Small Change for Banks, Big Change for World’s Poor

Wall Street's greed left us in the worst recession in a century. Americans were left footing the bill – $14 trillion in lost wages, lost savings and lost homes – while Wall Street continued to reap substantial profits.

Today we finally have a chance to force Wall Street to give back – and to give back to those who need it most.

This past July, Rep. Pete Stark introduced a new bill that would place a small tax on foreign currency exchanges from large-scale investors in the United States. The tax could generate billions of dollars a year to help our world cope with climate change and global health crises. Congressional leaders must back this bill right away, but it won't happen without your support.

Tell congressional leaders to support and co-sponsor the Investing in Our Future Act of 2010 – as soon as possible.

In addition to becoming a strong source of revenue for critical health and climate programs, this currency transaction levy (CTL) would also help curb the risky, speculative trading practices that caused the economic crisis we're in now.

The bill that Rep. Stark introduced would place a tiny, 0.005 percent tax on big exchanges of foreign currency made by U.S. investors who trade more than $10,000 a year. The levy will have almost no impact on middle-class investors or small-scale traders.

Here's how it would work: Trading houses today use centralized electronic systems that capture trades whenever and wherever they take place. Implementation of the CTL is easy, efficient and inexpensive. And the proceeds from this tiny tax could generate billions of dollars each year in support for poor countries and communities who bear the brunt of global climate change and health crises like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Congress has gone back to their districts for the month of August-but poverty doesn't stop. Click here now to add your name to our petition and tell Congress to act immediately when they return to DC.

This bill would make Wall Street pay for the devastation it caused – and help those suffering the most – but only if we make Congress act quickly.

Tell congressional leaders to act now and co-sponsor the Investing in Our Future Act and help the world's most marginalized people.

Click here to add your name to our petition.

It's a simple idea, but it could truly help to change the world.

Thank you for speaking up!