Darfur activists target Coca-Cola

June 20, 2008 (ATLANTA) — Supporters of the Save Darfur Coalition are targeting the Coca-Cola Co. because of its advertising plans for the Summer Olympics in China.

The beverage giant released a statement defending its record on Darfur, the troubled province in Sudan where up to 300,000 people have died in fighting over the past five years. The company said it has spent millions to alleviate needs for fresh water for people in Darfur and elsewhere in the huge African nation.

A demonstration was planned Friday afternoon at the Coke headquarters in Atlanta – one of a series of protests of Olympic corporate sponsors across the country, including GE, Swatch and Volkswagen.

Actress Mia Farrow was scheduled to lead a demonstration at Coca-Cola offices in New York.

The aim is to pressure the Olympic sponsors dealing with China, a major trading partner of Sudan.

The Darfur conflict flared into a full scale war in 2003 when ethnic African rebels rebelled against the Arab-dominated central government of Sudan. About 2.5 million people have been displaced.

Coca-Cola said it has committed at least $5 million to programs addressing water needs in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan.

“We are focusing our efforts and resources where we believe they can make the greatest difference in saving lives and reducing suffering on the ground,” the Coke statement said. “While the lack of clean water in Sudan and its role in starting this conflict has been often overlooked by the international community, it has been the focus of much of our funding.”

It said the money was directed toward “providing new sources of clean water to those displaced by the fighting.”

“Our funding is focused also on building new water and sanitation projects that allow people to return to their homes. In addition, we are working with others in the search for longer-term, sociopolitical solutions.

“Through the UN Global Compact, the UN Development Programme and the International Business Leaders Forum in London, we are working to bring stakeholders together to focus on business’s role in building sustainable communities in Sudan,” Coca-Cola said.

(AP)