08 Apr 2003
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The Burma Campaign UK today attacked Ethical Corporation magazine for inviting British American Tobacco (BAT) to speak at a conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The conference will be held in London on Thursday 10 April.
“Inviting BAT to speak at a conference on corporate responsibility is like inviting the BNP to speak at an anti-racist conference because they say they aren’t racist”, said John Jackson, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “BAT are as irresponsible and unethical as it gets. Their business partner in Burma is the military dictatorship, to which they have given millions of dollars.”
Ethical Corporation Magazine describes itself as “the leading business information provider and events producer on Corporate Responsibility for business professionals.” The conference will also be addressed by representatives from Shell, Coca Cola, BT, The Body Shop, WWF, PR Week and Marks and Spencer amongst others.
“Corporate Social Responsibility is vital to improve labour and environmental standards and human rights worldwide”, says John Jackson. “By inviting BAT to speak at this conference Ethical Corporation are undermining the CSR movement. They are allowing BAT to paint itself as responsible, while its business partners use rape, murder and torture to oppress the people of Burma. Companies genuinely committed to CSR are having their work undermined by companies like BAT, which use it as a PR tool to deflect criticism.”
For more information contact John Jackson, Director, or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377
Note to Editors: The conference takes place on April 10-11th at the Paragon Hotel, West London. BAT will be represented by David O’Reilly, Social Accountability Manager.