Cover-up

1 June 2005

Hell on Earth: woman working near oil flare in Nigeria

Corporates have too much power and too little incentive to care about communities and the environment.

To head off such accusations many businesses are adopting voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies.

CSR promises to do more than the legal minimum to protect people and the planet.

But CSR is failing because it:

• Doesn't make a difference
  Companies don't deliver on promises eg Shell illegally flares gas in Nigeria.

• Ignores the real problems
  Reports gloss over impacts of core business eg forest destruction caused by BAT's tobacco plantations.

• Is voluntary
  There is no enforcement eg Barclays sign-up to principles they fail to meet.

What is corporate lobbying?

Companies hide behind lobbying groups that fight on their behalf for less regulation.

For example, the Confederation for British Industry (CBI) lobbies on behalf of business against laws that would benefit people and the environment.

Taking back control >