Combating Environmental Irresponsibility of TNCs in Africa: An Empirical Analysis

Environmental irresponsibility is one of the most prominent issues confronting host communities of transnational corporations (TNCs) engaged in the production of economic goods and, sometimes, services. Drawing mainly on stakeholder theory, combined with legitimacy theory, this article addresses how host communities in Africa combat the challenge of environmental irresponsibility of TNCs. To illustrate the dimensions and dynamics of the challenge, this paper examines the experience of despoliation of Ogoniland by the oil giant Shell in Nigeria. The analysis draws attention to the significance of the role of individuals and civil society groups in securing accountability of one of the most formidable fronts of economic globalisation. The analysis is particularly relevant to the experience of environmental irresponsibility in the context of weak governance structures

Quartz and feldspar-blended clay composites for thermal and structural applications

In this study, some selected clay samples were beneficiated and blended with quartz and feldspar in various proportions to develop composites with good thermal and structural performance for sustainable development. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis affirms the aluminosilicate nature of the clay samples and other trace oxides. The pore volume of the fired bulk composites disappears at 1200 °C leading to a decline in apparent density, apparent porosity, and water absorption. Furthermore, this study revealed that at the same temperature, the bulk density (1.69, g/cm3, 1.78, g/cm3, 1.78 g/cm3), modulus of rupture (33.2 kg/cm3, 39.34 kg/cm3, 38.88 kg/cm3), and total shrinkage (23.6 %, 22.3 %, 20.6 %) were maximum. Additionally, the results showed that the relative plasticity of the clay samples improved with the addition of feldspar and quartz from 1.27 to 1.33 and 1.35 for the fired composites (BO1: 50 % clay, 30 % feldspar, 20 % quartz, and CO1: 50 % clay, 25 % feldspar, 25 % quartz), respectively. Results obtained from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed the clay samples to be thermally stable. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of all the fired composites showed major peaks, with quartz content being the highest at 27.5° (2θ) angle, albite presenting the lowest non-clay mineral content. Based on the analyses conducted in this study, it could be inferred that the clay sample is suitable for thermal insulation and structural applications

Collective transnational power and its limits: London-based Nigerian organisations, development at ‘home’ and the importance of local agency and the ‘internal diaspora’

In the recent wave of enthusiasm about the development role of migration, international diaspora organisations have been posited as powerful actors in the progress of their communities of origin. Drawing on research on Nigerian diaspora organisations in London and their places of intervention in Nigeria, this article seeks to subject such claims to greater empirical scrutiny. To understand the relative importance of these organisations in the development of their ‘home’ communities, their collective transnational interventions are set in the context of contributions made by local actors and internal migrants within Nigeria. It is found that the international diaspora organisations engaged in this study make a limited, almost marginal contribution to local development at ‘home’ and that local actors and internal migrants are much more important drivers of community progress. It is therefore argued that ‘home’-based actors and internal migrants should be given greater recognition in the conceptualisation of how and to what extent migration contributes to local development. To this end, a translocal perspective is advanced that incorporates local, internal and international actors in more effectively comprehending the development role of migration in all its forms