Contents of This Newsletter
1. Coca-Cola, Darfur, Tibet & the China Olympics
2. Watch Live Webcast of the Annual Meeting
3. Obama, Sam Nunn, Coke, Chevron & GE
4. Letter Regarding Coke's Profiting from Kenya's Misery
5. India
6. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coca-Cola
7. To Very Concerned in Atlanta

1. Coca-Cola, Darfur, Tibet & the China Olympics

Read the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke on "Coca-Cola, Darfur, Tibet & the China Olympics"

" 'In New York, legislators have introduced bills requiring the state comptroller "to pull pension money out of companies like Coca-Cola…' (New York Post 7/24/07), which do business in Sudan. And Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry 'signed a bill… directing the Teachers Retirement System and Employees Retirement System to get rid of holdings in companies doing business in Sudan because of atrocities in Darfur' (New York Times, 7/19/07)…

"The Coca-Cola Co. has recently come under criticism due to its involvement as a major sponsor of the 2008 Olympic games in China because China supports the Sudanese government and because of the Chinese government's violence directed at Tibetan protestors. Coca-Cola long-time board member Peter Ueberroth is the chair of the U.S. Olympic Committee."

A couple of years ago, The Campaign to Stop Killer Coke urged everyone to demand that gum Arabic, one of the leading exports of Sudan, not be imported, and The Coca-Cola Co. should shut down its operations there. Coca-Cola should also compensate every worker affected by a shutdown the equivalent of four times the per capita income for Sudanese to help those workers' families adjust while seeking other means of making a living. Even if there were 7,000 employees, this would cost Coca-Cola less than $20 million, a drop in the bucket compared to the annual profits of $4 billion to $5 billion or the compensation paid to its executive officers.

Four years ago, large Coke shareholder B. Wardlaw predicted at the 2004 Coke shareholders' meeting that the China Olympics created problems for The Coca-Cola Co. &" possible public relations calamity in China" He said: "As far as my proposal on China business principles which I am bringing to you for the third time [His proposal was voted down all three years by the shareholders.], I introduced this proposal because I, along with many other socially conscious shareholders, are concerned about Coke, its reputation and its share price. As I've said here the last two years, we seem to be heading toward possible public relations calamity in China. So just looking at it from the viewpoint of the company, it makes sense for us to spend more time thinking about, before we go in, we're spending over a $1 billion, what over the last 20 years in China, developing products there. The Olympics are coming to China in 2008 in Beijing. This is a moment where Coca-Cola is going to be highlighted because of our close involvement with the Olympics and the, as someone has said, as a recognized product in the world. I think what is happening, is that we are still not, as a company, paying enough attention to what could happen in China. Every human rights abuse possible has been committed in China..."

Zee News, "The Olympic torch: Its history and past disputes," March 31, 2008
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"2006: Protests in Italy force torch bearers for Turin`s Winter Olympics to change route four times during a two-month trip across Italy. Protesters voice opposition to U.S. corporate giant Coca Cola`s sponsorship of the Games, US First Lady Laura Bush`s related visit and the construction of a high-speed railway from Turin to France.

"* March 2008: Human rights protesters try to disrupt the torch-lighting ceremony in Greece on March 24. Exiled Tibetans pledge to demonstrate against a security crackdown in Tibet and parts of western China after a wave of anti-government protests. China says there are no plans to change the torch`s two scheduled visits to Tibet."

Emirates Business 24/7, "Sponsors face heat in Beijing," March 28, 2008
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"McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Samsung and other sponsors paid tens of millions of dollars to link their names with the Beijing Olympics. Now, they're trying to mollify activists pressing for change on Tibet, Darfur and other issues, without angering China. They have expressed concern over Tibet; some even talk privately to Beijing organisers. But sponsors insist they should stay out of politics.

"Until last week, the sponsors' biggest concern was pressure over Darfur. Fronted by actress Mia Farrow and employing disciplined public relations strategies, Darfur activists have been prodding sponsors to lobby Beijing to help pressure Sudan to end the conflict."

The New York Times, "Corporate Sponsors Nervous as Tibet Protest Groups Shadow Olympic Torch's Run," By Heather Timmons, March 29, 2008
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"Groups have decried China's policies in other areas, particularly Darfur. But the pro-Tibet network, spread around the world, is more organized and interconnected than other groups, and advertising consultants and political scientists, say its influence is expected to keep the issue of autonomy and violence in Tibet front and center for weeks...'We feel that using the torch relay to put political pressure on China is not appropriate, Ms. [communications manager for Coca-Cola, Kerry] Kerr said. Still, Coke has had several meetings with protest groups, she said, and is sharing the groups' concerns with the International Olympic Committee."

Daily Echo Dorset, "Opinion split on Olympic boycott," By Joanna Codd, March 25, 2008
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"Former international sportsman Derek Vaines, 71, of Bournemouth, who represented his country at judo, said: 'Athletes shouldn't go to China. Its human rights record is deplorable. All China is going to do with the Olympic Games is wave its own flag and proffer its own position. If I was in my twenties and competing at an international level, I certainly wouldn't be entertaining going on any sort of game-playing exercise in Beijing.' Mr. Vaines urged other people to join his boycott of products made by Coca-Cola, which is sponsoring the Olympic torch."

2. Watch Live Webcast of the Annual Meeting

You can view the live webcast of the meeting by logging on to Coke's website at and clicking on "Investors" and then on the link to the webcast. An archived copy of the webcast will be available until May 16, 2008.

The meeting will begin on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:30 am, EST. There will be a number of issues raised at the meeting by concerned shareholders or their proxies regarding Coke's labor, human rights and environmental abuses.

On this year's agenda is a shareholders' resolution submitted by William C. Wardlaw III, owner of 15,205 shares of Common Stock. The Company filed legal papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission in an effort to prevent Mr. Wardlaw's resolution from appearing on this year's proxy statement. The SEC disagreed with Coca-Cola's rationale. Of course, now that it's on the proxy statement, Coca-Cola has asked shareholders not to support the proposal.

"Shareowner Proposal Regarding a Board Committee on Human Rights (Item 6)

"RESOLVED:

"Shareholders amend the Bylaws, by adding the following new section at the end of Article III:

"Section 4 . Board Committee on Human Rights. There is established a Board Committee on Human Rights, which is created and authorized to review the implications of company policies, above and beyond matters of legal compliance, for the human rights of individuals in the US and worldwide.

"The Board of Directors is authorized in its discretion consistent with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation and applicable law to (1) select the members of the Board Committee on Human Rights, (2) provide said committee with funds for operating expenses, (3) adopt regulations or guidelines to govern said Committee's operations, (4) empower said Committee to solicit public input and to issue periodic reports to shareholders and the public, at reasonable expense and excluding confidential information, including but not limited to an annual report on the implications of company policies, above and beyond matters of legal compliance for the human rights of individuals in the US and worldwide, and (5) any other measures within the Board's discretion consistent with these Bylaws and applicable law.

Nothing herein shall restrict the power of the Board of Directors to manage the business and affairs of the company. The Board Committee on Human Rights shall not incur any costs to the company except as authorized by the Board of Directors.

"Supporting Statement:

"The Coca-Cola Company, its bottlers, and suppliers have been associated with human rights controversies, leading to:

"&$149; The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) divesting the Coca-Cola Co. stock from and banning further investments in its $9 billion CREF Social Choice Account, the nation's largest socially screened fund for individual investors.

"&149; A USA Today "cover story" includes a quote claiming that some 45 colleges and universities removing Coke products from their campuses as a result of alleged human rights violations by its Colombian bottler (10/30/07).

"&3149; BBC News reporting that our company has been accused of benefiting from prison labor in China (5/21/07).

"• A May 2007 report by The International Environmental Law Research Centre accused the company of detrimental impacts on drinking and agricultural water supplies in India, violating human rights.

"In the opinion of the proponents, the company's existing governance process does not sufficiently elevate human rights issues within the company or serve the interests of shareholders in expediting effective solutions. The proposed Bylaw would establish a Board Committee on Human Rights that could review and make policy recommendations regarding human rights issues raised by the company's activities and policies.

"In defining 'human rights,' proponents suggest that the committee could use the US Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as nonbinding benchmarks or reference documents."

3. Obama, Sam Nunn, Coke, Chevron & GE

The media has been suggesting that Senator Barack Obama might choose former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) as his vice presidential candidate if Obama wins the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States. That would be a grave mistake! Sam Nunn sits of the boards of at least three of the most abusive corporations in the world & The Coca-Cola Co., Chevron and General Electric.

We don't have to explain to readers of this newsletter, the labor, human rights and environmental abuses committed by Coke, but Chevron has been also accused of abuses around the world, the most infamous are those committed against the indigenous people of Ecuador. And General Electric is a major defense contractor, paying huge settlements for defrauding the defense department.

Sam Nunn remains on these boards, never speaking out against such abuses. Such a decision by the Obama campaign to run Nunn for VP could be interpreted that they do not take labor, human rights and environmental issues seriously.

4. Letter Regarding Coke's Profiting from Kenya's Misery

This is Bob [a long-time campaign supporter, Bob Stiles]. I hired Ezra while I was in Nairobi. He sent this letter to me on Jan 28th.

January 28, 2008
THE COCA COLA COMPANY

An eyewitness report from Nairobi concerning THE COCA COLA COMPANY and NO "cup" of cold purified water for the oppressed:

"Hi Bob:

Ezra here.

…Here in Kenya we have recently witnessed the worst clashes ever to hit the country, but through the power of prayer n determination we r living. Over the last week, I have witnessed the worst human right abuses in my life, ruthless pro-government police officers shooting, shooting n shooting innocent people in the name of keep peace (what peace r they keeping by killing?). Abuses are some time getting out of control n even the chief mediator former united nations chief Koffi Annan has described the situation as tragic.

Basics like food n water have become a luxury thanks to shameless companies like COCA COLA Coca Cola is killing us. Women and children have no potable water. Children do not have water and it is summer here.

I cannot understand the Americans. Why, why, why are you so silent? You know I do not ask for any harm to you n what I say. But, you know, my faith tells me that you give water away."

Ezra

5. India

Scoop World Independent News, "Major Protest Demands Coca-Cola Shut Down Plant," India Resource Center, March 31, 2008
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"Over 1500 villagers marched to the Coca-Cola company's bottling plant in Mehdiganj in Varanasi in India yesterday demanding that the bottling plant shut down immediately...'Coca-Cola, Pepsico and other companies are plundering our natural resources. Water sustains life, and without water, life in not sustainable. The time has come to put an end to the misguided expropriation of our natural resources and assert the right to water to the communities to whom it belongs,' said Medha Patkar of the National Alliance of People's Movements, who led the march and rally."

India Resource Center, "Coca-Cola's Own Report Implicates Company for Abuses in India," by Amit Srivastava, March 13, 2008
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"The Coca-Cola company is up to its old tricks again. The company has just announced that it has received the Golden Peacock Global Award for corporate social responsibility. The award, which is sponsored by the Coca-Cola company itself, ostensibly 'recognizes the Company's efforts in water conservation and management and its community development initiatives' and 'the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically', according to the announcement.

"Ethical? Water conservation? Community development? And Coca-Cola? Ask the communities in India left thirsty as a result of Coca-Cola's operations, and they will tell you that this is a cruel joke, perhaps a hoax. And that is exactly what it is. In spite of the growing evidence implicating the Coca-Cola company for causing water shortages in India, the company's public relations department has done what it is paid to do — manufacture an image of the company that it clearly is not."

6. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coca-Cola On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we linked to his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech delivered on April 3, 1968, the night before he was shot, in which he called on the people of Memphis to boycott Coca-Cola because "they haven't been fair in their hiring policies." It should be noted that in 2000, more than three decades later, Coke settled a lawsuit for $192.5 million brought by their African-American employees charging racial discrimination and there are similar lawsuits pending.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I've Been to the Mountaintop," April 3, 1968
Read and Watch a Video of Dr. King's Speech
"Always anchor our external direct action with the power of economic withdrawal...And so, as a result of this, we are asking you tonight, to go out and tell your neighbors not to buy Coca-Cola in Memphis…As Jesse Jackson has said, up to now, only the garbage men have been feeling pain; now we must kind of redistribute the pain. We are choosing these companies because they haven't been fair in their hiring policies; and we are choosing them because they can begin the process of saying they are going to support the needs and the rights of these men who are on strike."

Watch the segment of "Mark Thomas on Coca-Cola" in which the Rev. Joseph Lowery discusses COke's racial discrimination policies. (It can be found at about 5:35 into Part One of the film)

7. To Very Concerned in Atlanta:

Thank you very much for your correspondence. We have been following up on your leads. Can you provide us with any other reports.