The Jesus College Graduate Society (MCR) and Jesus College Intellectual Forum are co-hosting a special documentary film screening of “The Spider’s Web: An investigation into the world of Britain’s secrecy jurisdictions and the City of London”. A discussion and wine reception will follow special with guest speakers: producer John Christensen and Michael Oswald, as well as professor Jason Sharman. Chairing the event will be professor Barry Rider, an established expert on economic crime. Event is free and open to members of the University. For additional information please contact May at hmh46@cam.ac.uk
FREE FILM SCREENING OF “THE SPIDER’S WEB: BRITAIN’S SECOND EMPIRE.”
DISCUSSION AND WINE RECEPTION TO FOLLOW
DATE/TIME: THURSDAY APRIL 26, 2018 at 17:30 – 20:00
LOCATION: JESUS COLLEGE BREWERY ROOM (below Roost Café/Bar in West Court)
MORE INFO: http://spiderswebfilm.com or e-mail hmh46@cam.ac.uk
The Spider’s Web: Britain’s Second Empire, is a documentary film that shows how Britain transformed from a colonial power into a global financial power. At the demise of empire, City of London financial interests created a web of offshore secrecy jurisdictions that captured wealth from across the globe and hid it behind obscure financial structures in a web of offshore islands. Today, up to half of global offshore wealth may be hidden in British offshore jurisdictions and Britain and its offshore jurisdictions are the largest global players in the world of international finance. How did this come about, and what impact does it have on the world today? This is what the Spider’s Web sets out to investigate.
With contributions from leading experts, academics, former insiders and campaigners for social justice, the use of stylized b–roll and archive footage, the Spider’s Web reveals how in the world of international finance, corruption and secrecy have prevailed over regulation and transparency, and the UK is right at the heart of this.
MODERATOR
May Hen, PhD Student, University of Cambridge
DISCUSSION CHAIR
Barry Rider – PROFESSORIAL FELLOW, CENTRE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES – In addition to teaching law at the University of Cambridge since 1976 Barry has also held numerous public service appointments including Head of the Commonwealth Commercial Crime Unit and Assistant Director (Legal) in the Commonwealth Secretariat. He has also worked for the IMF, as counsel and has been a consultant to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Financial Services Board, European Union and various UN and regional organisations. He has also practiced law as a barrister, government lawyer (in various jurisdictions) and with the City law firm Beachcroft LLP and the US international law firm Bryan Cave LLP. In recent years his principal clients have been the Kuwait Investment Authority and the People’s Bank of China. He also is the Co-Chairman of the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime.
DISCUSSION PANEL
John Christensen – PRODUCER, INVESTIGATIVE ECONOMIST AND ACTIVIST – is the co-founder and executive director of the Tax Justice Network. His investigations into the role of tax havens in the globalised economy started in 1978, and have included fourteen years working on the tax haven of Jersey. He is a vocal critic of tax havens and is today described as Jersey’s most prominent dissident.
Michael Oswald – DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER – is an independent documentary filmmaker based in London UK. He uses narrative storytelling to produce investigative and observational films. He aims to discover, understand and communicate ideas that are given less attention than they deserve. Previous films include 97% Owned: How is Money Created and Princes of the Yen: Central Banks and the Transformation of the Economy.
Jason Sharman – PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – is the Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor of International Relations in the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge. Sharman’s research interests range from the study of international corruption, money laundering and tax havens, to the global politics of the early modern world.
