Nestlé strikes again and Coca-Cola updates

 

Nestlé supports killing (part I)  

As if using slave labour and Genetically Modified Ingredients is not enough now Nestlé also follows the footsteps of Coca-Cola. Diosdado Fortuna (also known as Ka Fort by his comrades and friends), the leader of the Nestlé workers' union in the Philippines which has been on strike since January 14, 2002 and the chairperson of the KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno) regional chapter of the Solidarity of Workers in Southern Tagalog, was shot dead in Southern Tagalog on Sept 22, 2005. Fortuna was the president of the Union of Filipro Employees Drug, Food & Allied Industries (UFE-DFA-KMU) in Cabuyao, Laguna. He was 50 years old, an active member of KMU National Council and had served the labor movement for 29 years since 1976 as a labor leader of the multinational corporation Nestlé workers' union.

Ka Fort was suppose to visit his ailing grandson and was on board a motorcycle on his way home to Barangay Paciano when he was attacked. He sustained two fatal caliber .45 gunshot wounds in the chest. He was rushed by bystanders to the Calamba Doctors Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

KMU also noted that on the day Fortuna was killed, there was heightened police and military presence in Laguna and several checkpoints were set up. Likewise, in the provincial rally on Sept 21, an alarming number of military forces were deployed both inside and outside the perimeter of the Nestlé plant, carrying long firearms.

This tragic news comes on the heels of another Nestlé-linked assassination, that of Luciano Enrique Romero Molina (right picture), who was a trade union leader and Nestlé worker in Colombia with SINALTRAINAL.

For my German speaking friends, you can also read more about that assassination here. Or if you are angered by these policies as I am, then check out this site and send protest letters to those responsible (for incidents in Columbia only).

While we are at it, let's see what updates we have regarding Coca-Cola:

• Columbia (3 June 2005): During a Coca-Cola protest campaign organized by a local union (SINALTRAINAL) four students have been kidnaped in order to intimidate the movement. To read more on this go here.


• Germany (15 December 2004): Even the biggest German union (VERDI) called upon consumers to boycott Coca-Cola products (e.g.: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola light, Fanta, Fanta Citrell, Sprite, mezzo mix, Lift, BONAQA, BONAQA sportswater, burn, Powerade, Minute Maid Selection, Kinley, NESTEA, Qoo, ípsei). Read this for further infos.


• kanalB VCD: If you think that what Coca-Cola (or Nestlé) does is not that serious or want to find out more, then you can also order a VCD about the killings of Coca-Cola union leaders or download the clip directly here (in English, German or Spanish). I ordered one myself and will let you know how it is as soon as I watched it.


• Germany: A campaign tour to raise awareness is planned in various cities in Germany (04.10. - 17.10.2005). For more infos go here.

You have the power - the power to choose which corporate policies you support with each purchase!

Other Coca-Cola and Nestlé entries on this website:

Consumer Power (17 April '05) - Give Coca-Cola the boot! (27 March '05) - No Justice - No Coca-Cola (22 April '04) - Nestlé Boycott~ (15 Oct '03) - Killa- Cola (21 Sept '03) - MNC criminals feat. Coca-Cola (1 Aug '03)

~ p e a c e   &   s o l i d a r i t y ~

PS: Great news for all you guys in S'pore. I actually found out a way for you to purchase coffee, tea and chocolate powder without supporting slavery and environmental destruction due to pesticides and huge monocultures. Simply check out Spencer's Coffee.Com and get your stuff there. It's all organic and certified 'FAIR TRADE'. The company is located in S'pore and will simply deliver the goods to your place.

For an extensive list of ethical alternatives for consumers in Singapore go here.