Natural resources shouldn't be a burden on the poor. Yet in many countries around the world, revenues from natural resources are propping up dictators, fueling conflict, and deepening poverty.
But you can help change that today. There's a bill in the Senate that would help poor communities hold their governments accountable.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Disclosure (EITD) Act would require payments made between oil, gas, and mining companies and their host governments to be publicized. Too often profits from natural resources are secretly diverted to accounts of corrupt leaders or used to fund conflict and repression.
More than 60 percent of the world's poorest people live in countries rich in natural resources, but they rarely share in that wealth. Natural resources should help lift people out of poverty, but for many developing countries that window is closing fast. Ask your Senators to co-sponsor the EITD Act.
Dear Senator,
Natural resources shouldn't be a burden on the poor. Yet in many countries around the world, revenues from natural resources are propping up dictators, fueling conflict, and deepening poverty.
Please co-sponsor the Extractive Industries Transparency Disclosure (EITD) Act to help direct natural resource profits to those who need them most.
Instead of allowing payments from oil, gas, and mining companies to their host governments to be made in secret, the EITD Act would require both American and foreign companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to publish these financial transactions as part of their annual filing.
Such disclosure could help the citizens of resource-rich yet poor countries to demand accountability from their governments. Too often these windfalls are secretly diverted into the accounts of corrupt leaders or used to fund conflict and repression in some of the poorest countries in the world.
More than 60 percent of the world's poorest people live in countries rich in natural resources, but they rarely share in that wealth. Natural resources should help lift people out of poverty, but for many developing countries that window is closing fast.
[Your comments]
Thank you for your support of poor people around the world.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
