previous |next |ecoNews2000 list | ecoglobe front page | site index & keywords

Britain's first International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility is to be established by Nottingham University Business School, and funded by one of the world's most notorious drugs' manufacturers. Interviewed by the BBC, Sir Campbell, the University of Nottingham's Vice-Chancellor, said that it does not matter where the money comes from. According to Sir Campbell's press release, both the University and the drugs manufacturer are delighted with the deal. Of course. One must wonder how much cheaper this deal is for the drugs manufacturer than to try establishing a better reputation with other means. Britain's ASH - Action onSmoking and Health reacted sharply: ASH slams BAT cash for ‘Ethics’ Health campaigners are outraged at Nottingham University’s controversial decision to takesponsorship from British American Tobacco for Britain's first International Centre forCorporate Social Responsibility. The tobacco giant, which is currently under investigation bythe Department of Trade and Industry for its role in ‘aiding and abetting’ tobacco smuggling,has promised £3.8m over three years to fund staff and students as they study the social andenvironmental responsibilities of multinational companies. Chair of Students for Action on Smoking and Health (SASH), Patrick Mackerras, said: "I’moutraged that a university with a strict no-smoking policy could be so naive. Although, theUniversity’s logic may have been bought by BAT’s money, I don’t think they have anticipatedthe pay off of taking tobacco industry money. Students have a choice of where to study and Idon’t see many people wanting to study at a university that is prepared to embarrass itself inpublic like this. Students and scholars alike have to be asking, What sort of course will it beand what will I learn? Will the curriculum include courses on, ‘How to lie to the British publicfor over 40 years’ or ‘How to handle having your head office raided by the Department ofTrade and Industry’? Mackerras added: "The decision to take this money from a company that is being investigatedby various governments and faces lawsuits by the dozen makes Nottingham University lookvery silly and questions its own ethical judgement." Karl Brookes, of the health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: "It’s clearlycash for ethics. BAT’s products kill hundreds of thousands of people a year andinternationally, it’s accused of racketeering and is being sued by several governments for avast array of misdemeanours. I just can't see how this corporate behaviour makes auniversity think that this is an acceptable sponsor for a school of ethics." ** This material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. ** Feedback to: <welcome@ecoglobe.org.nz> More on Tobacco and Smoking

People make the difference

top | previous |next |ecoNews2000 list | ecoglobe front page | site index & keywords

24 November ecoglobe news 2000

link to this itemhttp://www.ecoglobe.org.nz/news2000/news2000.htm#nott05d0">