http://midhudsonnews.com/News/Vas_antiCoke-09Nov07.html
Vassar College students urge administration to remove Coke from campus
Town of Poughkeepsie – About 20 students from a consortium of five Vassar Student Association organizations Thursday rallied in support of removing Coca-Cola products from the school.
The students want their college to join 45 others – including NYU, Rutgers, DePaul, Smith College and the University of Illinois in removing the products.
Freshman Thomas Faczhine of Irvington, NJ cited one example of what the students say Coke is doing wrong.
"In Columbia, up to nine union activities have been murdered by a company that Coke bottles for and Coca-Cola has said in the past that it would investigate, and it hasn’t,” he said.
“In India, they’ve done a lot of work against the environment to deteriorating the water table,” he said. Ghana has also been a problem with Coke production, he said.
Faczhine said the college administration, which has met with the student group, said they would weigh their request and keep an eye out to see how many students boycott Coke products on campus.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Colombia: Two teacher unionists murdered in 5 days
http://www.labourstart.org
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=662&theme=rights&country=colombia
[2007-11-13] Colombia: Two teacher unionists murdered in 5 days
EI deplores the murder of two teacher trade unionists within the past week
Mercedes Consuelo Restrepo Campo was shot dead outside the 'San Juan Bosco' school in the town of Cartago by two armed men on a motorcycle on 7th November the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia – CUT - reports.
Restrepo, who had been a teacher for 30 years, served on the executive board of SUTEV, a regional affiliate of EI member FECODE, in the department of Valle de Cauca.
Her murder follows that of Leonidas Silva Castro on 2nd November. He was murdered in his home in the Barrio Prados del Norte neighbourhood in the town of Villacaro. Castro had arrived home after attending a trade union event. He was an active member of ASINORT – another FECODE affiliate.
Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. The EI Barometer found that violence against trade unionists is endemic. Union leaders are targets of attacks by armed groups for political reasons. Teachers, who make up almost one-third of the organised work force, especially so.
EI condemns these assassinations and calls on the government of Colombia to bring those responsible to justice.
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=662&theme=rights&country=colombia
[2007-11-13] Colombia: Two teacher unionists murdered in 5 days
EI deplores the murder of two teacher trade unionists within the past week
Mercedes Consuelo Restrepo Campo was shot dead outside the 'San Juan Bosco' school in the town of Cartago by two armed men on a motorcycle on 7th November the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia – CUT - reports.
Restrepo, who had been a teacher for 30 years, served on the executive board of SUTEV, a regional affiliate of EI member FECODE, in the department of Valle de Cauca.
Her murder follows that of Leonidas Silva Castro on 2nd November. He was murdered in his home in the Barrio Prados del Norte neighbourhood in the town of Villacaro. Castro had arrived home after attending a trade union event. He was an active member of ASINORT – another FECODE affiliate.
Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. The EI Barometer found that violence against trade unionists is endemic. Union leaders are targets of attacks by armed groups for political reasons. Teachers, who make up almost one-third of the organised work force, especially so.
EI condemns these assassinations and calls on the government of Colombia to bring those responsible to justice.
Vassar Kick Coke writings on PDF
http://www.sendspace.com/file/46uogr
Link for accessing the PDF file on the Vassar Kick Coke CIRC proposal.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1hkx24
Link for accessing the PDF file on the Vassar Kick Coke newsletter issued in the Autumn 2007
*Note: These links are not direct links, and are not the most reliable transfer methods. If the above links fail, please email redunlea@vassar.edu for copies.
a link to the PDF file on the Killer Coke site:
http://www.killercoke.org/kccvassar.pdf
Link for accessing the PDF file on the Vassar Kick Coke CIRC proposal.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1hkx24
Link for accessing the PDF file on the Vassar Kick Coke newsletter issued in the Autumn 2007
*Note: These links are not direct links, and are not the most reliable transfer methods. If the above links fail, please email redunlea@vassar.edu for copies.
a link to the PDF file on the Killer Coke site:
http://www.killercoke.org/kccvassar.pdf
Sunday, October 7, 2007
"... Colombia remains the deadliest place for trade unionists..."
Excerpted from World Politics Review's column "Rights & Wrongs", authored by Juliette Terzieff. October 6, 2007 installment. Link: http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=1217
"WORKERS' RIGHTS A DANGEROUS BUSINESS -- Across the globe those who publicly advocate for workers' rights last year faced increasing abuses, including torture, arrest and even murder, according to a new report from the International Trade Union Confederation.
The ITUC's 2007 Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights tracked conditions in 138 countries and found more than 800 trade unionists were beaten or tortured in 2006 for defending workers' rights. More than 5,000 were arrested, more than 8,000 dismissed from their jobs and 144 murdered -- up from 115 the previous year.
Colombia remains the deadliest place for trade unionists, but the survey found violent incidents rising sharply in both Asia and Africa. Authoritarian regimes in countries such as Belarus, Burma, China and North Korea maintained their repression of workers, and some actions in developed countries, including Australia, Switzerland and the United States, were seen to roll back the free exercise of some rights.
Among the rights trade unionists advocate are fair pay, safe working conditions and the right to form unions -- all rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
"WORKERS' RIGHTS A DANGEROUS BUSINESS -- Across the globe those who publicly advocate for workers' rights last year faced increasing abuses, including torture, arrest and even murder, according to a new report from the International Trade Union Confederation.
The ITUC's 2007 Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights tracked conditions in 138 countries and found more than 800 trade unionists were beaten or tortured in 2006 for defending workers' rights. More than 5,000 were arrested, more than 8,000 dismissed from their jobs and 144 murdered -- up from 115 the previous year.
Colombia remains the deadliest place for trade unionists, but the survey found violent incidents rising sharply in both Asia and Africa. Authoritarian regimes in countries such as Belarus, Burma, China and North Korea maintained their repression of workers, and some actions in developed countries, including Australia, Switzerland and the United States, were seen to roll back the free exercise of some rights.
Among the rights trade unionists advocate are fair pay, safe working conditions and the right to form unions -- all rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Colombian soldiers get 40 years for union killings
This Reuters report found on http://www.labourstart.org
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2824905820070828
Colombian soldiers get 40 years for union killings
Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:16PM EDT
By Hugh Bronstein
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Four Colombian soldiers were sentenced to 40 years each for murdering union officials in 2004, a decision the government said reflects its commitment to labor rights as it tries to clinch a U.S. free trade deal.
In a ruling announced on Tuesday, a judge said the soldiers shot three defenseless trade unionists in the eastern province of Arauco, put guns in their hands and arranged their bodies to make it look like they were rebels killed in combat.
"This proves what human rights groups and the United Nations had long reported, that some sectors of the army had the practice of killing civilians and passing them off as guerrillas," said political commentator Daniel Coronell.
The government said the ruling "confirms our policy of respecting the work of labor unions."
Trade talks with the United States have been bogged down over concerns about the rule of law in Colombia, which is engaged in a four-decade-old war against leftist guerrillas and reports more murders of union members than any other country.
Democrats in control of the U.S. Congress say they will not approve the pending trade pact until more is done to protect labor rights in Colombia.
The U.S. Democrats want President Alvaro Uribe's government to take a tougher stance against Colombia's right-wing paramilitaries who have cooperated with the army in their fight against the guerrillas.
Colombia has mounted a campaign in the United States to push for the trade deal and contain the damage done by a scandal linking some of Uribe's closest political allies with paramilitary death squads.
Last week Colombia said it would extradite demobilized paramilitary leader Carlos Mario Jimenez, alias Macaco, for running a drug smuggling ring from jail.
It was the government's hardest blow yet against militia leaders who signed a peace deal agreeing to turn in their guns and give up crime in exchange for reduced jail terms.
Uribe's international standing has been diminished by the scandal in which his former security chief is charged with providing a death list of union leaders to the paramilitaries.
But the president remains popular at home for cutting urban crime and sparking economic growth with his U.S.-funded crackdown on the guerrillas.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2824905820070828
Colombian soldiers get 40 years for union killings
Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:16PM EDT
By Hugh Bronstein
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Four Colombian soldiers were sentenced to 40 years each for murdering union officials in 2004, a decision the government said reflects its commitment to labor rights as it tries to clinch a U.S. free trade deal.
In a ruling announced on Tuesday, a judge said the soldiers shot three defenseless trade unionists in the eastern province of Arauco, put guns in their hands and arranged their bodies to make it look like they were rebels killed in combat.
"This proves what human rights groups and the United Nations had long reported, that some sectors of the army had the practice of killing civilians and passing them off as guerrillas," said political commentator Daniel Coronell.
The government said the ruling "confirms our policy of respecting the work of labor unions."
Trade talks with the United States have been bogged down over concerns about the rule of law in Colombia, which is engaged in a four-decade-old war against leftist guerrillas and reports more murders of union members than any other country.
Democrats in control of the U.S. Congress say they will not approve the pending trade pact until more is done to protect labor rights in Colombia.
The U.S. Democrats want President Alvaro Uribe's government to take a tougher stance against Colombia's right-wing paramilitaries who have cooperated with the army in their fight against the guerrillas.
Colombia has mounted a campaign in the United States to push for the trade deal and contain the damage done by a scandal linking some of Uribe's closest political allies with paramilitary death squads.
Last week Colombia said it would extradite demobilized paramilitary leader Carlos Mario Jimenez, alias Macaco, for running a drug smuggling ring from jail.
It was the government's hardest blow yet against militia leaders who signed a peace deal agreeing to turn in their guns and give up crime in exchange for reduced jail terms.
Uribe's international standing has been diminished by the scandal in which his former security chief is charged with providing a death list of union leaders to the paramilitaries.
But the president remains popular at home for cutting urban crime and sparking economic growth with his U.S.-funded crackdown on the guerrillas.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Coca Cola workers' strike
Pasted from www.libcom.org, a website for anarchists and council communists.
"Wakefield: Coca Cola workers may strike
Workers at Coca Cola's bottling and distribution plant in Wakefield may strike over pay.
The Unite union balloted over 500 workers at the plant for strike action on Friday, after arbitration talks with ACAS on 6th June failed to improve on Coca Cola Enterprises pay offer of 2.5%.
The Wakefield plant is one of the largest distribution plants in Europe which can distribute up to 8 million cases of Coca Cola a week, alongside other brands including Oasis and Dr. Pepper, and a strike could seriously disrupt supplies of those drinks. The union is also preparing to ballot staff at the Coca Cola plant in Milton Keynes, meaning a potential for co-ordinated action at the two plants. However Unite has already invited Coca Cola back to negotiations in an attempt to avoid strike action.
Unite Regional Officer, Kelvin Mawer said:
"Coca Cola Enterprises now face the prospect of a strike which we believe will have a significant impact on supplies of Coca Cola during the hottest months of the year.
"We are extremely disappointed it has come to this and urge CCE management to return to the negotiating table in an attempt to resolve the dispute and avoid industrial action." "
source link: http://libcom.org/news/wakefield-coca-cola-workers-may-strike-23062007
libcom.org has a few more news entries on Coca Cola here: http://libcom.org/tags/coca-cola
"Wakefield: Coca Cola workers may strike
Workers at Coca Cola's bottling and distribution plant in Wakefield may strike over pay.
The Unite union balloted over 500 workers at the plant for strike action on Friday, after arbitration talks with ACAS on 6th June failed to improve on Coca Cola Enterprises pay offer of 2.5%.
The Wakefield plant is one of the largest distribution plants in Europe which can distribute up to 8 million cases of Coca Cola a week, alongside other brands including Oasis and Dr. Pepper, and a strike could seriously disrupt supplies of those drinks. The union is also preparing to ballot staff at the Coca Cola plant in Milton Keynes, meaning a potential for co-ordinated action at the two plants. However Unite has already invited Coca Cola back to negotiations in an attempt to avoid strike action.
Unite Regional Officer, Kelvin Mawer said:
"Coca Cola Enterprises now face the prospect of a strike which we believe will have a significant impact on supplies of Coca Cola during the hottest months of the year.
"We are extremely disappointed it has come to this and urge CCE management to return to the negotiating table in an attempt to resolve the dispute and avoid industrial action." "
source link: http://libcom.org/news/wakefield-coca-cola-workers-may-strike-23062007
libcom.org has a few more news entries on Coca Cola here: http://libcom.org/tags/coca-cola
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Remarks on the previous entry
According to the news story, the judge who passed the sentence decided to *not* follow judicial guidelines so far as meting out punishments go. One wonders, is this indicative of one law-person's sympathy for the Coca Cola company leadership?
The relevant excerpt: ' "This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society," U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester said in imposing sentence.
A co-defendant, Ibrahim Dimson, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Forrester's sentence for Williams was more severe than the 63- to 78-month sentence recommended by federal prosecutors and federal sentencing guidelines.
He said the seriousness of the crime necessitated a departure from the guidelines, which federal judges are not bound by. '
The assistant US attorney felt the same way too.
Anyway, I also did a Google search of defendant Joya Williams; the corporate spy story has been reported for almost a year now. See this Time report: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1211565,00.html
The relevant excerpt: ' "This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society," U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester said in imposing sentence.
A co-defendant, Ibrahim Dimson, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Forrester's sentence for Williams was more severe than the 63- to 78-month sentence recommended by federal prosecutors and federal sentencing guidelines.
He said the seriousness of the crime necessitated a departure from the guidelines, which federal judges are not bound by. '
The assistant US attorney felt the same way too.
Anyway, I also did a Google search of defendant Joya Williams; the corporate spy story has been reported for almost a year now. See this Time report: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1211565,00.html
News spot: Corporate sabotage within Coke
Ex-Coke secretary sentenced to 8 years By HARRY R. WEBER, AP Business Writer
41 minutes ago
A former Coca-Cola secretary convicted of conspiring to steal trade secrets from the world's largest beverage maker was sentenced Wednesday to 8 years in federal prison.
Joya Williams, 42, faced up to 10 years in prison on the single conspiracy charge in a failed scheme to sell the materials to rival Pepsi for at least $1.5 million. She was convicted Feb. 2 following a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, where The Coca-Cola Co. is based.
"This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society," U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester said in imposing sentence.
A co-defendant, Ibrahim Dimson, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Forrester's sentence for Williams was more severe than the 63- to 78-month sentence recommended by federal prosecutors and federal sentencing guidelines.
He said the seriousness of the crime necessitated a departure from the guidelines, which federal judges are not bound by.
"I can't think of another case in 25 years that there's been so much obstruction of justice," the judge said of Williams' conduct.
Forrester ignored a tearful apology by Williams, which was the first time she acknowledged what she did.
"Your honor, I have expanded my consciousness through this devastating experience," Williams said before she was sentenced. "This has been a very defining moment in my life I have become infamous when I never wanted to become famous."
She added, "I am sorry to Coke and I'm sorry to my boss and to you and to my family as well."
The government said Williams stole confidential documents and samples of products that hadn't been launched by Coca-Cola and gave them to Dimson and a third defendant, Edmund Duhaney, as part of a conspiracy to sell the items to Pepsi. Duhaney, like Dimson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Duhaney will be sentenced later.
The conspiracy was foiled after Pepsi warned Coca-Cola that it had received a letter in May 2006 offering Coca-Cola trade secrets to the "highest bidder." The FBI launched an undercover investigation and identified the letter writer as Dimson.
Williams was fired as a secretary to Coca-Cola's global brand director at the company's headquarters after the allegations came to light.
Williams' apology Wednesday lasted for several minutes and she asked the judge to show mercy, though Forrester had told her previously that he planned to depart from sentencing guidelines
"Punishment is the memories and the moments that I'm going to miss," she said. "Punishment is never having a family of my own."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak told the judge that Williams didn't deserve leniency.
"Choices have consequences and she made those choices," Pak said. "She chose to go to trial and she lied on the stand."
At the hearing, prosecutors disclosed that Williams has two prior convictions, one involving making false statements related to unemployment insurance.
Williams' lawyers had repeatedly asserted in court and out of court that Williams had no criminal past, and the government until Wednesday did not challenge that assertion.
source link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070523/ap_on_bi_ge/coca_cola_trade_secrets
41 minutes ago
A former Coca-Cola secretary convicted of conspiring to steal trade secrets from the world's largest beverage maker was sentenced Wednesday to 8 years in federal prison.
Joya Williams, 42, faced up to 10 years in prison on the single conspiracy charge in a failed scheme to sell the materials to rival Pepsi for at least $1.5 million. She was convicted Feb. 2 following a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, where The Coca-Cola Co. is based.
"This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society," U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester said in imposing sentence.
A co-defendant, Ibrahim Dimson, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Forrester's sentence for Williams was more severe than the 63- to 78-month sentence recommended by federal prosecutors and federal sentencing guidelines.
He said the seriousness of the crime necessitated a departure from the guidelines, which federal judges are not bound by.
"I can't think of another case in 25 years that there's been so much obstruction of justice," the judge said of Williams' conduct.
Forrester ignored a tearful apology by Williams, which was the first time she acknowledged what she did.
"Your honor, I have expanded my consciousness through this devastating experience," Williams said before she was sentenced. "This has been a very defining moment in my life I have become infamous when I never wanted to become famous."
She added, "I am sorry to Coke and I'm sorry to my boss and to you and to my family as well."
The government said Williams stole confidential documents and samples of products that hadn't been launched by Coca-Cola and gave them to Dimson and a third defendant, Edmund Duhaney, as part of a conspiracy to sell the items to Pepsi. Duhaney, like Dimson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Duhaney will be sentenced later.
The conspiracy was foiled after Pepsi warned Coca-Cola that it had received a letter in May 2006 offering Coca-Cola trade secrets to the "highest bidder." The FBI launched an undercover investigation and identified the letter writer as Dimson.
Williams was fired as a secretary to Coca-Cola's global brand director at the company's headquarters after the allegations came to light.
Williams' apology Wednesday lasted for several minutes and she asked the judge to show mercy, though Forrester had told her previously that he planned to depart from sentencing guidelines
"Punishment is the memories and the moments that I'm going to miss," she said. "Punishment is never having a family of my own."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak told the judge that Williams didn't deserve leniency.
"Choices have consequences and she made those choices," Pak said. "She chose to go to trial and she lied on the stand."
At the hearing, prosecutors disclosed that Williams has two prior convictions, one involving making false statements related to unemployment insurance.
Williams' lawyers had repeatedly asserted in court and out of court that Williams had no criminal past, and the government until Wednesday did not challenge that assertion.
source link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070523/ap_on_bi_ge/coca_cola_trade_secrets
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
NYC Council Member Hiram Monserrate Fact FInding Delegation on Coca-Cola in Colombia:
Delegation of labor, educator and student representatives concluded that the Coca-Cola corporation is complicit in the intimidation of, and violence against union activists at its Colombian bottling plants.
This report touches on Coca Cola's environmental and labor abuses. The
former is concerned with water operations in India and El Salvador, which
has resulted in the draining of goundwater and local water supplies for
the aim of the commercial commodification of water. It also focuses on
Coke's actions against organized labour in Colombia since the early 1990s,
Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Nicaragua and Guatemale from the 1970s to this
present day.
University of Michigan Falls Prey to Another Coca-Cola PR Scam
April 17, 2006
University of Michigan resumes purchase of Coca Cola without
investigating the company's claims that the UN International Labor
Organization (ILO) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was
developing an "impartial independent third party assessment of water
resource management practices at Coca-Cola facilities in India…" The
ILO would only do an "assessment of current working conditions," not
of past labor relations practices.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Some links on Coca Cola
Third post of the day/night..... Links on Coca Cola.
Press reports:
Coca-Cola: Latin America's Second Religion
With subdivisions such as: Refreshment or Religion, Coke Around the World, Sales and Marketing: The Red Blast, Bloody Union Battles, Resistence is Futile
(LiP Magazine)
"The Case Against Coke" - A report on the events at the annual Coke
shareholders' meeting, and a description of the Anti-Coke campaign
(The Nation)
"Coke: The New Nike" - Anti-Coke initiative is comparable to
anti-sweatshop movement with Nike.
(The Nation)
Cola Wars in Mexico
“Consciousness about the role of Coca-Cola relates to the economy, society, politics, culture and even the military. It has to do with human rights, labor rights, rights of indigenous peoples, and control of lands and water by the multinational. This consciousness will grow and integrate citizens, communities, and universities into a giant boycott. It all starts with our consumption habits.”
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/409/cola_wars/
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/399/cokes_killers/
Coca Cola to be Sued for Bottlers' Abuses
---A summary of the events leading up to the international backlash against Coca Cola.
Activist report:
"COCA-COLA: The Alternative Report"
This report touches on Coca Cola's environmental and labor abuses. The
former is concerned with water operations in India and El Salvador, which
has resulted in the draining of goundwater and local water supplies for
the aim of the commercial commodification of water. It also focuses on
Coke's actions against organized labour in Colombia since the early 1990s,
Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Nicaragua and Guatemale from the 1970s to this
present day.
Report by anthropology professor Lesley Gill (who has authored several reports that are highly recommended)
Rights groups:
Turning A Blind Eye: Hazardous Child Labor in El Salvador
Human Rights Watch
Children as young as eight work long hours, engaging in high risk
work on El Salvador sugarcane fields. Many are not even paid for
their work since based on international law, children under 18
cannot legally work under harmful or hazardous conditions. The
Coca-Cola company uses Salvadoran sugar from one of the largest
mills, Central Izalco, which recieves much of it's sugarcane from
plantations that use child labor. Coke's guiding principles simply
require it's direct suppliers and it's corporate owned facilities to
follow international law. Since the Central Izalco mill is not
exploiting child labor, Coke is not liable for any activity on the
sugarcane fields. Coca-Cola, along with many other multinational
corporations, are indirectly benefitting from this hazardous child
labor.
The Complicity of Sugar Mills and The Responsibility of Multinational
Corporations
Human Rights Watch
This article investigates further into Coca-Cola’s ties with Central
Izalco, the mill’s connection to the supplier plantations, and the
continued exploitation of child labor.
Coca-Cola/Columbia
Labor Rights News and Press
This site includes links to articles and press releases focusing
on the controversies surrounding Coca-Cola’s international
bottling plants, particularly the occurrences in Columbia. The
articles date from July 2001 to June 2006.
Press reports:
Coca-Cola: Latin America's Second Religion
With subdivisions such as: Refreshment or Religion, Coke Around the World, Sales and Marketing: The Red Blast, Bloody Union Battles, Resistence is Futile
(LiP Magazine)
"The Case Against Coke" - A report on the events at the annual Coke
shareholders' meeting, and a description of the Anti-Coke campaign
(The Nation)
"Coke: The New Nike" - Anti-Coke initiative is comparable to
anti-sweatshop movement with Nike.
(The Nation)
Cola Wars in Mexico
“Consciousness about the role of Coca-Cola relates to the economy, society, politics, culture and even the military. It has to do with human rights, labor rights, rights of indigenous peoples, and control of lands and water by the multinational. This consciousness will grow and integrate citizens, communities, and universities into a giant boycott. It all starts with our consumption habits.”
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/409/cola_wars/
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/399/cokes_killers/
Coca Cola to be Sued for Bottlers' Abuses
---A summary of the events leading up to the international backlash against Coca Cola.
Activist report:
"COCA-COLA: The Alternative Report"
This report touches on Coca Cola's environmental and labor abuses. The
former is concerned with water operations in India and El Salvador, which
has resulted in the draining of goundwater and local water supplies for
the aim of the commercial commodification of water. It also focuses on
Coke's actions against organized labour in Colombia since the early 1990s,
Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Nicaragua and Guatemale from the 1970s to this
present day.
Report by anthropology professor Lesley Gill (who has authored several reports that are highly recommended)
Rights groups:
Turning A Blind Eye: Hazardous Child Labor in El Salvador
Human Rights Watch
Children as young as eight work long hours, engaging in high risk
work on El Salvador sugarcane fields. Many are not even paid for
their work since based on international law, children under 18
cannot legally work under harmful or hazardous conditions. The
Coca-Cola company uses Salvadoran sugar from one of the largest
mills, Central Izalco, which recieves much of it's sugarcane from
plantations that use child labor. Coke's guiding principles simply
require it's direct suppliers and it's corporate owned facilities to
follow international law. Since the Central Izalco mill is not
exploiting child labor, Coke is not liable for any activity on the
sugarcane fields. Coca-Cola, along with many other multinational
corporations, are indirectly benefitting from this hazardous child
labor.
The Complicity of Sugar Mills and The Responsibility of Multinational
Corporations
Human Rights Watch
This article investigates further into Coca-Cola’s ties with Central
Izalco, the mill’s connection to the supplier plantations, and the
continued exploitation of child labor.
Coca-Cola/Columbia
Labor Rights News and Press
This site includes links to articles and press releases focusing
on the controversies surrounding Coca-Cola’s international
bottling plants, particularly the occurrences in Columbia. The
articles date from July 2001 to June 2006.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Cal Safety Compliance Corporation
Coca-Cola claims that an internationally recognized auditor, Cal Safety Compliance Corporation, found their bottlers in Colombia to have workers that "enjoy freedom of association, collective bargaining rights, and a work atmosphere free of anti-union intimidation."
The CSCC has a fairly sour history of its own.
The CSCC has a fairly sour history of its own.
Whats wrong with coke?
Coke’s abuses are wide and span the entire globe. Coke discriminates based on sex, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation and consistently takes advantage of persons of color, the poor, and third world citizens:
• Coca Cola is guilty of union busting in Colombia, and is accused of being responsible for the assassinations of union leaders.
http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia190.htm
• Coca-Cola has many documented environmental abuses in India. It has used public waters in areas already facing drought. A byproduct of production has seeped into groundwater, and Coke has gone as far as to sell the toxic byproduct as fertilizer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3096893.stm
• In India Coca-Cola has been shown to have dangerous levels of pesticides that would never be allowed in Europe or the United States.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/aug/05pepsicoke.htm
• Coca-Cola still does business in Sudan. Taking advantage of the conflict there to produce its products cheaply, Coke is defying US trade embargos that are in place due to human rights abuses, and possible terrorist connections in Sudan. Coke’s punishment: $136,500.
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/02032006.pdf
• Coke continues to practice racist and sexist hiring policies. Coca Cola is always facing discrimination suits from women and minorities without any change to its hiring practices.
http://bizneworleans.com/109+M556114fb75e.html
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2003/05/05/story1.html
http://www.thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=404
• Coke is facing a suit from Roberto Mendoza. A former executive at Coca-Cola FEMSA, Mendoza was forced to resign for being gay.
http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=612
• Coke faced a $300,000 fine for pollution in Panama.
Associated Press May 9, 2003
• Coke overuses water in El Salvador. There is an ongoing court battle.
http://www.tierramerica.org/2003/0126/iacentos.shtml
• Coke buys sugar produced with child labor from El Salvador.
http://www.hrw.org/children/labor/elsalvador/
http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/coke061304.cfm
• Coca Cola has been accused of union busting in Turkey, Indonesia, Peru, Chile, and Russia. Often using violence against employees or their families.
www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/docs/coketurkeyindonesia.doc
http://www.pressureworks.org/frontline/features/290806_cc_unions.html
• Children have been found making Coca-Cola footballs in sweatshops in Pakistan.
http://www.globalmarch.org/campaigns/worldcupcampaign/footballdreams.php3
• Coca Cola is charged with painting advertisements on the rocks in the foothills of Himalayas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2195894.stm
• Coke knowingly continued distributing its Frozen Coca Cola machines, to Burger King, even after finding out the leaked a metal residue.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3175138.stm
• Truckers for Coca-Cola reported that Coke consistently shelves expired products in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Dallas.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1145207
It is our belief that Coke must be held responsible for its actions. These abuses are not excusable, and we ask that the Vassar student body unite in solidarity to make our college a responsible moral citizen. We hope to replace Coke and Pepsi with a more conscientious alternative.
• Coca Cola is guilty of union busting in Colombia, and is accused of being responsible for the assassinations of union leaders.
http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia190.htm
• Coca-Cola has many documented environmental abuses in India. It has used public waters in areas already facing drought. A byproduct of production has seeped into groundwater, and Coke has gone as far as to sell the toxic byproduct as fertilizer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3096893.stm
• In India Coca-Cola has been shown to have dangerous levels of pesticides that would never be allowed in Europe or the United States.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/aug/05pepsicoke.htm
• Coca-Cola still does business in Sudan. Taking advantage of the conflict there to produce its products cheaply, Coke is defying US trade embargos that are in place due to human rights abuses, and possible terrorist connections in Sudan. Coke’s punishment: $136,500.
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/02032006.pdf
• Coke continues to practice racist and sexist hiring policies. Coca Cola is always facing discrimination suits from women and minorities without any change to its hiring practices.
http://bizneworleans.com/109+M556114fb75e.html
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2003/05/05/story1.html
http://www.thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=404
• Coke is facing a suit from Roberto Mendoza. A former executive at Coca-Cola FEMSA, Mendoza was forced to resign for being gay.
http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=612
• Coke faced a $300,000 fine for pollution in Panama.
Associated Press May 9, 2003
• Coke overuses water in El Salvador. There is an ongoing court battle.
http://www.tierramerica.org/2003/0126/iacentos.shtml
• Coke buys sugar produced with child labor from El Salvador.
http://www.hrw.org/children/labor/elsalvador/
http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/coke061304.cfm
• Coca Cola has been accused of union busting in Turkey, Indonesia, Peru, Chile, and Russia. Often using violence against employees or their families.
www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/docs/coketurkeyindonesia.doc
http://www.pressureworks.org/frontline/features/290806_cc_unions.html
• Children have been found making Coca-Cola footballs in sweatshops in Pakistan.
http://www.globalmarch.org/campaigns/worldcupcampaign/footballdreams.php3
• Coca Cola is charged with painting advertisements on the rocks in the foothills of Himalayas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2195894.stm
• Coke knowingly continued distributing its Frozen Coca Cola machines, to Burger King, even after finding out the leaked a metal residue.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3175138.stm
• Truckers for Coca-Cola reported that Coke consistently shelves expired products in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Dallas.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1145207
It is our belief that Coke must be held responsible for its actions. These abuses are not excusable, and we ask that the Vassar student body unite in solidarity to make our college a responsible moral citizen. We hope to replace Coke and Pepsi with a more conscientious alternative.
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