Coca-Cola hits back at boycotters By COLIN PERKEL

[Judi Lynn]

Coca-Cola hits back at boycotters By COLIN PERKEL

Tuesday, December 27, 2005 Posted at 11:47 AM EST

Associated Press

Toronto — Stung by allegations that it has sacrificed human rights on the altar of corporate profits, the world's largest soft-drink company has launched a counter-offensive in hopes of heading off further boycotts on Canadian campuses.

In a whirlwind visit this month, senior Coca-Cola representatives visited Hamilton's McMaster University and the University of British Columbia to talk to students and administrators about allegations that Coke is complicit in horrific abuses in Colombia.

“We're always concerned that these allegations could continue to spread,” explained Kerry Kerr, public-relations co-ordinator with the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, who says the accusations are false.
(snip)

In a referendum in October, students at McMaster rejected renewal of a $6-million exclusivity deal the administration has with Coke.
(snip/...)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051227.wcoca1227/BNStory/National/

[greiner3]

1. I remember;

It's been about 15-20 years in which it was 'common' knowledge that Wendy's used earthworms in their hamburger meat. It was this, and more, instances that brought the US to pass laws that tried to prosecute the person or persons responsible for starting and continuing rumors designed to harm a company's business.

[Judi Lynn]

2. New York University Bans Killer Coke

New York University Bans Killer Coke

On December 8, 2005, New York University joined the growing list of universities worldwide to kick Coca-Cola off campus. The NYU students who led the campaign were part of the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) effort to raise awareness about the human rights violations occurring in Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia and Turkey, among other places. The USAS effort is part of a larger global campaign to Stop Killer Coke. For more information on the campaign, see www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org and www.killercoke.org.

In Colombia, trade union leaders from SINALTRAINAL, the national union of food and beverage workers, have been murdered and tortured by paramilitary death squads brought in by local Coca-Cola bottling plant managers to suppress with violence the workers’ organizing efforts. In Turkey, the local Coca-Cola managers fired 110 Coca-Cola transport workers when they joined a union. When the workers peacefully gathered with their families at the Coca-Cola headquarters in Istanbul, Coca-Cola unleashed about 1,000 of the Turkish riot police, the Çevik Kuvvet , on the crowd. About 90 people, including women and children, were hospitalized after they were brutally beaten.
(snip/...)

http://www.laborrights.org/projects/corporate/coke/

[melnjones]

3. They translated it wrong on the graffiti...

it says "Caca" cola. Shit cola. Hee hee.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Ha! You're right. I've never looked at that photo closely enough.

I simply ASSUMED it was "Coca Cola." Good one!

[mom cat]

5. No Caca Cola for me either! Thanks for catching that.

[cliss]

6. Here's an amazing fact:

We all think of the Bush administration as being "super-friendly" to corporations and businesses. No matter what the issue, Bush will always rule in favor of the corporation.

After all, Halliburton is doing amazingly well these days with government contracts.

So, business must be jubilant that Their Boy is in the White House, no? Maybe not. There's an article on Counter Punch that tells how business has actually gotten WORSE for a lot of them since Bush got installed.

There are reports of increasing hostility around the world toward US. companies. Kentucy Fried Chicken restaurants are being blown up. In many countries, people are starting to boycott our products. Many other companies are reporting a DECREASED demand for their products, because Bush has caused so much hatred in the world.

Amazing, isn't it? Looks like they picked the wrong Boy.