliament committee on Development, and has worked to "shift the terms of the international debate about the vital importance of tax revenues to developing countries".
Christian Aid's Campaign Manager Helen Collinson said of this year's cape-wearing Tax Superhero:-
Eva Joly has a proud record of championing the vital role that tax revenues play in both rich and poor countries – and also of successfully fighting corruption. She is an outstanding ambassador for tax justice and good governance.
Christian Aid announced the award outside the Royal Exchange building in the City of London as part of its Alternative Tax Awards 2010 ceremony, at the same time as the industry's own taxation awards.
Christian Aid launched the Alternative Tax Awards in 2009, to highlight their campaign about the vital importance of tax for developing countries. They estimate that developing countries lose around $160 billion a year as a result of tax dodging by companies trading internationally in unscrupulous ways. Christian Aid are campaigning for the introduction of a new accounting standard, which would require multinational companies to report the profits they make, and the taxes they pay, in every country in which they operate.
To find out about the other nominees, and a bit more about the event, see the Christian Aid website on the scheme, or have a look at the video below...
