The Coca-Cola Case

Two lawyers and labor rights' activists, Daniel Kovalik of the United Steel Workers of America and Terry Collingsworth of the International Rights Advocates, and their partner Ray Rogers of Corporate Campaign firmly believe that multinational corporations should be held accountable for the shabby practices of their business associates throughout the world. To lead their battle, they resort to a law dating back to the origin of the American Constitution -- The Alien Tort Claims Act -- which allows foreigners to file suit in the U.S. against Americans who violate international laws. The film tells the story of their fight against one of America's stellar icons: the Coca-Cola company.

If you learn nothing else from this, learn one lesson: if you want to take on the government or big business, do not use Ernesto Guevara as a role model (or at least keep quiet about it). This is the same thing to learn in any protest or political movement -- if you appear to represent an extreme position, you will not be respected, whether or not you are right.

I love the pro-Coke protest, with posters saying things like "I only sleep with Coke drinkers" and "Screw Human Rights". Such a reverse from what I am used to in Madison (where they would probably prefer to remove soda and any bottling altogether).