Welcome to the IGO Watch Monthly Newsletter for December

What an amazing year for IGO Watch! And, of course, we couldn’t have done it without you. We want to thank all of you for the support which enabled IGO Watch to grow in 2019. We hope that you are excited about what is to come in 2020.  We have amazing plans and updates that we can’t wait to share with you. Make sure to follow us closely on Facebook and Twitter and stay tuned for exciting news as we expand our presence and activities throughout the New Year!

Holiday season is here! While we celebrate, let’s also take a look at the most important activities by IGOs around the world this month.

 

An Expensive Party

It has become a tradition for the United Nations (UN) to waste an increasingly absurd amount of money on lavish and overcrowded climate conference at the end of every year. So it should come as no surprise that this year’s climate change conference, the COP25, has reportedly cost global taxpayers an estimated $100 million. That’s right, more than $100 million for just one conference, paid for by OUR taxes. 

What’s even more absurd is that the UN is wasting enormous amounts of money while experiencing the worst financial crisis in the organization’s history. Its $770 million deficit will only get worse as the UN spends beyond its means and reaches far beyond its original mission. Despite the dire fiscal situation, thousands of delegates, scientists, politicians, and activists gathered in Madrid for a 12-day, taxpayer-funded proceeding which resulted in… absolutely nothing. As expected, attending delegates had no actual intention to fully buy into the UN’s climate disaster fearmongering. Neither did a large group of scientists from all over the planet gathered to rebut the global-warming alarmism coming from the COP25. So that’s literally $100 million up in…hot air.

Because of the huge media interest in the conference, important news showcasing the deep culture of abuse and harassment within the organization has been completely ignored by the mainstream media. According to a scandalous new report, building on previous accusations of sexual misconduct, UN peacekeepers in Haiti allegedly fathered children with women and young girls before abandoning them. Martina Brostrom, a UN whistleblower who accused a high-ranking official of sexually assaulting her, has been fired over alleged financial and sexual misconduct, the latest in a long line of whistleblowers at IGOs who have been terminated.

 

Unnecessary Burden

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that the U.S. “firmly opposes” plans for a global digital services tax, saying that the US has concerns about how the proposed tax system would “‘have a discriminatory impact on US-based businesses.” Our partners at the Tax Foundation have also agreed that a higher tax burden on businesses could create various economic ripples throughout the international economy. 

 

Where Does The Money Go?

There has only been bad news for European taxpayers this December. New European Union (EU) leaders announced to tackle climate change and the rise in the cost of living. This so-called “European Green Deal” was described as the “biggest overhaul of policy since the foundation of the modern EU” and will re-evaluate nearly every major aspect of the European economy in light of the imperatives of the “climate and ecological emergency.” Money-wasting didn’t stop there. According to the World Trade Organization, the EU continued to provide unfair subsidies to European plane manufacturer Airbus. In addition, the EU’s farm program, one of the largest subsidy schemes in the world, was called out by several prominent publications for its gaping shortcomings in accountability. Reports included examples of national leaders using taxpayer money to enrich friends, political allies, and family members.

 

Say it Ain’t So, IGOs

Let’s also look back on some of the most ridiculous examples of IGOs wasting taxpayer money while making decisions to the detriment of millions of taxpayers and consumers. In our latest article, you can find out our top 5 choices for the IGOs’ Biggest Blunders of 2019.

 

Partner Spotlight

Founded in 2013, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is a taxpayer pressure group that scrutinizes government spending, publicizes waste and promotes an efficient tax system. Some of its work includes publishing local government tax and spending tables (labeled “The Ratepayers’ Report”) and operating a confidential “tip line” for members of the public and government officials to report examples of government waste.

 

See Something? Say Something!

Our wish for 2020 is to further develop our network of regional coordinators from countries around the world to help us distribute information on social media, write blog posts and op-eds, and provide us with on-the-ground information from their regions. If you have any tips about stories, or would like to become a regional coordinator, please send us an email!

 

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2020,

IGO Watch Team

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