Support Transparency
Too often African countries rich in natural resources have been plagued by instability, corruption and huge inequality. But it doesn't need to be like this. The first step is transparency - we need all companies to disclose exactly how much they pay governments for the right to extract natural resources.
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Too often African countries rich in natural resources have been plagued by instability, corruption and huge inequality.
But it doesn't need to be like this. The first step is transparency - we need all companies to disclose exactly how much they pay governments for the right to extract natural resources.
Last year, thanks to work from ONE, the “Publish What You Pay” campaign, and many others in the US, we successfully pressured the US Congress to pass a law on this issue. Since then we have been encouraging the UK Government to support a similar law across the EU. The UK Chancellor, George Osborne, has since responded with this public statement:
"As we enter a new decade when the resources of Africa are going to be heavily developed, I strongly believe it’s in everyone’s interests that mining companies and others operate to the highest standards. That’s the way to ensure some of the world’s poorest benefit from the wealth that lies in the ground beneath them. That’s why I’ve raised the issue of new international rules at the G20 in Paris – the first time that’s happened. And that’s why Vince Cable and I will be arguing for an European agreement that matches the new standards just set in the US."
This is a fantastic first step, but the battle isn’t over yet. The next stage will be later this year when the EU has an opportunity to introduce legally-binding measures to make this a reality. ONE will be working as part of the Publish What You Pay coalition to make sure that Mr Osborne’s words are turned into concrete action.
Find out more on the ONE Blog
Thanks to your support we are even closer to ending the resource curse.