Remove Coca-Cola from Stirling University Campus

Coca-Cola, one of the most widely recognised brands in the world, has adverts plastered over every surface imaginable. Their logos and adverts are so well known that we regard them as cultural artefacts more than coercive attempts to get us to consume. But for all their visibility, Coca-Cola are very good at keeping their dirty secrets, of which they have many;

- In India, Coca-Colas products are filled with toxins, with 36 times the level of pesticide residues legal in the EU. Yet, Coca-Cola continues to sell their drinks, contributing to cancers and immune system collapse. Additionally, Coca-Colas placement of bottling plants within drought-stricken areas destroys lives, with farmers being forced to relocate. This practice also encourages environmental decay as natural aquifers become drained and land is rendered unusable.

- In Guatemala, union-affiliated employees of a Coca-Cola bottling plant and their families were subjected to a campaign of violence and intimidation that culminated in gang rapes, attempted murders and murders. In Colombia, the story is the same, with murders, kidnappings, torture and intimidation carried out by paramilitary groups who work closely with the management of Coca-Cola bottling plants.

- Coca-Colas main sugar supplier in El Salvador uses child labour, something brought to light in 2004 by the Human Rights Watch - yet they have still havent taken any action to address the issue.

These are just a few examples of Cokes transgressions; their anti-union activities and human rights abuses extend across the world. Wherever there are people to be exploited, Coke has worked with paramilitary groups and repressive regimes to conduct campaigns of violence against their employees and their families.

When you Enjoy Coca Cola, you Enjoy murder, rape, intimidation, child labour and environmental destruction. You Enjoy lowered sperm counts and tooth decay.

We call for the immediate removal of Coca-Cola from the Students Union, for the union to use its influence to encourage the university to remove Coca-Cola vending machines from campus, and an end to support for violence, racism and monopolies.