Killer Coke Update | October 19, 2006
Flames Building Under Coke's Hotseat
Contents of the Newsletter
- Campus Reports
- Coca-Cola, SunTrust Banks and the Anti-War Movement
- Beware of Evigna
- Editorial Integrity Undermined by Coke at Princeton University?
- Height of Hypocrisy: Coke CEO Isdell to Lecture on Social Responsibility in NYC
- Clinton Continues Greenwashing of Coke and Other Junk Food Companies
- Major Reports From the Campaign
- Do you need a customized Campaign leaflet?
- Campaign's 'Campus Activism' Section
- Take Actions Against Coke!
- Please send photos, reports of events, etc. for the Campaign website
Scarlet & Black (Grinnell College), "College no longer Coke-only," By Rachel Fields, September 22, 2006
Read Article
Fortwayne.com (Associated Press), "IU [Indiana University] students give out free root beer to protest Coca-Cola," October 13, 2006
Read Article
Indiana Daily Student, "No Sweat! protests IU's contract with Coke," By Paul Coover, October 5, 2006
Read Article
The State News (Michigan State University), "Student group protests Coca-Cola corporation on campus," By Fredricka Paul, September 29, 2006
Read Article
Reports on Oct. 12 Day of Action Against Killer Coke
Carleton University, Canada: Students set up an information table and drew lots of attention by building two pyramids made up of Coke product trash found around campus. The protest generated good coverage.
King's College/University of Western Ontario, Canada
"By 11:30am the Day Of Action was on. Everyone did well in their respective roles. While some played dead, others distributed flyers, answered questions (and yes, we did have some inquisitive detractors). Everything went well.
"The Media
"We had both The Gazette and the London Free Press present. You may or may have not read today's papers. Suffice it to say that the article in the London Free Press was conspicuously dubious. But that's the media - what do you know!? The Gazette, on the other hand, presented a fair account of the event, I thought. given their rather outlandish reputation, I think you will appreciate what they did. They actually 'reported!'
The London Free Press (Canada), "King's students want Coke banned: Demonstrators say the soft drink giant is linked to human rights abuses," By Jennifer O'Brien
Read Article
"Talks
"From the Administration's point of view, they are only willing to consider the issue if we have signed petitions. Aramark maintains the same stance.
"Now What?
"We've ignited a buzz around campus; people are talking about Coke, they're asking questions, and generally becoming more aware of the issue. Let's take advantage of this. Write in the Gazette. Talk to your friends. Get the petitions signed. Remember, we have 2 weeks to get as many signatures as possible. We got about 500 on Thursday alone. Let's get more! I have attached a copy of the petition herein." (Read the Petition.)
McMaster University, Canada: "On the 11th we had a Kick Coke Kegger, which was really successful thanks to the weather holding out. We handed out lots of literature and had a lot of interest from people. On the 13th we did a guerilla theatre action that got media attention and somewhat unfortunately police attention."
Ryerson University, Canada: "We had a good info session where they had a Coke product trade in and handed out info. Had a lot of interest."
Swarthmore, U.S.: "Our day of action was small-scale, but pretty good. Our administration just sent a letter to Coke demanding change, and if our demands are not met by Nov. 1st, we will cut the contract. So we felt that we couldn't celebrate quite yet, nor put pressure on the administration, so we had candy, a kick the coke can contest, and a card that students signed to thank the administration for sending the letter. It was a beautiful day, we got a lot of signatures, and it also helped to remind the student body that our campaign is still active."
University of Guelph, Canada: "We had a die-in in our student centre, that also attracted police attention and the ire of the Coca-Cola Canada PR Rep. He sent a letter to their group as well as to the school administration."
Please send us any photos and reports from your Day of Action
2. Killer Coke, SunTrust Banks and the Anti-War Movement
The Campaign to Stop Killer Coke continues to grow at a rapid pace. Coca-Cola's image, its brand names and its financial performance are being questioned and challenged as never before. Colleges, high schools, labor unions and other groups are removing Coke machines and banning the sale and promotion of Coke products. Some of the nation's largest colleges and universities in the U.S., including New York University, DePaul and Rutgers have kicked out "Killer Coke" and the Stop Killer Coke movement is expanding on campuses throughout Canada and Europe and is making inroads in Latin America, Australia, Asia and other parts of the world. And many of the largest unions representing teachers and others in the U.S. and Europe have removed Coke machines and called upon their members to boycott Coke products.
In July, The Coca-Cola Company was expelled from the TIAA-CREF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund) Social Choice Account, America's largest "socially responsible investment fund," because its advisors no longer consider Coke to be socially responsible. TIAA-CREF dumped 1.25 million shares of Coke stock. And in August, BusinessWeek reported that Coca-Cola had lost 1% of its brand name value, which translates into a loss of about $680 million. Large institutional investors are reportedly growing uneasy with Coke's floundering performance and are discussing ways to make Coca-Cola executives and board members more responsive and accountable.
The Campaign to Stop Killer Coke, from its inception, has highlighted the intimate connections between The Coca-Cola Co.; its biggest bottlers, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Coca-Cola FEMSA; and SunTrust Banks, described as "the Bank of Killer Coke."
SunTrust has certainly been alerted and felt some pressure, particularly from labor unions, that it could become a major boycott target along with Killer Coke if the bank did not use its considerable influence to make Coke act responsibly with respect to global labor, human rights and environmental concerns.
We are in the process of escalating the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke by making SunTrust Banks a major target for labor unions and their members and college students, many of whom have SunTrust ID cards and who are students in colleges and universities with close business ties to SunTrust.
But there is also another reason for people, organizations and institutions worldwide to embrace banning Coke products and to boycott SunTrust. As the war in Iraq escalates and comparisons to the Vietnam quagmire become commonplace, anti-war and peace activists have pondered various options regarding the selection of a corporate target that symbolizes powerful financial and political interests behind Bush's irresponsible and unpopular foreign policies and the war.
Coca-Cola is now a symbol of American capitalism run amok and Coca-Cola and SunTrust Banks are so intertwined in terms of leadership and finances, that they could be viewed as synonymous. What hurts or benefits the bottom line of one will have a similar effect on the other. SunTrust, The Coca-Cola Co. and its largest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises, are major backers and bulwarks of the Bush Administration. Top executives and board members of all three companies have donated heavily to the Bush-Cheney cause, the Republican National Committee and hawkish incumbents and candidates.
It is noteworthy that Patricia Frist, an ardent Bush backer and sister-in-law of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, sits on SunTrust's board of directors along with Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO E. Neville Isdell and SunTrust Chairman and CEO Phillip Humann. Mr. Humann also sits on the board of Coca-Cola Enterprises. SunTrust's largest investments other than Coca-Cola include giant military contractors and energy companies that derive huge profits from the war, such as ExxonMobil, Chevron (which shares a director with Coca-Cola), General Electric, Honeywell International, Raytheon, United Technologies, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Boeing and Halliburton.
The following lists of SunTrust investments and director interlocks illustrate some of the connections between SunTrust Banks, Coca-Cola and the war profiteers.
From SunTrust Portfolio of Stockholdings, 6/30/06:
| Company | # Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola Co. | 101,255,489 | $4,454,228,961 |
| ExxonMobil | 14,456,512 | $938,372,194 |
| General Electric | 26,519,940 | $912,285,936 |
| Chevron | 4,602,641 | $285,087,584 |
| Wal-Mart Stores | 4,312,847 | $208,267,382 |
| Altria | 2,103,808 | $173,185,475 |
| Raytheon | 3,649,871 | $172,383,407 |
| United Technologies | 2,504,279 | $156,016,582 |
| Honeywell International | 3,011,596 | $121,186,623 |
| Lockheed Martin | 1,124,246 | $93,143,781 |
| Coca-Cola Enterprises | 4,531,303 | $93,027,651 |
| General Dynamics | 1,046,328 | $73,881,220 |
| Boeing Co. | 377,581 | $29,168,132 |
| Halliburton | 617,486 | $17,419,280 |
As a major partner of, and investor in Wal-Mart, SunTrust is opening scores of bank branches in Wal-Mart stores. SunTrust holds more than $200 million in Wal-Mart's stock. Former Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO and SunTrust director Douglas Daft sits on Wal-Mart's board of directors. Among corporations with consumer brands, the giant tobacco company Altria (formerly Philip Morris) made the largest donations to the Republican Party during the 2000, 2002 and 2004 election cycles, according to the British magazine Ethical Consumer. Wal-Mart, Chevron and ExxonMobil were also among the top 15 consumer brand companies which contributed the most to the Republican Party, the magazine reported.
Interlocking Leadership: Coca-Cola and SunTrust Banks
E. Neville Isdell
Coca-Cola Co.
Chairman & CEO;
SunTrust Director
Phillip Humann
SunTrust Banks
Chairman & CEO;
Coca-Cola Enterprises Director
Douglas Ivestor
Coca-Cola Co.
Former CEO;
SunTrust Director
James Williams
SunTrust Banks
Former CEO;
Coca-Cola Co. Director
Maria Lagamasino
SunTrust Banks
CEO of Asset Mgmt. Advisors;
Former Coca-Cola Co. Director
Summerfield Johnston, III
Coca-Cola Enterprises Director
SunTrust Chattanooga Director
Charles McTier
Coca-Cola FEMSA Director
SunTrust Georgia Director
Neville Isdell and many others in the Coke hierarchy, past and present, solemnly cite Coke's alleged commitment to labor rights, human rights and the environment. But in reality, just like the Bush Administration, Coke continues to abuse workers and the environment on a global scale.
Right now, Coke and SunTrust executives need to act responsibly and decisively with respect to labor, human rights and environmental abuses to show the world that they are on the right track to promote peace and justice.
A. 'Your Weight is Over,' Killer Coke Claims
"Coke is late to the green-tea party," says the Wall Street Journal in a refreshingly candid article (10/13/06) about Enviga, a new product being introduced next month by the troubled beverage giant.
As the Journal explains, Coke is "mired in fourth place in the overall U.S. ready-to-drink tea category" behind Arizona Beverage Co., Pepsico's Lipton and Cadbury Schweppes' Snapple.
Recalling several other Coke rollouts in recent times like coffee-based Coke Blak, which CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper spat out in disgust on live television - it's reasonable to wonder whether Enviga will turn out to be another marketing disappointment like Dasani processed tap water or even a disaster like New Coke, the awful tasting sugary soft drink that bombed so memorably in 1985.
Coca-Cola has hired Anomaly, the same New York ad firm that handles Dasani, to push Enviga. The supposedly innovative thing about Enviga, a joint venture of Coke and Nestle, is its claim that it "burns calories." It may be a hard sell, though - as the Journal advises "don't throw away your Weight Watchers plan" if you succumb to the pitches for the overpriced thirst quencher.
How overpriced is it? Well, Coke claims that three 12-ounce cans a day (costing more than $4) will cause "a healthy person of normal weight" to "burn anywhere from 60 to 100 additional calories." Apparently this was persuasive enough to cause NBC's "Today" show (10/12/06) to call it a "miracle beverage" in a five minute freebie plug.
We salute the Journal for pointing out that the questionable research on which weight-loss claims are based "hasn't been publicly released or formally reviewed by other scientists...The study included only healthy, normal-weight men and women" aged 18 to 35 - "people who by definition, don't need to lose weight...Coke says it didn't measure the drink's effects on overweight people."
If you can swallow the "60-calorie loss per three cans" claim, the Journal noted, you'd have to drink "more than five cans a day of Enviga, at a cost of $6.45 or more to burn the number of calories found in two Oreos. A brisk 15-minute walk would do the same trick." To offset the calories in a McDonald's Big Mac would require "28 cans of Enviga, at a cost of $36 or more."
"Coke has gone through a difficult period," said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest, citing years of management, marketing and product turmoil and a stock price that is roughly half where it was at its peak in 1998.
B. Be Warned of Evigna, Coke's Aspartame Tea!
The following excerpt is from an email sent by Dr. Betty Martini, a leading critic of aspartame:
"This [Evigna] is an aspartame tea! And since aspartame makes you crave carbohydrates you can gain weight and die at the same time! Death is #77 on the FDA list of 92 documented symptoms; I guess you would call it the ultimate symptom. You are also being pre-embalmed as stated in Dr. Roberts medical text, Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, www.sunsentpress.com, Page 675, "One experienced undertaker literally warned his family against using diet soda after repeatedly detecting the deposition of formaldehyde crystals deposited in the organs of such individuals. Some funeral directors even insisted on closing the caskets of persons who had consumed large amounts of aspartame because formaldehyde seeped through the skin." The Trocho Study showed the formaldehyde converted from the free methyl alcohol accumulates in the cells and damages DNA, with most toxicity in the liver but substantial amounts in the adipose tissue, kidneys, retina and brain. When your liver is toxic, it's even hard to lose weight.
See more from Dr. Betty Martini at Mission Possible International
C. Excerpts from Sandra Cabot, M.D. re: toxic sweetner aspartame:
"In the interests of public health I am making a position statement concerning the use of the artificial sweetener called aspartame and sold most commonly under the names of NutraSweet and Equal. One must ask, "Why do millions of people ingest a toxic chemical like aspartame everyday?" To me it appears ridiculous and I believe that it is because people have been brainwashed into thinking aspartame will keep their weight down and is good for health. It also shows me that we have lost touch with our own natural senses and instincts.
"After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight. This has been my experience, and there are logical reasons to explain the fattening and bloating effects of aspartame. When you ingest the toxic chemical aspartame it is absorbed from the intestines and passes immediately to the LIVER where it is taken inside the liver via the liver filter. The liver then breaks down or metabolizes aspartame to its toxic components - phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. This process requires a lot of energy from the liver, which means there will be less energy remaining in the liver cells. This means the liver cells will have less energy for fat burning and metabolism, which will result in fat storing. Excess fat may build up inside the liver cells causing "fatty liver" and when this starts to occur it is extremely difficult to lose weight. In my vast experience any time that you overload the liver you will increase the tendency to gain weight easily.
"Aspartame also causes weight gain by other mechanisms — Causes unstable blood sugar levels, which increases the appetite and causes cravings for sweets/sugar. Thus it is particularly toxic for those with diabetes or epilepsy. Causes fluid retention giving the body a puffy and bloated appearance. This makes people look fatter than they are and increases cellulite."
Read Dr. Cabot's complete statement.
Dr. Sandra Cabot's Website
D. Excerpts from "ASPARTAME: The Shocking Story of the World's Bestselling Sweetener," by Pat Thomas, The Ecologist, Sept. 2005
"Aspartame is the most controversial food additive in history. The most recent evidence, linking it to leukaemia and lymphoma, has added substantial fuel to the ongoing protests of doctors, scientists and consumer groups who allege that this artificial sweetener should never have been released onto the market and that allowing it to remain in the food chain is killing us by degrees.
"Once upon a time, aspartame was listed by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent. Today it's an integral part of the modern diet. Sold commercially under names like NutraSweet and Canderel, aspartame can be found in more than 5,000 foods, including fizzy drinks, chewing gum, table-top sweeteners, diet and diabetic foods, breakfast cereals, jams, sweets, vitamins, prescription and over-the-counter drugs. This means that there is a good chance that you and your family are among the two thirds of the adult population and 40 per cent of children who regularly ingest this artificial sweetener.
"Because it contains no calories, aspartame is considered a boon to health-conscious individuals everywhere; and most of us, if we think about it at all, think it is safe. But independent scientists say aspartame can produce a range of disturbing adverse effects in humans, including headaches, memory loss, mood swings, seizures, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's-like symptoms, tumours and even death.
"Concerns over aspartame's toxicity meant that for eight years, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied it approval, effectively keeping it off the world market. This caution was based on compelling evidence, brought to light by numerous eminent scientists, litigators and consumer groups, that aspartame contributed to serious central nervous system damage and had been shown to cause cancer in animals. Eventually, however, political muscle, won out over scientific rigour, and aspartame was approved for use in 1981 (see timeline below for details).
"The FDA's about-turn opened the floodgates for aspartame's swift approval by more than 70 regulatory authorities around the world. But, as the remarkable history of the sweetener shows, the clean bill of health given to it by government regulators - whose raison d'?tre should be to protect the public from harm - is simply not worth the paper it is printed on.
Excepts from the article's timeline:
26 JULY 1974
FDA commissioner Dr Alexander Schmidt grants aspartame its first approval as a 'food additive' for restricted use in dry foods. This approval comes despite the fact that his own scientists found serious deficiencies in the data submitted by [G.D.} Searle [and Company].
AUGUST 1974
Before aspartame can reach the marketplace, Dr John Olney, James Turner (attorney, consumer advocate and former 'Nader's Raider' who was instrumental in removing the artificial sweetener cyclamate from the US market), and the group Label Inc (Legal Action for Buyers' Education and Labeling) file a formal objection to aspartame's approval with the FDA, citing evidence that it could cause brain damage, particularly in children.
JULY 1975
Concerns about the accuracy of test data submitted to the FDA by Searle for a wide range of products prompt Schmidt to appoint a special task force to examine irregularities in 25 key studies for aspartame and Searle drugs Flagyl, Aldactone and Norpace.
5 DECEMBER 1975
Searle agrees to an inquiry into aspartame safety concerns. Searle withdraws aspartame from the market pending its results. The sweetener remains off the market for nearly 10 years while investigations into its safety and into Searle's alleged fraudulent testing procedures are ongoing. However, the inquiry board does not convene for another four years.
24 MARCH 1976
The FDA task force completes its 500 page report on Searle's testing procedures. The final report notes faulty and fraudulent product testing, knowingly misrepresented product testing, knowingly misrepresented and 'manipulated' test data, and instances of irrelevant animal research in all the products reviewed. Schmidt says: '[Searle's studies were] incredibly sloppy science. What we discovered was reprehensible.'
JULY 1976
The FDA forms a new task force, headed by veteran inspector Jerome Bressler, to further investigate irregularities in Searle's aspartame studies uncovered by the original task force. The findings of the new body will eventually be incorporated into a document known as the Bressler Report.
10 JANUARY 1977
FDA chief counsel Richard Merrill formally requests the US Attorney's office to begin grand jury proceedings to investigate whether indictments should be filed against Searle for knowingly misrepresenting findings and 'concealing material facts and making false statements' in aspartame safety tests. This is the first time in the FDA's history that it requests a criminal investigation of a manufacturer.
26 JANUARY 1977
While the grand jury investigation is underway, Sidley & Austin, the law firm representing Searle, begins recruitment negotiations with Samuel Skinner, the US attorney in charge of the investigation. Skinner removes himself form the investigation and the case is passed to William Conlon.
8 MARCH 1977
Searle hires prominent Washington insider Donald Rumsfeld as its new CEO to try to turn the beleaguered company around. A former member of Congress and defence secretary in the Ford administration, Rumsfeld brings several of his Washington colleagues in as top management. [It should be noted that Donald Rumsfeld is currently U.S. Secretary of Defense and a key architect of the War on Iraq.]
1 JULY 1977
Samuel Skinner leaves the US Attorney's office and takes a job with Searle's law firm. Conlon takes over Skinner's old job.
28 SEPTEMBER 1977
The FDA publishes a report exonerating Searle of any wrongdoing in its testing procedures. Jacqueline Verrett will later testify to the US Senate that her team was pressured into validating data from experiments that were clearly a 'disaster'.
8 DECEMBER 1977
Despite complaints from the Justice Department, Conlon stalls the grand jury prosecution for so long that the statute of limitations on the aspartame charges runs out and the investigation is dropped. Just over a year later Conlon joins Searle's law firm, Sidley & Austin.
30 SEPTEMBER 1980
The FDA's PBOI votes unanimously against aspartame's approval, pending further investigations of brain tumours in animals. The board says it 'has not been presented with proof of reasonable certainty that aspartame is safe for use as a food additive'.
JANUARY 1981
Rumsfeld states in a Searle sales meeting that he is going to make a big push to get aspartame approved within the year. Rumsfeld vows to 'call in his markers' and use political rather than scientific means to get the FDA on side.
20 JANUARY 1981
Ronald Reagan is sworn in as president of the US. Reagan's transition team, which includes Rumsfeld, nominates Dr Arthur Hull Hayes Jr. to be the new FDA commissioner.
21 JANUARY 1981
One day after Reagan's inauguration, Searle re-applies to the FDA for approval to use aspartame as a food sweetener.
19 MAY 1981
Arthur Hull Hayes Jr, appoints a five-person commission to review the PBOI's decision. Three of the five FDA scientists on it advise against approval of aspartame, stating on the record that Searle's tests are unreliable and not adequate to determine the safety of aspartame. Hayes installs a sixth member on the commission, and the vote becomes deadlocked.
15 JULY 1981
Hayes ignores the recommendations of his own internal FDA team, overrules the PBOI findings and gives initial approval for aspartame to be used in dry products on the basis that it has been shown to be safe for its proposed uses.
22 OCTOBER 1981
The FDA approves aspartame as a tabletop sweetener and for use in tablets, breakfast cereals, chewing gum, dry bases for beverages, instant coffee and tea, gelatines, puddings, fillings, dairy-product toppings and as a flavour enhancer for chewing gum.
4. Editorial Integrity Undermined by Coke at Princeton University?
North American Dialogue, Volume 9 No. 2, a publication of American Anthropological Association and University of California Press, October 2006
Read the article that Coke did not want published in Business Today.
Inside This Publication
(To read the following articles, click on the link to the AAA Newletter below.)
Report From the Frontlines: Campaign to Stop Killer Coke (Rogers), p. 1
The Story Behind the Story: Business Today Rejects Rogers's Article (compiled by Rogers and Waterston), p. 4
Report From the Field: Fighting For Justice, Dying For Hope On the Protest Line in Colombia (Gill), p. 9
SANA Resolution: Boycott of Coca-Cola Products, p. 14
and much more
5. Height of Hypocrisy: Coke CEO Isdell to Lecture on Social Responsibility in NYC
At the upcoming conference of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), Coca-Cola's CEO and Chairman Neville Isdell will deliver a keynote speech. (Conference Website)
This seems laughable to say the least considering that Coca-Cola in July was removed from the Broad Market Social Index of KLD Research & Analytics, Inc., a global leader in setting corporate responsibility standards. This decision led the nation's largest pension fund, TIAA-CREF, to dump 1.25 million shares of Coca-Cola stock and to ban Coca-Cola from its CREF Social Choice Account, the world's largest socially-screened fund for individual investors with $7.9 billion in assets. (Read our press release.)
And why was Coke downgraded by KLD. Could it be because of the concerns over human rights, environmental and other abuses in Colombia, India and other parts of the world? You bet!
No word if Isdell will take part in the workshops: "Thirsty for Solutions: Water Scenarios for the Next 20 Years".
Regarding Isdell's presence, media blogger Jeff Chester comments that "featuring keynote from . . . Isdell, who [is] positioned as some kind of global corporate role model, is absurd" as "Coca-Cola is actively promoting a digital media-saturated global youth obesity epidemic."
Now why would Isdell, the leader of a company which is viewed as highly irresponsible around the world on a multitude of issues, be deemed worthy to give a major address at a conference on social responsibility. Here again, the Corporate Crime Reporter offers us useful insight.
"In 1991, the founders, a group of small businesses, wanted to counter the voices of the giant multinationals - the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable - in the public policy arena... [but] giant multinationals ... hijacked Business for Social Responsibility from its founders. The reality is that Business for Social Responsibility has become a public relations organization for big corporations. The only criteria for membership - you have to be big and loaded." About the big business takeover, BSR founder Laury Hammel commented that "The first allegiance of big public companies is to their stockholders," Hammel said. "Most of these big companies have to cater to the whims of the stockholders. That puts them in conflict with the consumer, community and the environment. Very few big companies can buck that stockholder dictatorship."
Isdell's speech will be on Wednesday November 8th from 5 to 6 pm at the conference which takes place Nov. 7 - 10 at the Grand Hyatt on 42nd Street next to Grand Central Station in New York City. Cost to attend this conference runs as high as $1800, but there is a rate of $1,050 for those with nonprofit or academic affiliation.
6. Clinton Continues Greenwashing of Coke and Other Junk Food Companies
A recent issue of Corporate Crime Reporter highlighted a further service to the junk food industry by the Clinton Foundation that follows Clinton's work with Coca-Cola earlier this year.
"It was typical Bill Clinton. Surround yourself with so-called public health groups, big corporate junk food companies, and announce a breakthrough agreement. That was the spectacle last week in New York as the Clinton Foundation, the American Heart Association, and five junk food companies — PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, Campbell Soup, Mars, and Dannon — announced an agreement under which junk food companies would voluntarily replace junky foods in the schools with less junky foods."
The agreement was immediately attacked by legitimate public health groups. "The nutrition standards in the agreement are pathetic,' said Gary Ruskin of Commercial Alert.
"For example, under the agreement, most snack foods are allowed to have 35% sugar by weight. In essence, the Clinton Foundation and the American heart Association have endorsed and legitimized the sale of junk food to children." Ruskin called the deal "a sham" and "a public relations stunt." "It is entirely voluntary and not enforceable," Ruskin said. "The industry can back away from the deal tomorrow."
Ruskin and other public health advocates believe that the government should step up and set mandatory standards protecting school children. "Our children deserve laws not promises that aren't worth the paper they are printed on," Ruskin said.
"The Clinton Foundation/American Heart Association alliance was kicked off earlier this year when both got PepsiCo, Cadbury Schweppes and Coca-Cola to voluntarily stop selling non-diet drinks in the schools...That agreement was attacked by health advocates who were concerned that the agreement would undermine a nationwide push to prohibit junk food corporations selling products to school children..."
In our May 9, 2006 newsletter, we reported that former U.S. President Bill Clinton received the Fulbright Prize for International Understanding sponsored by The Coca-Cola Co. He was presented the award by Coca-Cola CEO E. Neville Isdell. The Prize includes a sculpture entitled "Tribute" created by a retired Coca-Cola executive and $50,000 "made possible by The Coca-Cola Foundation."
7. Major Reports From the Campaign
LABOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS: 'The Real Thing' in Colombia, By Lesley Gill
Read Report
Colombia Solidarity Campaign, "The Anti-Coke Manifesto," By Andy Higginbottom, Secretary, Colombia Solidarity Campaign
Read Manifesto
Read Manifesto in Italian
"Inside the Real Thing: Corporate profile on Coca-Cola Corporation," Report by the Polaris Institute (Canada)
Read the report in pdf format
NYC fact-finding delegation's report on human rights violations by Coke - Final Report, NYC Council Member Hiram Monserrate, April 2004
View Full Report in pdf - html
View Appendices
War on Want, Press Release and Report, "Coca-Cola under fire as World Cup comes to London, Released March 20, 2006
Read Release
Read Report, "Coca-Cola: The Alternative Report"
En Espa?ol
Seven Points to Settlement
Read the Seven Points.
"ILRF Director Terry Collingsworth Response to Coke's Denials," July 8, 2004
Read Response
"University of Michigan Falls Prey to Another Coca-Cola PR Scam," Campaign to Stop Killer Coke
April 17, 2006 Press Release/Report
WB11, New York Feature on the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke
On July 11, 2005, WB11, one of New York City area's major television stations aired a special "Fact Finders Report" on the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke called "Coca-Cola Faces Human Rights Violations." Interviewed are Campaign Director Ray Rogers, Hofstra University Campaign Activist Vanessa Cudabac, New York City Council Member Hiram Monserrate, New York City Comptroller William Thompson and American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Secretary-Treasurer Terry Stapleton. This excellent feature was watched by millions on WB11 and, as we found out from supporters, watched by others around the world on satellite television.
Play Tape of Show
To get access to the film: Userid: "corporatecampaign" password: "corporatecampaign0895"
The Campaign's Response to Coke's Statements on the WB11 Feature
Read Response
8. Do you need a customized Campaign leaflet?
When we invited supporters to contact us to "customize a leaflet for your campus, union or group," the response was terrific! We immediately began getting emails asking us to produce customized leaflets for numerous colleges, universities, high schools and middle schools. We put them up as soon as we could. We have leaflets for Australia, Canada, Colombia (in Spanish), India, Ireland, the UK and the US.
Because the demand for flyers was so strong, it took up too much server space. We decided to leave the list online with the schools listed for which we have customized flyers. If you need a copy of your flyer, please contact us and we'll email it to you as soon as possible.
Look to see if your customized flyer is listed.
If your school, union or group is not listed and you would like a customized leaflet, please contact us at info@KillerCoke.org. Please state the name of your school and the name of the sponsoring group, if any, and a local email address, if you want us to put them into the flyer. If you want the flyer for a group, please state the name of the group and an email address. Also, whenever you email the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke, please include a phone number, if possible, in case we have a need to talk with you.
9. Campaign's 'Campus Activism' Section
Many students interested in launching a Campaign to Stop Killer Coke at their schools and colleges have been contacting us. We recommend that students begin by checking out the two organizing packets in our "Campus Activism" section:
- "Unthinkable! Undrinkable! A Campus Campaign Overview," a USAS Campus Guide
- Campus Activism Packet — Campaign for a Coca-Cola Free Campus
- Schools Active in the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke
In addition, there are numerous reports, resolutions and articles in the "Campus Activism" section that can be useful.
10. Take Actions Against Coke!
- Call Coca-Cola and tell them to stop their worldwide abuses at 1-800-GET-COKE.
- Sign a Petition protesting Coke's abuses:
- Sign the Petition
- Join the Boycott at Karmabanque's web site at: www.karmabanque.com
- Send an E-Card to Coca-Cola
11. Please send photos, reports of events, etc. for the Campaign website
Please send photos, reports of events, and if you are in a school, union or organization that has banned Coke products, please send us the resolution or a description of how the decision was made. We would like the Campaign website to be up-to-date and to share the information via our newsletter. (Whenever you email us, please include your phone number and the best times to contact you, including weekends.)
Campaign to Stop KILLER COKE
We are seeking your help to stop a gruesome cycle of murders, kidnappings, and torture of union leaders and organizers involved in daily life-and-death struggles at Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia, South America.
"If we lose the fight against Coca-Cola, we will first lose our union, next our jobs and then our lives." SINALTRAINAL VIce President Juan Carlos Galvis
Please donate to the Campaign.
Learn the truth about The Coca-Cola Co.
"We believe the evidence shows that Coca-Cola and its corporate network are rife with immorality, corruption and complicity in murder."
Campaign to Stop Killer Coke/Corporate Campaign, Inc. Director Ray Rogers
