----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Alex Wilks - Avaaz.org <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, 20 January 2012, 10:35 Subject: Stop the RBS fat cats Dear friends across the UK, In days incompetent RBS bosses will try to pay themselves astronomical bonuses, but George Osborne heads up the public body that will negotiate this deal. Let's shame him into stopping the great fat cat rip-off bydelivering a deafening 100,000-strong petition to the RBS execs and the Chancellor. Act now and spread the word! In days incompetent Royal Bank of Scotland bosses want to pay themselves astronomical bonuses from our taxes! But we can stop these fat cats swallowing more cream.Despite losing the bank £750 million in the last six months, RBS executives are spending a fortune lobbying the government and now want to get another £500m in bonuses! It’s a scandal at a time when cuts are biting all of us. But George Osborne heads up the body that will negotiate the deal. If we raise a massive public stink, the Chancellor could be shamed into rejecting RBS’s outrageous claim.We don’t have long to stop this offensive corporate greed -- RBS executives meet on Wednesday. Let's deliver a deafening 100,000 strong petition to Osborne to force a drastic cap on RBS bonuses and ban the use of our money to lobby the government.Click here to stop the great fat-cat rip-off, and then share this with everyone:http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_rbs_bonuses_a/?vlRBS’s crash in 2008 shook the global economy, and the British taxpayer had to step in with £45bn to buy most of the bank. Since then RBS’s management have sold off the best bits of the bank, sacked around 20,000 people, and refused to boost lending to embattled businesses. The share price has plummeted, and British taxpayers are currently £23bn out of pocket.Shockingly, RBS’s arrogant executives still want to award themselves “performance” bonuses. It’s incredible, but the chief executive wants a repeat of the £6.8m he took in 2011, and the head of the investment banking division wants to cash in share options for over £5m. Yesterday Cameron made vague promises about tackling unfair rewards, yet claims his hands are tied on RBS. The truth is that over 80% of the bank is owned by the British taxpayer through a company whose board reports straight to Chancellor Osborne. Let’s remind him that he is accountable to us, not the greedy gamblers at RBS. Sign now and share this with everyone:http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_rbs_bonuses_a/?vl Fat cats and corporate raiders have pillaged our economy, and we are paying with our jobs and services while executive pay continues to skyrocket. But our campaign against the Murdochs shows that, when we stick together and stay strong, we can stop even the seemingly untouchable. Let’s stop the RBS bonuses and turn the tide of corporate greed..With hope and determination,Alex W, Luis, Alex R, Carol, Alice, Ricken, and the rest of the Avaaz teamSOURCESBBC: "What is ‘appropriate’ pay at RBS?": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16609987 Independent: The £1m question: Will Cameron really tackle bonus excess?:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-1m-question-will-cameron-r... This is Money: "Government to demand RBS caps cash bonuses at its investment arm":http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2086696/Government-demand-Ro... Telegraph: "RBS chief to be paid almost £7m":http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8248374/RBS-... Telegraph: "RBS horror story as 20,000 jobs cut":http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/rbs/7978529/RBS-horror-... Support the Avaaz Community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way. ________________________________ Avaaz.org is a 10-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. This message was sent to [email protected]. To change your email address, language, or other information, contact us via this form. To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] or click here. To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).