I forget how, but the other day we got into a conversation about globalisation and the less well advertised activities of large companies, specifically the Coca Cola corporation. I've been following events above- and under-ground about Coca Cola and other multinationals for over sixteen years now and I've frankly forgotten more than most people would dare guess or believe about the atrocities performed in their name.

We got to talking about the global domination, the human rights violations and the death squads. Charlie's reply to all of this was "It's only a bottle of Coke". She had trouble coming to terms with how an incongruous item like a bottle of Coke could really stand for all that evil.

So as she's taken to reading this blog (yes, after 18 months, she's finally started looking over my shoulder, so I'm afraid, dear reader that the juicy tales of my clandestine conquests will have to stop), I thought I'd have a quick trawl and post some links to some interesting information and news.

First off, the brandlist from Coca Cola's own site.
Note the list only goes up to "S" and only includes foodstuff brands. Bear in mind there are other markets they're involved with. But still, just read down that list and see how many Coca Cola products you have in your house right now. More than you thought, I bet.

Coca Cola is Africa's biggest employer. Have a read of this statement on their reach. Even in their own literature they come across as nothing less than vast, omnipresent and bent on expansion and domination.

Killercoke.org concentrates on Death Squad activity in Columbia, South America. The Socialist Worker has an article about Coca Cola's paramilitary activities, as does the Austrailan Green Left Newsletter.

The Coca Cola Africa Foundation professes to work with UN organisations to combat AIDS on the continent, but has come under constant criticism for not extending treatment to the families of its workers.