The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility Interventions in Quality of Life Variations in Selected Rural Communities, Bayelsa State, Nigeria (Published)
An analysis of the role of corporate social responsibility intervention in the variation of quality of life in selected rural settlements in Bayelsa State was undertaken. The study covered fifteen communities; ten oil and gas bearing communities within the Nun River Oilfield that benefit from corporate social responsibility interventions and five adjoining non-oil and gas bearing communities that do not benefit as such. The study mainly utilised primary source of data which was collected through survey method. A well-structured questionnaire was designed and administered on 398 respondents in all sampled communities selected through the simple random sampling technique. Data were both descriptively and statistically analysed. The results of the descriptive analyses showed variations. Likewise, results of an ANOVA test showed that F-ratio calculated 1527.552 was greater than tabulated value of 3.84, and P-value 0.000 was less than significant 0.05 indicating that corporate social responsibility interventions caused significant quality of life variation in Nun River Oilfield Communities and Neighbouring Communities. The study also revealed inadequate provision or non-availability of basic amenities in the sampled communities, even in greater percentages in Neighbouring Communities, which holds far-reaching consequences for quality of life. Consequently, it is recommended that Government at all levels should undertake rural infrastructure development to improve quality of life of individuals and communities. The provision of basic amenities in these rural settlements shall also stem the spite of rural–urban migration being experienced.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Quality of life, Variation, rural settlements
Environmental Externalities and Reality of CSR Practices (Environmental) in Bangladesh (Published)
Owing to the on-going exhaustion of the natural environment and its consequences on the society, the present environmental state of Bangladesh, a populated country with inadequate resources, has become enormously alarming. The human health, ecosystems and economic growth are threatened by severe environmental pollutions and encroachments. Bangladesh is facing several natural catastrophes such as floods, cyclones, and tidal-bores every year because of the environmental externalities which cause severe socio-economic and ecological damage. Thus, this study aims to highlight various ecological difficulties that Bangladesh is currently facing and that pose obstacles to implementing environmental CSR for sustainable development. The review of the literature reveals that several environmental pollutions, climate change and the loss of biodiversity are continuously degrading the natural environment of Bangladesh and its resources. Consequently, these detrimental impacts are threatening the socio-economic growth of Bangladesh and its environment. Hence corporate social responsibility (particularly environmental) can play a significant role to control the current environmental degradation of Bangladesh. The government should, at the same time, undertake several initiatives to protect environmental degradation, foster the environmental CSR activities within all the business sectors and increase environmental awareness which is mandatory to attain sustainable development.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental CSR, Environmental Pollution