Greg Valerio Comments on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
This was posted on the Madison Dialogue List Serve in response to Estelle Levin’s previous scheme posted earlier. When Greg, (see his earlier interview on this blog) who is one of the leading figures behind the Association of Responsible Mining, states, “Until we have 100% traceability and transparency in our industry, CSR will always be green washing of the worst kind,” this is a great example of the passion of a 4th stage visionary social entrepreneur.
The short quote is below:
“I believe CSR is broadly a self serving system for business, it does not address issues of power in trading relationships, more equitable distribution of resources nor a fundamental rethink of what is the purpose of business as a self serving economic structure.
Economics that is divorced from moral and theological constraints is a dangerous entity in need of social rehabilitation.
This has never been truer than in the jewellery sector where transparency is avoided at all costs and we shy away from the true cost of our industry on the environment. Until we have 100& traceability and transparency in our industry CSR will always be green washing of the worst kind.”