Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ) in the mining industry - the risk of community dependency

Historically, the mining industry has taken a 'devil may care' attitude to the impacts of its operations; operating in areas without social legitimacy, causing major devastation, and then leaving when an area has been exhausted of all economically valuable resources. Cost benefit language has often been used to excuse the damage caused in one place because it is outweighed by the overall financial benefits (Jenkins, 2004). However, in recent years the global mining industry has addressed its social and environmental responsibilities; numerous factors have contributed to this, and the extractive industry is key in debates about social and environmental sustainability (Cowell et al., 1999). The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of mining companies tend to focus on community initiatives as their impact in economic, social and environmental terms is felt greatest at the local level.