El Tiempo, Colombia’s only national daily newspaper has carried a front page article. There are several audio interviews as well, all in Spanish except for one interview in English with the President of the Oxford Student Union, explaining why they voted to boycott Coke.


TEN UNIVERSITIES IN THE USA AND EUROPE BAN COCA-COLA DUE TO ALLEGED LINKS WITH PARAMILITARIES

From front page of El Tiempo (Bogotá), 5 Jan 2006. English and Spanish, at: www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=252&Itemid=40

Or you can see the original at:

 http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/economia/2006-01-05/articulo-web-_nota_interior-2681252.html



COKE STRUGGLES TO DEFEND POSITIVE REPUTATION – Financial Times 6 January 2006

It is 16 years since Avelino Chicanoy was murdered in Pasto, Colombia, the first of eight union leaders killed at Coca-Cola bottling plants in the country, allegedly at the hands of right-wing paramilitaries, at

 http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=40





LABOUR GROUP SUPPORTS SCHOOLS' COCA-COLA BAN

Fabio Arias, Vice President of the CUT, Colombia's main labour group, voices support for the International Campaign against Coca-Cola, at



 http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=249&Itemid=40



CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENTS



GIVE COKE ANOTHER PUSH

Write to Coca-Cola Great Britain, 1 Queen Charlotte Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9HQ explaining why you are boycotting Coke and urging the corporation to reach a just settlement with SINALTRAINAL in Colombia and communities in India.



LET THE PUBLIC KNOW - COKE BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

Leaflets (2p) ; Big stickers (8p), little stickers (2p); magazine (£1.50); pamphlet (£1); T-shirts Boycott Killer Cola (£10) all includes postage. Please also send donations to 'Colombia Solidarity Campaign' at Colombia Solidarity Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6PJ



FRONTLINE LATIN AMERICA No 2 A NEW QUARTERLY NEWSPAPER



In this issue:



Students and Coke: ‘Constructive Engagement’ The Big Debate

Reports on international resistance to Coca-Cola and Nestlé

Higher Education special

Indigenous resistance: A continent wakes up to its murderous history

BP on trial: Colombian campesinos take BP to court

Developments in Latin America: Bush in Argentina, FTAA dead in the water, San José update,

Popular Women’s Organisation interview

Y MUCHO MÁS!



SUBSCRIBE TODAY! UK subscription rates: £5 per annum


JOIN THE COLOMBIA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN!

Member subscription includes membership to the Colombia Solidarity Campaign

Individuals: waged £15.00, unwaged £7.50, organisations £30/60/120.


Mark category of required subscription and return with payment made out to 'Colombia Solidarity Campaign', to Colombia Solidarity Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6PJ


STUDENTS! JOIN UK STUDENTS AGAINST COKE (UKSAC)

Are campaigning for the NUS Conference (Blackpool 28-30 March) to vote in favour not renewing contracts with Coca-Cola through its commercial arm NUS Services Limited.

If you are a student and want to get your college involved in this campaign then contact UKSAC through website www.uksac.revolt.org or Claire Hall -  claireshall@gmail.com or Bertie Russell -  sparta@riseup.net

Mobilise Now For NUS Conference!





LONDON BRANCH OF COLOMBIA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN MEETS

7.30pm Wednesday 25th January

UNION TAVERN 52, Lloyd Baker St, London, WC1X 9AA

(nearest tubes Kings Cross, Angel or Russell Square)



SOLIDARITY DELEGATIONS TO COLOMBIA 2006-2008

The Colombia chapter of the Permanent Peoples Tribunal has agreed a timetable for sectoral public hearings on multinationals, human rights and the environment over the next two years. The summary of projected events is:






Food and Agriculture
1-2 April 2006
Bogotá
Coca Cola, Nestle, (Chiquita Brands)

Gold
November 2006
Medellín
Kedhada and Frontino

Biodiversity
24-27 February 2007
Cacarica
Wood and palm corporations



Oil
August 2007
Saravena
Oxydental, Repsol, B. P.

Coal
November 2007
Riohacha
Drummond, Glencore, Angloamerican, BHP Billiton

Public Services
March 2008
Barranquilla
Unión FENOSA, Endesa, Aguas de Barcelona.

Final Hearing
22 July 2008
Bogotá
Economic Model (financial groups, FTA), Military Strategy.




If you are interested in joining a delegation of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign to any of these tribunal hearings, please let us know. If you are interested in going to the tribunal on 1-2 April 2006, please let us know IMMEDIATELY by writing in to e-mail:  colombia_sc@hotmail.com