Always Coca-Cola

June 2006

As a principal sponsor of FIFA, Coca-Cola is keen to trade in on the World Cup’s image of fair play and good sportsmanship. But many believe its business practices make a mockery of this reputation.

For thirsty fans at the World Cup, there’s only one choice of soft drink available. Whether it’s Coke, Sprite or Bonaqua, all the brands on sale belong to coca-cola. Many of theses drinks are produced in India, where Coca-Cola’s business practices have elicited widespread condemnation. “The coca cola factory ruined my life,” despairs one farmer. Producing 0.33L of coke requires 1L of water. In some villages near cola factories, water levels have dropped by 60m. Harvests have fallen by more than 40% because there is not enough water to irrigate fields. But Coca-Cola denies all responsibility. “We are not the problem”, states spokesman Rajiv Singh. “There are simply too many people living here who are wasteful with water.” Coca-cola also stands accused of pollution and union busting. Many workers in their factories receive around 50 cents for a 12 hour shift. They have no unions and sometimes receive no compensation for injuries sustained. As Bhagwab Das Yadav states: “All we want is for coca cola to respect India’s labour laws.”

28:35mins    Click here or on the image above to view this Documentary on Coca-Cola.

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The Coca-Cola Case – A documentary film about Coke and labour rights in the bottling plants.

You’ll never look at a can of Coke the same way after seeing this documentary film.

Directors German Gutierrez and Carmen Garcia present a searing indictment of the Coca-Cola empire and its alleged kidnapping, torture and murder of union leaders trying to improve working conditions in Colombia, Guatemala and Turkey. The filmmakers follow labour rights lawyers Daniel Kovalik and Terry Collingsworth and an activist for the Stop Killer-Coke! Campaign, Ray Rogers, as they attempt to hold the giant U.S. multinational beverage company accountable in this legal and human rights battle.

Trailer – 02:13mins

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killercoke

Advertising for the killercoke.org campaign

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“An astonishingly wide-ranging film.  An informed and heartfelt examination of the tug of war between public health and private interests.”
- New York Times

Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century – The World Water Crisis. Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel. The film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, Coca-Cola and Nestle to name a few, while begging the question “CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?”

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