“As the world’s largest retailer, Amazon represents the broken global economic system of multinational corporate greed that is underpinned by tax avoidance, poor working practices and exploitation.” – JustMoney Movement CEO, Sarah Edwards.
The campaign Challenge Amazon – Break the Habit, Fix the Rules, launched last month by the JustMoney Movement, pulls no punches. It boldly raises awareness of Amazon’s unjust tax practices and broader issues of corporate responsibility. It asks churches and individuals to reflect on their spending choices and to take collective action to champion better business practices and a fairer tax system.
Breaking the habit
The campaign encourages us to reduce reliance on Amazon, where possible, and instead support ethical, local and sustainable alternatives. And to sign a pledge to commit to action.
It suggests we should:
- Look for accredited marks and schemes that tell you more about the ethics of a product or company. For example, The Fairtrade Mark, Organic certification, Real Living Wage Employer or Fair Tax Mark
- Choose to support businesses that have a positive impact, like social enterprises, B Corps and co-operatives. Support local businesses that serve your community.
- Instead of shopping new, do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’? What about ‘rethink’ (do I need it?), ‘rehome’ (what will I do with things I no longer need?) or ‘repair’ (through one of the growing network of repair cafes).
However, lasting change cannot be achieved through consumer choices alone. It requires reform of the rules themselves, which leads on to the second part of the campaign.
Fixing the rules
The global tax system allows large multinational corporations like Amazon to shift profits and avoid paying their fair share of tax, including in the UK. This reduces public revenue and deepens inequality.
A UN process is underway to create the first global, inclusive, legally binding framework on international tax. The UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UNFCITC) is an opportunity to agree new rules that tackle profit shifting, improve transparency, and help all countries raise the revenue they need.
Each of us is encouraged to write to our MP to ask them to press the UK government to engage positively in the development of a strong new UN Tax Convention and to ratify it in the Autumn of 2027.
Download a comprehensive campaign Q & A.
Get resources for your church or Churches Together group.
Photo credit: George Darrell / JustMoney Movement