The Dodd Frank’s legislation that was passed in 2010 was created to prevent future financial crises. Section 1502 of this legislation requires companies to disclose the use of conflict minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold that are “necessary to the functionality or production of a product” originating from the Congo or adjoining countries. These precious minerals are often used in manufacturing computer equipment and cans used for food packaging like soup.
While the intention of the legislation was to help manage these resources in a proper and especially safe fashion, the results have been more damaging then helpful. This law has cost over 6000 companies billions of dollars a year. I wonder how much collaboration went into this legislation? Perhaps collaboration took place, but not nearly enough. I encourage our legislators to engage in serious collaborative thinking.
Serious collaborative thinking and thoughtfulness is happening in places like The Rocky Mountain Institute. This organization looks at complex issues using the Natural Step process. Check out www.rmi.org and www.naturalstep.org to learn more about their work.
