Canada undertook a wide ranging consultation process on how its extractive industry should be regulated (CSR Roundtables). This culminated in a report by an Advisory Committee made up of industry, civil society and government representatives. Finance Minister Flaherty has made some strong statements about Canada's committment to social responsibility: 

“Accountability, transparency, fairness—these are the principles of this international partnership, designed to increase the disclosure of resource revenues in developing countries,” Minister Flaherty said following a meeting of Group of Seven (G7) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. “They are principles Canada supports, and we intend to play a leading role in ensuring that citizens, not just governments or foreign companies, share in their nation’s prosperity.”

The report has now languished on the shelves for 8 months. Stephen Harper is visiting Tanzania and announcing a major aid project at the same time as Canadian corporation Barrick Gold is facing criticism from civil society. What will happen after Stephen Harper's visit to Tanzania? Will the New Democratic Party commit to holding the Conservative government accountable?

In the moments of doubt, the moments of futility where the odds seem impossible, words from artists like Drew Dellinger , Poet, Professor and Activist, can speak to us on a deep level. The narratives that activists, business people, students, consumers, builders, and all sorts of other types of artists create a future that will either be a better future or a future with an end in environmental death. What a choice, eh?

Here is an excerpt of a recent poem that he read at the Be the Change Conference, London, UK

hieroglyphic stairway

it's 3:23 in the morning
and I'm awake
because my great great grandchildren
won't let me sleep
my great great grandchildren
ask me in dreams
what did you do while the planet was plundered?
what did you do when the earth was unraveling?...

Listen to Drew reading the poem via Treehugger.com - You need quicktime to hear 

Corpobligation: Strong economic growth, a high Canadian dollar and low unemployment creates risks and opportunities,

depending on consumer choices

The higher Canadian dollar has turned the USA into a “candy store” and Canadians are expected to fly more than ever this holiday season. Greater wealth allows ridiculous decadence (pet psychiatrists and luxury condo developments). At the same time, economic wealth and consumer confidence allows us to make more sustainable choices and to make real changes in how we consume and structure our lives.

Corpobligation: In an age of Blackwater and Haliburton, CSR may discourage the worst abuses of the military industrial complex

• Professor Michael Hopkins outlines the links between industry and military leaders and groups in the US and many other countries
• CSR may play a role in reducing environmental or other abuses - or at least set a standard to which contractors can be held

• BAE states in its CR report that ‘Human nature creates conflict, not the defence industry.’ ,,,

• Can green bullets or strict rules of procurement and contracting make military suppliers socially and environmentally responsible?
  

Corpobligation: Micro credit, micro finance, small holder lending, micro creditos...whatever you call it...micro finance is a big deal and ACCION International is one of the biggest organizations:

• Micro credit organizations have moved past a donor-charity system to a sustainable financial model of helping the poorest of the poor
• Accion International is a pioneer and strong example of the micro credit model's potential
• Micro lending has been more successful in the "developing" world than the "developed" world, but social lending by individuals to other individuals has blossomed on the internet
• Corporate social responsibility stumbling blocks claimed by mainstream banks are challenged by the success of micro finance...

Images of humans and the environment...funny, tragic and poignant

• Whether using photographs, cartoons or video - images can bring home a message better than words