Ógra Shinn Féin
Leinster
With regards to last week An Phoblacht (13th Dec 07) and the central page article which includes a photo of a number of comrades during the lunch break,
I couldn’t help but notes that in the small photo there was five delicious bottles of Colombia blood AKA Coca-Cola products being enjoyed. Are we now getting sponsored by killer coke? Do we no long Support the killer coke campaign?
A campaign that seek to stop a gruesome cycle of murders, kidnappings and torture of union leaders and organizers involved in the daily life and death struggles at Coca Cola bottling plants in Colombia. Were eight people have been murder for being union leaders or in one case a manager who was considered friendly to the union. The most recent being the murder of Adolfo de Jesús Munera Lopez in 2002.
I also wonder did these products come from the Drogheda Coca- Cola bottling where 256 workers will loss there jobs next year flowing recent announcements.
This is not the first time I have seen Coca Cola products being sold our drunk at major Sinn Féin events or meeting. I have often voiced my disgust at comrades supporting coke, the responses I receive range from using ignorance as defence, that they had no other choice or that they are “addicted” to it. Regardless of excuses you either support worker right or you don’t.
I find it very ironic and sad that at an event where we are meant to be re-launching the party as a left wing alternative and ”engaging modern Ireland ”, we use a photo like this. Also as I looked at the photo I couldn’t help but notice that the key figures where Male Stale and Pale (with the exception of the coke). Is this the 32 socialist democratic republic we dream and work for or are we, like I hope, going to achieve the “Real Thing”.
4 comments:
I take your general point about Coca-Cola (maybe there needs to be a more concerted effort in raising people's consciousness) but your point about the Drogheda job losses mystifies me.
Surely a boycott undermines job security - and are you saying it is wrong to buy Coca-Cola but OK to work for it?
Or are they some of the everyday contradictions workers in struggle find themselves in?
Eugene a chara, good aricle. As most of you are aware over 2500 trade union members have been murdered in the last 5 years in Columbia, some of these were workers of coco cola. By purchasing these products we are supporting this regime. Jack, I assume the point Eugene was making about the job loses was that as a company they are far from people orientated, rather just motivated by money and they have no moral issues about making hundreds of people unemployed before christmas just so they can save money by exploting cheap labour else where. Also in relation to the dilemma about job security - do you think it is right that children under the age of 6 have been made unemployed from their 16 hours/7 days a week job after GAP was found to be exploiting them. Think about it they are now earning no money now - do you think that is wrong? EC
Jack a chara, I am not looking to close coca cola down or put anyone in the dole queue (although I would like to see some in a court room on charges of corporate murder). By boycott them I am sending them the message that the way they treat there worker is not acceptable and hitting them were it hurts the balance sheet on till they change there ways. When a company accepts works right and plays fair it is the best job security there is.
Yes, I agree. Even though I am "addicted to Diet Coke" I settle for second best Diet Pepsi as I do not like the taste of my brother's blood.
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