NIFEA Webinar on “Zacchaeus Tax: A Reparatory Tax System for a Just and Sustainable Recovery”

The global tax system offers a powerful tool to respond to the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and to repair systemic challenges, such as widening inequality and climate change. Ahead of a crucial G20 International Taxation Symposium, the webinar will discuss how proposals from social movements for tax justice and reparations – as called for in the ecumenical Zacchaeus Tax campaign – can help us achieve a just and sustainable recovery from the pandemic. 

Provisional program:

• Opening and introduction: Rev Dr Gordon Cowans (moderator) 
• "How and why is tax justice critical for a just and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic?":  Dr Manuel (Butch) Montes 
• "What are the models and practices for a reparatory global tax system and what could it deliver?":  Dr Priya Lukka 
• "What does recovery and reparation look like?":  Ms Adetola Onamade and Ms Marina Tricks (TBC) 
• "Introduction to ZacTax toolkit and how can we, as churches, advocate for the ZacTax proposals?":  Rev Philip Peacock and Dr Justin Thacker 
• Q&A moderated by Dr Gordon Cowans 
• Closing remarks: Mr Gorden Simango 

Moderator:

• Rev Dr Gordon Cowans is moderator of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, principal at Knox Community College, and a member of the Ecumenical Panel on a NIFEA. 

Speakers:

• Dr Manuel (Butch) Montes is senior advisor at Society for International Development and a member of the Ecumenical Panel on a NIFEA. Previously he worked with the South Centre, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs and the East-West Centre. 
• Dr Priya Lukka is an international development economist and visiting research fellow at the Goldsmiths University in London. Previously she worked with ChristianAid in the UK. 
• Ms Adetola Onamade and Ms Marina Tricks are students involved in anti-racism, decolonial and climate justice movements. Together with another young person, they are suing the UK Government for failing to honour climate obligations under the Paris Agreement. 
• Rev Philip Peacock is executive secretary for justice and mission at the WCRC and formerly Associate Professor in the Department of Theology, Ethics and Social Analysis at Bishop’s College in India. 
• Dr Justin Thacker is a theologian and medical doctor and currently coordinates the UK-based Church Action for Tax Justice. 

Organizers:

• World Council of Churches
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• Lutheran World Federation
• World Methodist Council
• Council for World Mission

Registration

Languages: English