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Coca Cola
From the Coca Cola Company official web site:“Throughout all of our operations, we adhere to rigorous quality standards that cover both source water and finished products. Our manufacturing process allows us to produce beverages that consistently meet our international standards for safety and quality. We share a commitment to water stewardship in all communities where we do business.”
From the Council of Canadians official statement on the 2010 Olympics (2009): “A Worldwide Olympic Partner, Coca Cola (also a sponsor of the Torch Relay), is notorious for depleting groundwater in areas of India and Latin America with scarce water resources. Furthermore, Coca Cola is a leading promoter of water commodification as one of the largest producers of bottled water in the world. The Council of Canadians is actively promoting bottled water bans in communities across the country, and has grave concerns about the impact of Coca Cola’s sponsorship on public water infrastructure support in Vancouver and Whistler.”
From “Five Reasons to Ban Bottled Water” (Council of Canadians, 2009): “The demand for bottled water is also contributing to the global water crisis. Water shortages caused by Coca Cola’s groundwater draining in Plachimada, India have led thousands of people to demand the closure of the Coca Cola plant in their community. Medha Patkar, a social activist leading the battle in Plachimada recently told the media, ‘The bottling of water has really exploited our ground reserves […] killed our aquifers, and […] encroached upon the people’s rights to natural resources and the right to plan with those resources.’”
From KillerCoke.org: “Council of Canadians Criticizes the WWF Over Partnership with Coke” Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change. However, The Coca-Cola Co. is a sponsor of this initiative. Because of that, the Council of Canadians wrote to the WWF asking that their organization be removed as a participating organization. Below is an excerpt from the letter sent by the WWF to the Council of Canadians followed by the reply from Cory Morningstar, chair of the Council of Canadians, London: "Dear Mr [sic] Morningstar, Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns regarding Coca-Cola and I am sorry to hear of your request to be removed from the Earth Hour website... A close partnership between a high profile company and a high profile conservation organization is naturally not without its risks, however we have conducted a thorough risk assessment both globally and locally. It is important to remember that this does not mean that Coca-Cola is perfect by any means, however we have carved out an ambitious work-plan that addresses a gigantic portion of their footprint...” And here is the reply: "Dear WWF Canada, How can you expect environmental organizations to promote your campaign when you let Coca Cola corporation greenwash their brand through your efforts? This is an insult to all of the environmental organizations and activists who work so hard against corporations like Coca Cola - who do so much damage to our planet. This is an insult to the people all over the planet who are exploited and oppressed under the crushing footprint of this corporation who has no regard for human life or the environment. We regret that we must ask to be removed from the website as a participating organization. We will participate in Earth Hour - however - we cannot promote the event with Coca Cola as your sponsor. Please also remove my name. We hope you will consider researching this corporations horrific human rights violations and vast environmental degradation and remove Coca Cola as your sponsor. Sincerely, Cory Morningstar, Council of Canadians | London, Chair"
Also from KillerCoke.org: “WWF Greenwashes Coca-Cola”: (Environmental News Service, June 5, 2007) "As Ronald Reagan loved to remark, 'There they go again.' WWF, the corporate-funded environmental giant often accused of taking greenbacks in return for greenwashing its corporate benefactors, has a new partner. WWF and the Coca-Cola Company proclaimed a "bold partnership" that has Coke paying WWF US$20 million. WWF touts the deal on its website. A full- page New York Times advertisement announcing the deal is headlined "This is our drop," a phrase that Coke has trademarked. For Coke, $20 million is just a drop in the bucket, a cheap fee for the PR boost from its WWF partnership. Other companies giving money to and receiving the blessings of WWF include Alcoa, Altria Group, Walt Disney Company, and dozens more listed on the WWF website..."
And one last piece from KillerCoke.org: “Coca-Cola awards another medal to itself for environmental responsibility” The World Environment Center awarded the 2009 WEC Gold Medal to The Coca-Cola Co. for "International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. A little research indicates a WEC Vice Chair is Jeff Seabright, Coca-Cola's VP of Environment & Water Resources. Thus, this award is another scam like the Golden Peacock and numerous other awards given to Coke by organizations either with Coke policymakers on the board or with a large monetary relationship. And a scan of the list of past recipients shows more examples of "environmentally responsible" corporations, Exxon Corp and Dow Chemical.
From Wikipedia: “The Coca-Cola Company and its products have been criticized by various sources for various reasons including negative health effects resulting from consumption of its products, exploitative labor practices, high levels of pesticides in its products, building plants in Nazi Germany which employed slave labor, environmental destruction, monopolistic business practices, hiring paramilitary units to murder trade union leaders, and marketing unhealthy products to children.”
Coca Cola makes an astounding number of products, including brands like Minute Maid.
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