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Nestlé supports killing
Nestlé supports killing (part II)
The foodstuff giant Nestlé is the world's largest food and beverage corporation. Nestlé's existing products extend from mineral water (e.g. San Pellegrino, Perrier, Ice Mountain) and other drinks (e.g. Milo, Caro, Libby's, Nesquik and Nestea) to baby food (e.g. Alfare, Lactogen, Neslac, NanSoy) to coffee (e.g. Bonka, Nescafé, Nespresso, Ricoffy) to frozen food (e.g. Maggi, Hot Pockets) to chocolates (e.g. After Eight, KitKat, Lion, Smarties) to ice cream (e.g. Dreyer's, Häagen Dazs, Mövenpick, Schöller) to breakfast cereals (e.g. Shredded Wheat, Cheerios, Fitnesse) to foodservice (e.g. Chef-Mate, Santa-Rica) and petcare products (e.g. Alpo, Friskies, Gourmet, Mighty Dog). For a more complete list go here (WARNING: PROPAGANDA).
In 2005 - the same year the activists were assassinated - Nestlé managed to increase its profit margin by 8.8% with revenues totalling 57.1 billion Euros.
Now, one might assume that a huge corporation like Nestlé, that makes tremendous profits really doesn't need to oppress its workforce, be involved in child labour and pay paramilitaries to assassinate union activists. You might also think that Nestlé did all that in the past and they surely learned their lesson, since they have a lot to lose and also invest millions, if not billions, into marketing campaigns to keep consumers 'informed'.
But NO! This huge corporate giant doesn't really seem to care about its image or at least the CEOs, managers and leaders seem to assume that their dear customers are just too desperate to eat their next chocolate bar to actually bother about such issues.
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21. In late 2001 and early 2002 managers at the Nestlé plant in Valledupar permitted AUC paramilitary forces to freely enter the plant and set up camp for "public security". During that time frame managers at the Nestlé plant met openly with paramilitaries inside the plant on several occasions.
22. On August 1,2002, members of SINALTRAINAL members discovered that Nestlé was using expired milk formula in the production of Milo (...). Shortly after SINALTRAINAL's exposé. the Colombian government confirmed the allegations. On November 22, 2002, a group of Colombian senators issued a report detailing how a confiscated shipment of milk formula to be used by Nestlé in the production of Milo was expired. The report also detailed how Nestlé agents marked the expired milk as "recently made," so that it could pass inspections and be used for human consumption.
23. Shortly after SINALTRAINAL exposed the fraud perpetrated by Nestlé, SINALTRAINAL members, including decedent, Mr. Romero, began experiencing numerous acts of intimidation, threats and violence directly at the hands of Nestlé through its agent, the AUC paramilitary forces. Such acts included, (...):
a) the torture and murder of numerous family members of SINALTRAINAL;
b) frequent threats towards SINALTRAINAL members during negotiations of their collective bargaining agreements with Nestlé;
c) termination of SINALTRAINAL members on a weekply basis for no reason; and,
d) subjectio of SINALTRAINAL leaders and members to a smear campaign.
(...) 26. Because of Mr. Romeo's outspokenness against the relationship between Nestlé and the paramilitaries and the events that took place at the Nestlé plants set forth herein, he received death threats on numerous occasions. (...)
27. In late 2004, Mr. Romeo was forced to retreat to Spain. (...)
In Spain, he continued his union and public safety activism. Even though it was risky, he returned to Colombia to reunite with his family and SINALTRAINAL colleagues in early 2005.
28. Shortly after his return to Colombia, Mr. Romero initiated a lawsuit in the Labor Court of Valledupar against Nestlé of Colombia S.A. for wrongful discharge and for reinstatement of his job.
29. On September 11, 2005, approximately one month after filing the lawsuit against Nestlé of Colombia S.A., Mr. Romero was found murdered in Las Palmas, (...). His body was found tied up, tortured, and cut up with approximately forty stab wounds.
(...) 31. To this day, Plaintiff Gladys Francisca Mendoza Mejia [his wife] continues to receive phone threats.
32. (...) He is remembered as a martyr and hero for his tireless work and passion for workers' rights in Colombia.
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For the whole report go to LaborRights.Org (.pdf).
They killed him slowly by stabbing him 40 times. It was a crime to spark terror and fear among labor union members.
Please note, that the following reports and articles were all published this year (2006)!!
For more infos on Nestlé in the Philippines:
The continuing struggle of the Nestlé workers (.pdf) (BabyMilkAction.Org)
Nestlé in the Philippines: campaigners speak on abuse of workers' rights, the assassination of Diosdado Fortuna, baby food marketing and what they think of Nestlé's Fairtrade product (BabyMilkAction.Org)
Trade unionists in the Philippines call for solidarity to bring Nestlé to the negotiating table while in the UK Nestlé heads to the Labour Party Conference (BabyMilkAction.Org)
Nestlé poses a problem to Labour Party conference (news.Independent.Co.UK)
Nestlé Philippines Unions issue new challenge to rampant Casualization (IUF.Org)
Diosdado Fortuna
For more infos on Nestlé in Colombia:
Nestlé's impact on farmers in Colombia - Nestlé's new Fairtrade coffee 'Partner's Blend' is labelled as a 'big joke' by Colombian trade unionist. (BabyMilkAction.Org)
Colombia Bulletin: April - June 2006 (ictur.Labournet.Org)
For more infos on Nestlé and Child Labour:
Slave Chocolate? (Forbes.Com/LaborRights.Org)
On Halloween, Nestlé claims no responsibility for child labor (LaborRights.Org)
Nestlé taken to Court for Trafficking, Torture, and Beatings of Child Laborers on West African Cocoa Farms (TradeAid.Org.NZ)
Tell Nestlé to stop buying child made cocoa (UnionVoice.Org)
For more infos on Nestlé and Genetically Modified (GM) Ingredients:
Nestlé obtains patent on Genetically Engineered Coffee (OrganicConsumers.Org)
Greenpeace and Nestlé clash over GM coffee (FoodSafetyNetwork.Ca)
Health campaigners from across Europe speak about their work to hold baby food companies to account and support and support for the Nestlé boycott (BabyMilkAction.Org)
Senior Nestlé executive misleads students in failed attempt to undermine boycott (BabyMilkAction.Org)
"Packaged Foods Exposed II (Nestlé)" (cjly.Net)
The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)
MultiWatch.CH (a Swiss site in German/eine schweizer Seite auf deutsch)
Pepsi and Nestlé blacklisted for water pollution in China (PolarisInstitute.Org)
Nestlé scientist's false claims exposed (infactCanada.Ca)
Container Recycling Report (feat. Nestlé/.pdf)
Nestlé deadly labels in South Asia (infactCanada.Ca)
Nestlé Korean Labour Union wins settlement, strike action averted (IUF.Org)
National Day of Action challenges Coke, Nestlé and Pepsi (DrugNewsWire.Com)
Responsible Shopper Profile: Nestlé (CoOpAmerica.Org)
And what has the Coca-Cola corp. been up to recently?
Oaxaca: Take action against Coca-Cola's support for PRI and governor Ulises Ruiz (PolarisInstitute.Org)
Protest against Coca-Cola in India (PolarisInstitute.Org)
Has Coke become the new McDonald's? (business.Guardian.Co.UK)
Coca-Cola is banned from students' union over 'unethical practices' (education.Independent.Co.UK)
Coca-Cola and Water - An Unsustainable Relationship (IndiaResource.Org)
Coca-Cola: Poisoning Water, Land and People (IndiaResource.Org)
Coca-Cola Misleading Public on Water Issues (IndiaResource.Org)
Coca-Cola Not Disclosing Full Liabilities in India, Misleading Shareholders (IndiaResource.Org)
Kerala Government Assures Proactive Action Against Coca-Cola (IndiaResource.Org)
Villagers Begin Hunger Strike to Close Coca-Cola Plant in India (IndiaResource.Org)
Dangerous Pesticides in Coca-Cola and Pepsi in India (IndiaResource.Org)
Arrogance and Impunity - Coca-Cola in India (IndiaResource.Org)
Responsible Shopper Profile: Coca-Cola Co. (CoOpAmerica.Org)
for more infos on Coca-Cola and petitions to sign check out: KillerCoke.Org
Now, if you think, that you enjoying your KitKat or drinking your Coke have absolutely nothing to do with all this?! Well, think again!
Ironically the Nestlé corp. states the following on its website:
"Nestlé recognizes that its consumers have a sincere and legitimate interest in the behavior, beliefs and actions of the Company behind brands in which they place their trust, and that without its consumers the Company would not exist."
- Nestlé.Com
You'll make Nestlé and Coca-Cola very happy by keeping these infos just to yourself and not talk about this with anyone - ever!
~GlobalPeace&Solidarity~
