A noite passada, o Congresso dos Estados Unidos votou favoravelmente uma reforma financeira global que inclui a obrigação inédita das empresas petrolíferas, mineiras e de gás, registadas na U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a publicarem quanto pagam a países estrangeiros e ao governo americano.

A Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act deverá ser transposta a Lei pelo Presidente Obama na próxima semana, fornecendo aos cidadãos de países ricos em recursos a informação essencial para responsabilizarem os seus governos e assegurarem que os seus recursos naturais geram benefícios para todos e não só para alguns.

Last night the U.S. Congress voted in favour of sweeping financial reforms which include a landmark provision requiring oil, gas and mining companies registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to publish how much they pay to foreign countries and the U.S. government.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is expected to be signed into law by President Obama next week and will give citizens of resource-rich countries essential information to hold their governments to account and ensure that natural resources generate benefits for everyone, rather than a select few.

Senate Should Pass Cardin Amendment to Financial Reform Bill

In the midst of an unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil industry is supporting secrecy and business as usual on Capitol Hill by opposing a critical amendment to the financial reform bill. The bipartisan amendment would increase financial transparency in the oil, gas, and mining industries and provide valuable information to investors in the United States and to citizens in poor countries around the world, says international humanitarian organization Oxfam America. The amendment is likely to face a floor vote this week.

Oxfam America has just launched a new animated video showing how so little of the profits from extractive industries reach local communities. In the US the video is intended to encourage people to take action and contact their member of Congress regarding the Energy Security Through Transparency Act – a crucial piece of legislation that would require any company registered with the US authorities (Securities and Exchange Commission) to disclose their payments in every country of operation.

International aid agency Oxfam America filed a shareholder resolution today with Chevron calling on the California-based oil company to adopt a comprehensive policy of publicly disclosing payments made to governments where the company operates.

The resolution, filed on International Human Rights Day, aims to promote the rights of citizens in oil-rich countries by providing them with vital information about revenues coming into their countries.

Oil, gas and mineral companies can reduce global instability by opening the books on their payments, say investors, industry experts, and human rights advocates

Washington, D.C.— A little more public information could make a big difference in the stability of U.S. energy supplies, say congressional and industry leaders and leading international activists who have renewed the call for a “publish what you pay” rule change at the U.S.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
US Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton,

Publish What You Pay (PWYP), the international civil society coalition for transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, is writing to draw your attention to the continued harassment of transparency and anticorruption advocates in Africa and the need for African governments to respect their commitments to encourage public debate on these issues.

PWYP Member the Revenue Watch Institute Says U.S. Must Be a Partner, Not Just a Customer

On the eve of President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Ghana, the Revenue Watch Institute called on the West African country to make good governance the centerpiece of its energy policy. With Ghana poised to become a major African oil power, Ghanaian and American leaders must hold both their countries to the highest standards of transparency.

Transparency in the extractive industries was very much on the agenda in Washington DC during the week 11-15 May. The World Bank and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) held sessions on sub-national implementation of EITI and working with civil society to ensure EITI is implemented successfully.

14-15 May saw the convening of the 9th EITI Board which accepted Albania, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Zambia as EITI Candidate countries.

PWYP member the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI) held its own event on how transit revenues could potentially be included in the framework of EITI. RWI followed events closely and posted regular updates here, including contributions from EITI board member Anthony Richter who was busy blogging on how the week unfolded.