Programme about Killer Coke, ITV1 6/3/06
I've recieved an e-mail from KillerCoke.org saying the following:
I don't have much time for monarchy-lover Trevor McDonald, but I'll watch this.
On Monday, March 6, 2006 from 8-8:30 pm, the UK's most watched current affairs program, "Tonight with Trevor McDonald" will be doing a half hour program on ITV1 about issues surrounding Killer Coke (The Coca-Cola Co.). The program will cover certain aspects of Coca-Cola, including human rights abuse allegations at its plants in Colombia.
I don't have much time for monarchy-lover Trevor McDonald, but I'll watch this.
posted by Rhys Wynne at 4:07 pm
3 Comments:
So what did you think?
I watched it & found the coverage of the whole Columbian bottling plant incident plain confusing.
OK, so 8 workers got killed at the plant while they were at work. So Coke should have provided better security - there is a civil war on in Columbia after all.
But people get killed in Columbia at work, at home, travelling, all the time. There's a war on.
From the way things were presented I got the distinct impression that the protesters were jumping onto an already running "Anti-Coca-Cola Bandwagon" rather than Coke itself was specifically to blame.
Why not get upset about the state Columbia is in & try putting pressure there to end the drugs trade fuelled wars, buy Fair Trade Columbian coffee, roses etc & do something useful rather than just bash Americans?
After all, even though they have done too much to deserve it, bashing Americans will merely increase their paranoia!
Meanwhile I'm looking forward to a BBC documentary on "Killer" Coke - at least they may bother uncovering some more facts rather than giving a quick skim, showing protest meetings then going on to the easier to film & present (& dumbed down) "sugary coke vs water/fruit drinks" bit!
For some reason it wasn't on here, there was an ITV Wales programme on instead, but I take it was shown on ITV in England.
I can't comment on the programme, but it doesn't sound as though it gave a clear picture. The KillerCoke campaign website suggests that those that have died have been involved in trade union. Coke has a reputation for not wanting a unionised workforce in many countries. That doesn't automatically mean that they are involved I agree.
I wasn't aware of a programme by BBC on the same issue, but I'm sure it will be better made than something on ITV.
As for American bashing, I can see a bandwagon that many like hopping on, but the KillerCoke campaing originated in America, and also Coke have had some bad press for a plant in India where they'e diverted water to produce Coke while causing water shortages for the local populace, which was already marginalised.
Diolch y fawr for the clarification, Rhys.
Unfortunately the accusations laid against Coke sound all too likely for a multi-national company.
You heard about the conditions laid down by their sponsorship of the Olympics (in Greece)? Or maybe it was Pepsi's sponsorship - I forget which.
However the basic thing was that only their drink was to be available & neither the rival company's logo nor colours were to be displayed or even allowed anywhere on site.
Which, depending on which company was doing the sponsorship, would have annoyed either
the British, USA, French, Dutch, among others or
the Swiss, Danish, Swedish etc.
I know these events cost serious money but honestly. . .
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