More on the evils of coke

[Guest guest]

After having caught up on the group digests, I did not

think I had anything to add to the thread. Then I ran

across this blurb in the September 2004 issue of

Vegetarian Times magazine:

 

" ...[ a stick to ] Coca-Cola for buying sugar from

Central Izalco, El Salvador's largest sugar mill,

which in turn buys its cane from plantations that

illegally employ children, some as young as eight

years old, in highly dangerous jobs. 'If Coca-Cola is

serious about avoiding complicity in the use of

hazardous child labor,' says Michael Bochenek of Human

Rights Watch, which studied the child labor problem in

El Salvador, 'the company should recognize its

responsibility to ensure that respect for human rights

extends beyond its direct suppliers.'

 

Love and Light -

Rebecca

 

=====

We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.

 

-Thich Nhat Hanh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I am horrified to learn that the labour of children as young as eight years

old is being exploited!

 

The stories of Charles Dickens depicts the dire problems faced by working

children, lost children, abandoned by their parents in Britain not so long

ago. True it happens still in other parts of the world.

 

On the other hand what better way to pass the day than to go to work with

mum and dad? In societies that do not enjoy a modern infrastructure with

child nurseries, kindergarten and primary schools forming continuity from

birth, the workplace itself provides both working parents and children with

a community based nexus for education and social support.

 

There are always two sides to the coin. I'd like to see Coke properly

audited, with the social value / safety of children accompanying their

mothers and fathers to the cane fields included. If this is done properly

then it paves the way for introduction of work based nurseries, health care

and so on - without disrupting local economic dependencies. If the auditing

and criticism is done badly it just drives the problem underground.

 

Karl Marx once said that " work is man's natural activity " that goes for

women and kids as well. We all need to do something productive. The problem

of how that need for productive activity is exploited by employers is

another matter.

 

Cheers,

 

Sammy.

 

-

" Rebecca Rowbatham " <rebeccarmt

<Chinese Medicine >

Saturday, August 14, 2004 9:22 PM

More on the evils of coke

 

 

> After having caught up on the group digests, I did not

> think I had anything to add to the thread. Then I ran

> across this blurb in the September 2004 issue of

> Vegetarian Times magazine:

>

> " ...[ a stick to ] Coca-Cola for buying sugar from

> Central Izalco, El Salvador's largest sugar mill,

> which in turn buys its cane from plantations that

> illegally employ children, some as young as eight

> years old, in highly dangerous jobs. 'If Coca-Cola is

> serious about avoiding complicity in the use of

> hazardous child labor,' says Michael Bochenek of Human

> Rights Watch, which studied the child labor problem in

> El Salvador, 'the company should recognize its

> responsibility to ensure that respect for human rights

> extends beyond its direct suppliers.'

>

> Love and Light -

> Rebecca

[Guest guest]

Hi Rebecca!

 

You know, I started working in agriculture at 8. I can't say it hurt me. I

got hurt a lot as a kid, but never on the job, always playing around with

bikes and what not.

 

At 01:22 PM 8/14/2004, you wrote:<snip> El Salvador's largest sugar mill,

>which in turn buys its cane from plantations that

>illegally employ children, some as young as eight

>years old, in highly dangerous jobs.

 

Regards,

 

Pete