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ePaper created 2015-12-01, 11:32:17 | version 1.43.00
akzente 2/15 19 » findings on the internet. The transparency initiative itself is a model of transparency. This is evidence of the power of transparency: it holds manufacturers and retailers to account if they fail to hon- our their commitments. This principle operates in many industries – in gold, gemstone and resource extraction, but also in agriculture, the food industry and commerce. Corruption, fraud and dishonest business practices thrive on darkness. In the light of transparency, they cannot sur- vive for long. The risk of being held to account for their misconduct is often enough to change the behaviour of managers, businesspeople, politicians and industry asso- ciation functionaries. ‘Those in darkness drop from sight’ The reverse also applies: a lack of transparency creates mis- trust, undermines political systems and hampers eco- nomic development. The same applies to crime, as the poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht knew. In his song ‘Mack the Knife’, an international hit from ‘The ‘Transparency alone cannot solve complex conflicts, but without it the hope of resolution is dramatically diminished.’ KOFI ANNAN, former UN Secretary-General 65countries have joined the Open Government Partnership, launched in 2011. Through their membership, these coun- tries signal their commitment to greater openness and ac- countability towards citizens. www.opengovpartnership.org Cover-up or clarity? On sunny days, dark glasses help us to see more clearly. akzente 2/1519