International

Will we see a policy of nuclear disarmament adopted under President Obama? His speech in Prague at the beginning of April was interpreted by many in this way and it is certainly important that the world's most powerful politician has expressed support for nuclear disarmament. There is, however, a problematic relationship between ultimate goals and practical policy steps. Not the least of the problems involved is that of the 'After You' principle: everyone is for nuclear disarmament, provided someone else takes the first steps.

Billions of euros in profits, capital gains and earnings are being syphoned off from taxes on a global level. This deprives developing countries in particular of any possibility of constructing a decent public sector for their own people. Rich countries and international financial organisations are aware of the problem, yet effective measures against tax evasion remain inadequate. “How can we stop this massive theft from the public purse?" asked SP Senator Tiny Kox at a symposium on global tax crime organised by the SP in the Dutch national Senate in The Hague this week. “And why have we put it with it for so long?”