Beverage World - May 2008 - (Page 15) [BEVBEAT] Coca-Cola Defends Olympic Partnership The Coca-Cola Company’s sponsorship of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the Olympic torch run has stirred up controversy as human rights activist groups have criticized the soft drink giant for not stepping up pressure on China’s human rights record. The Olympic torch run, which took place last month, was greeted with protests in London, Paris and San Francisco as activists used the event to challenge China’s recent crackdown in Tibet. Protesters also picketed outside Coca-Cola’s annual meeting in Wilmington, Del., USA, and used the shareholder meeting as an opportunity to question chairman and CEO E. Neville Isdell about Coke’s ties to the Olympic Games. Several pro-Tibet groups are demanding that Coca-Cola push Olympic officials to alter the torch route so it does not go through ISDELL Tibet, while other human rights groups have criticized Coke and other Olympic sponsors for not doing enough to press China to try to end fighting in Darfur. In a statement published in the Financial Times, Isdell said Coca-Cola supported the global unity the Olympics celebrates and outlined several steps the company has taken, during the past two years, to help ease the suffering in Darfur. “We are neither a government nor the United Nations, but we can and must be a catalyst for change through actions that are appropriate for a business to take,” Isdell said. “To help in Darfur we are focusing our resources where we believe they can make the greatest difference in saving lives and reducing suffering.” The company works with non-profit partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to deliver relief supplies and provide healthcare services and works to bring local and international stakeholders together to develop long-term solutions. Coca-Cola also has committed at least US$5 million to programs that address water needs in the Sudan, one of the conflict’s underlying causes, Isdell said. BEVERAGEWORLD.COM MAY 2008_BEVERAGE WORLD_15 http://www.khs.com http://www.khs.com http://BEVERAGEWORLD.COM
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