Christian students cheer Costa staff over corporate tax payment

Christian students have applauded staff in a Manchester branch of Costa after the company paid its taxes, but have vowed to keep up pressure on avoiders.
.
The students were wearing party hats, blowing whistles and cheering as they appeared to surprised staff and customers.

The celebration highlighted Costa’s corporate tax payment, while other high street shops and rival chains use aggressive tax dodging methods.

The students, who were attending the Student Christian Movement’s 2013 conference Seeds of Liberation, applauded tax justice because they are "fed up of companies avoiding their tax and students being in the headlines for angry protests."

They want the government to push for global agreements that ensure companies contribute to the societies they operate in through taxation, both in the UK and abroad.

Debbie White, one of the organisers, explained: "Tax is very important because it directly funds social services that we all rely on. By paying their corporation tax Costa are demonstrating that it is possible to be a successful business whilst being ethical. It was also a lot of fun and great for students to do some positive action."

Students had spent the past weekend learning about what they can do to combat social injustice and the issues facing our world.

Many will be lobbying their Universities to stop signing purchasing deals with tax dodgers, a campaign designed by Church Action on Poverty, who also helped organise the celebration action. By taking action on these issues, the students hope to achieve a fairer society for all.

The Student Christian Movement (www.movement.org.uk/about-us) is "passionate about living out faith in the real world". It has groups at universities around Britain. SCM is the oldest student Christian Network in the UK, and is part of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF).

Church Action on Poverty (www.church-poverty.org.uk) is a national ecumenical Christian social justice charity, committed to tackling poverty in the UK. It works in partnership with churches and with people in poverty themselves to find solutions to poverty, locally, nationally and globally.

[Ekk/3]