WDM is an outstanding organisation - independent, clever in its campaigning, meticulous in its research, and angry. Its important work deserves our support.
John Pilger, author and activist
Sign up to E-NewsCORE Scotland
WDM Scotland is a member of CORE Scotland - the corporate responsibility coalition. WDM recently took part in a joint CORE / Trade Justice Movement campaign to strengthen the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Corporate irresponsibility
In recent years corporate scandals, from major accounting irregularities, to 'fat cat' pay rises, to unethical business practices here and in developing countries, have further eroded trust between the public and big business.
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Protestors campaigning for the victims of the Union Carbide disaster at Bhopal, India. |
Multinational corporations have faced criticism from consumer and community groups, non-governmental organisations and even the United Nations for paying insufficient attention to the social and environmental impact of their business activities. Accusations of labour rights violations, destruction of the environment, and co-operation with oppressive regimes have been levelled against some companies.
There is a growing awareness that the voluntary codes in place, laudable in and of themselves, are patchy, unregulated and insufficient to ensure improved standards of corporate behaviour. Government at all levels need to do more in order to ensure corporate responsibility.
A concerted response
CORE Scotland was established to address the specific implications of the lack of corporate responsibility and accountability in Scotland. It follows on from the work done by CORE UK in promoting the need for companies to behave responsibly towards society and the environment through changes in UK legislation.
The network of organisations and individuals in Scotland, of which WDM Scotland is a member, is led by Amnesty International Scotland, the Centre for Human Ecology, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Oxfam in Scotland, and Save the Children, envisions an economy in which all companies can be held responsible for their actions which impact on society and the environment. It seeks to create a broad-based network of voluntary organisations, trade unions and businesses working to reach this goal.
CORE Action
The coalition has identified four key areas for action here in Scotland:
- by working to see that procuring goods and services with public money is done in a responsible way.
- by requiring companies to produce reports detailing their environmental and social standards or demanding certified ethical goods and services companies will be given an incentive to act responsibly.
- by ensuring that public funds, including pension schemes are invested in a way that ensures that public money is not used to finance projects which cause environmental degradation or suffering.
- promoting the rights of Scottish communities affected by the activities of corporations to have a say in the decisions which affect them.
You can help making corporations take responsibility! For more information visit www.corporate-responsibility.org or contact info@core-scotland.org.uk.
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