1.5 billion people live in countries rich with natural resources — but in some cases never see the benefits. Instead of sharing in the wealth generated by oil, gas, and mining projects, many communities face poverty, environmental damage, loss of land, and human rights abuses.
We have the power to change this — by fighting for transparency and empowering communities with the information they need to stop corruption. There's already a law on the books that can make a huge difference: part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act requires oil, mining, and gas companies to disclose the payments they make to U.S. and foreign governments.
But today, communities remain in the dark, without the tools they need to fight corruption. Big Oil wants to keep these payments in the dark, but the Securities and Exchange Commission should ignore their debunked arguments and fully implement this transparency rule.
With payments out in the open, companies and governments can be held accountable for how they spend the money earned from oil, gas, and mining projects. Armed with that information, activists can push for more of that money to be spent back in their communities, helping to fight poverty and build roads, schools, and hospitals.
Stand with activists who are fighting for their rights and their communities. Write to Mary Jo White, the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and urge her to finish the job on transparency.
Dear Mary Jo White:
Please reissue a strong final rule – no exemptions, no loopholes, by project – on Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act. It’s what the American people expect, it’s what investors need, and it’s what the world’s poorest demand.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
