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UMich Snaps Coke Tieup
US University Cites Environmental Violations in India, Colombia
Lalit K Jha
Indian Express
January 01, 2006
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 31: In a major blow to Coca-Cola, a prestigious
US university has suspended its business relationships with the soft-drink
giant for violation of environmental practices in India and Colombia.
The decision of the Michigan University has been welcomed by the green
brigade, which had launched a tirade against Coca-Cola in the recent
past. In a letter dated December 29, 2005, the university said the
soft-drink giant had failed to agree to a protocol for investigation
into serious environmental violation issues in India and Colombia.
The university has now decided to ‘‘Temporarily suspend the University’s
purchasing of Coca-Cola products beginning January 1, 2006,’’ the
letter said. With this Michigan University has become the third American
university after Rutgers University and New York University to suspend
its business ties with Coca-Cola for almost similar reasons.
The university would resume procurement of Coca-Cola products, the
letter said, only if the company agrees on the process of a third-party
review of environmental concerns in India and Colombia. The letter
reminded Coke that it had agreed in principle to such verification
by December 31, but has not been able to keep up its promise.
‘‘We welcome the move. This will send strong message to Coca-Cola
that it must clean up its act,’’ said Amit Srivastava of India Resource
Centre, which worked closely with student organisations at the University
of Michigan.
‘‘The campaign to hold Coca-Cola accountable is far from over,’’ added
Clara Hardie, a key student leader at the University of Michigan.
In response to student concerns over Coca-Cola’s alleged abuses in
India and Colombia, University of Michigan earlier had convened Dispute
Review Board to look into the issues in India and Colombia.
After deliberating for about 10 months, the board said in June 2005
that Coca-Cola be placed on probation. It also laid out a series of
benchmarks the company would have to meet in order to show it was
acting in good faith to solve the problems in India and Colombia,
including agreeing to an independent, third party investigation.
The soft-drink giant is target of numerous community-led campaigns
in India accusing it of creating severe water shortages and pollution.
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