March 6, 2017
Dear Commissioner Piwowar,
Global problems such as human rights are EVERY person's responsibility. For example, CONSUMERS MUST CONSIDER HUMAN RIGHTS when deciding what products to buy, and INVESTORS MUST CONSIDER HUMAN RIGHTS when deciding what stocks to buy.
I VIGOROUSLY SUPPORT the "CONFLICT MINERALS RULE." WE NEED INFORMATION IN ORDER TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
Nowadays companies' supply chains use resources and labor from all around the world. WE MUST KNOW WHICH OF THESE ARE EXPLOITED IMMORALLY -- IN VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS -- and which ones support CRUEL AND VIOLENT REGIMES AND TERRORIST GROUPS.
I do not want my purchases to support violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Conflict Minerals Rule has made it easier for me to assess which companies are taking steps to ensure their products are not linked to this decades-long conflict.
Additionally, I believe transparent supply chains are an important indicator of a companys overall stability, which is a key factor for making both purchasing and investment decisions.
I urge you to keep the Conflict Minerals Rule fully intact, and to work with your fellow SEC commissioners to enforce the Rule moving forward.
BUSINESS MUST INCLUDE ETHICS, not just unrestrained greed