On July 22nd was the
international day of action against
Coca-Cola and boycott to its
products. In some parts of the world the day was celebrated with big demonstrations. Labour unions throughout the world promoted the International Day of Action against Coca-Cola and boycott to its products. The annual protest is a sign of solidarity to the Sinaltrainal, a Columbian union of the workers in food and beverage industries. The Sinaltrainal has claimed that the multinational
company supports paramilitary organizations and is involved in innumerable kidnappings, murders and torture cases in the countries where their factories are located, especially in Barranquila and Carepa. These cases even involve some coca farmers. The fact is practically unknown here in Brazil. The information just did not arrive here. The local press also kept silent about the extensive news
article of the influential American publication, the Fortune Magazine, written by Betsy Morris and an enormous team of reporters. The heading and sub-heading already gives an idea of the content: Coca-Cola - Real History – How Coca-Cola fell from first level to ridiculous in just 6 years ". The news article handles the
question of Colombia, the problems in Africa (racial discrimination), the processes in SEC (Security Exchange Commission), and delivers all the details of the events which lead to the substitution of Douglas Daft, world-wide former-president, for Neville Isdell. According to the international press, filling the position in question had to be delayed because so many candidates had refused the honour. Many questions are argued internationally: the question of the illegally removed water of the River Tâmisa, the death of workers with AIDS in Africa, the problems in India, and, also, the question which Brazil wants the Coca-Cola company to answer: do the products contain extracts derived from coca leaves? A small Brazilian cooling company, the Dolly, has taken the first step against the giant, and accuses it of unfair competition, and claims that the company is guilty of both economic and practical crimes. The investigation around this particular subject will surely continue for a long time. The presidents of the two companies, Brian Smith and Laerte Codonho, will be called again to Brazil. The request for the analysis of the Vegetal Extract that the Coca-Cola products are composed of was presented as a petition and approved in May and it is said that this has significantly increased the amount of international lobbying.
More summaries about the Coca-cola - a by-product of the drug industry?