This report from Christian Aid is pretty scathing about 'Corporate Social Responsibility'. They state:

Christian Aid is saying that CSR is a completely inadequate response to the sometimes devastating impact that multinational companies can have in an ever-more globlised world - and that it is actually used to mask that impact. Those who suffer the most as a result are the poor and vulnerable people in developing countries and the environments in which they live." (p.2)

The report makes its case by looking at three multi-national corporations: Shell, British American Tobacco and Coca-Cola.

The chapter Sustained Misery looks at the operations of Shell in the Niger Delta. It's a sad story of inadequate clear-up of spills and repair of pipelines, cynical and half-hearted 'development projects' and a suspect involvement in inter-communal strife and police repression. 'Mobile police' and gangs operate in murky circumstances against those in the Niger Delta communities who raise complaints.

Hooked on tobacco analyses the role of BAT in Kenya. Again a sorry tale. Workers not given adequate protection from the harmful chemicals they have to spray the crops with and poor returns.

The report states:

That farmers in Kenya appear to suffer ill-health associated with pesticide exposure, that they spray without protective clothing, that they work hard and add such value to their tobacco, but receive such scant reward, will come as no surprise to BAT." (p.35)

In Living its values Coca Cola in India is put under the microscope. Here concerns are raised about the effect on local communities of falling water levels at places like Plachimada.

CSR is about companies defining what responsible behaviour is and promising to act accordingly, identifying where they are falling short of the standards they set, and deciding for themselves when they have gone far enough in changing their practice." (p.4)

Christian Aid see great difficulties with a purely voluntary approach:

Voluntary approaches can only ever address company behaviour in a partial and non-sustainable way. Market forces will push some companies towards more responsible practices, while others will take advantage of this to undercut them. Without standardisation and regulation, companies will be at the mercy of the changing economic realities faced by companies; and consumers and investors will never know for sure if companies really mean it when they claim to be acting responsibly." (p.19)

Instead they advocate corporate social accountability underpinned by law. They point out that moves to curb bribery by the OECD in which 35 countries are involved show that this can be done on an International level.

Third Way favours such legislation. Anyone reading this report is also likely to be convinced of the urgent need for regulation.