Bush Administration Twists Arms for Coke, Pepsi (in India)

[rodeodance]

http://progressive.org/mag_apb081506


Bush Administration Twists Arms for Coke, Pepsi
By Amitabh Pal
August 15, 2006

The Bush Administration is acting as the muscle for Coke and Pepsi.

The two soft drink manufacturers are under fire in India after a recent report released by a respected environmental group revealed that the colas marketed in that country contain dangerous pesticides, sometimes at alarmingly high levels. (Coke and Pepsi have hotly disputed the conclusions.)
It is warning India of the dire consequences of caring for the well-being of its people.
“The study finds pesticide residues in all samples; it finds a cocktail of 3-5 different pesticides in all samples—on an average 24 times higher than BIS norms, which have been finalized but not yet notified,” the report by the New Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment notes. “The levels in some samples—for instance, Coca-Cola bought in Kolkata—exceeded the BIS standards by 140 times for the deadly pesticide Lindane. Similarly, a Coca-Cola sample manufactured in Thane contained the neurotoxin Chlorpyrifos, 200 times the standard.”

This report was a follow-up to a similar one the same organization did three years ago. At the time, the drink giants questioned the study.

But an investigation by the Indian Joint Parliamentary Committee confirmed the findings and recommended that standards be set up for the soft drink industry. The implementation of the standards has been delayed due to the usual bureaucratic dithering in India......

[gula]

1. Interesting article. Didn't know about Enron.

I think this sums it up nicely: "Even though India is an imperfect democracy, Indian authorities sometimes have the habit of being receptive to public concern.

Annoyingly so, in the Bush Administration’s opinion. It is warning India of the dire consequences of caring for the well-being of its people."

Thanks for posting.

[gula]

2. How come this article hasn't been K&Rd?

Was it already discussed elsewhere or is it simply that people in distant lands being poisened by US companies don't matter?

[Robbien]

3. There was an article in LBN about the Cola pesticide wars and India

This new angle of BushCo interference is just a given. When dosen't the Bush Admin intercede on behalf of BigCos profits?

[cliss]

4. You're right. I read that article in the LBN.

The article made it clear that India is going to evict Pepsi and Coke. That seemed like a Fait Accompli. There doesn't seem to be any 2nd chances given, here. They are out.

Of course, now when the Gavel has fallen, both drink companies are panicking. Why did they wait so long to act? Were they not aware that the Indians are upset about what they have done? Why couldn't they have worked with them, at least made some compromises & shown that they really DO care about their buyers.....

TOO LATE, Coke & Pepsi. Having Bush intercede for you might not be such a good idea....:smoke:

[nebula]

5. Call me dumb, but...

How do these pesticides find their way into a soft drink, of all things?

Are the Coke and Pepsi products sold in India imported, or produced locally?

[gula]

6. They seep into the groundwater used?

[Judi Lynn]

7. I hope the admin.'s smallness in using taxpayers' money to look after

the interests of companies which are harming the citizens of other countries will blow up in its face. Shabby, tacky, nasty way to abuse its power.

This article mentions Coke claims it has nothing to do with the kidnappings, murders, etc., of union officials, organizers, workers in Colombia. The charges are so serious, you'd think the company would disengage from Colombia altogether, after years of this slaughter and mayhem, just to cleanse its name, to make sure people don't get the wrong idea about Coke.

By staying there after all this time Coke is saying "screw you" to the people of Colombia, and to everyone else who worries about what has happened and what will be happening until someone finally shuts them down in Colombia.

It was good to know, thanks to this article, after all these many years, about Pepsi-Cola's part in the hideous events leading to the overthrow of Chile and all the thousands of murders, and tortured victems, and devastated lives which occured as a consequence at the hands of Nixon's puppet, Pinochet.