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Title: Bolivians: Coca-Cola should drop 'coca'
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Published: Mar 16, 2007
Author: y DAN KEANE
Post Date: 2007-03-16 22:08:15 by tom007
Keywords: None
Views: 147
Comments: 11
Bolivians: Coca-Cola should drop 'coca' By DAN KEANE, Associated Press Writer Fri Mar 16, 4:52 AM ET LA PAZ, Bolivia - Always Coca-Cola? Not if Bolivia's coca growers have their way. The farmers want the word "Coca" dropped by the U.S. soft drink company, arguing that the potent shrub belongs to the cultural heritage of this Andean nation, where the coca leaf infuses everyday life and is sacred to many. ADVERTISEMENT A commission of coca industry representatives advising an assembly rewriting Bolivia's constitution passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the Atlanta, Ga.-based company to take "Coca" out of its name and asking the United Nations to decriminalize the leaf. The resolution demands that "international companies that include in their commercial name the name of coca (example: Coca Cola) refrain from using the name of the sacred leaf in their products." The commission, which met for three days in Sucre, 255 miles southeast of La Paz, is part of an effort led by President Evo Morales to rehabilitate the image of plant, used in the Andes for millennia but better known internationally as the base ingredient of cocaine. Coca-Cola released a statement Thursday saying their trademark is "the most valuable and recognized brand in the world" and was protected under Bolivian law. The statement repeated the company's past denials that Coca-Cola has ever used cocaine as an ingredient — but was silent on whether the natural coca leaf was used to flavor their flagship soda. "They need to understand our situation," said David Herrera, a state government supervisor for the coca-rich Chapare region. "They exported coca as a raw material for Coca-Cola, and we can't even freely sell it in Bolivia." The Bolivian government regulates the sale of coca to prevent use by the drug trade. In its natural state, the green leaf is only a mild stimulant. In Bolivia's white-collar offices, coca tea is served instead of coffee, and the country's farmers, miners and longhaul truckers chew the leaf to get through a long work day. The government wants the U.N. to decriminalize trade in coca-based products to promote its exports. Morales, a former coca grower, believes an international market for coca-derived products such as tea, flour, liquor, and even toothpaste would draw some of the country's estimated 65,500 acres of coca away from the drug trade. But the United States, which funds a Bolivian coca-eradication program, is adamantly opposed to the policy, saying it only encourages more coca production.
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#1. To: All (#0)
I thought it was common knowledge that the Coke company put pretty hefty doses of cocaine in their product untill the Drug Safety Act of the 1920's. And I believe that coca leaves are exported to a facility in (New Jersey) operated by the DEA where cocaine hydrocloride is extracted for medecinal use, and the leftover pulp is sold to the coca cola company for flavoring. Any body know the score>???
I was thinking of this just earlier today. I've read how the the locals chew the leaves, it gives them a bit of energy and makes their workday go by a bit easier, but it doesn't have the harmful effects of the synthesized cocaine. I was wondering if the leaves could be made legal since they are right off a plant, but I guess not, even that other plant that some people smoke is highly illegal in this country. We've got too many damn laws in this country regarding most everything.
Coca-Cola has been around for about 120 years now. If this was a problem they should have said something sooner. I am addicted to Coke. I know it's bad for your health, but I can't seem to kick the habit. Kind of sucks that a sweetened drink is the most popular world-wide brand. At least it is something still made in America, even if it does rot your teeth and make you obese.
God is always good! Yep, yet violent criminals still walk the streets and the halls of the White House.
God is always good! My mother, who spent decades as an admitting clerk in the ER, said cocaine was used occasionally doctors to stop severe nosebleeds. I don't know if this is done anymore, but obviously cocaine does have a use in hospitals.
"We become what we behold. We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." -- Marshall McLuhan, after Alexander Pope and William Blake.
I understand it is used quite a bit for nose and nasal surgery, I am not sure why. From Wiki "Nonetheless, cocaine is formally used in medicine as a topical anesthetic, specifically in eye, nose and throat surgery. [2]"
To stop nosebleeds it would have to constrict blood vessels. The nose has a lot of very tiny blood vessels, so I assume it would constrict them and stop the bleeding. I'll ask my mom next time I see her. She used to tell me some weird stuff. One of the best things for throwing up is sipping Coca-Cola. They use it in ERs a lot.
"We become what we behold. We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." -- Marshall McLuhan, after Alexander Pope and William Blake.
Here's a case where you may want some cocaine. Yes cocaine is a vasco-constrictor
Yep, really goofy. Not that their current product is exactly good for anyone.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 KJV
No surprise there. The illegal drug trade produces a trillion dollar a year and the United States government at ALL levels get a huge chunk of it.
he statement repeated the company's past denials that Coca-Cola has ever used cocaine as an ingredient — but was silent on whether the natural coca leaf was used to flavor their flagship soda.
#2. To: tom007 (#0)
The commission, which met for three days in Sucre, 255 miles southeast of La Paz, is part of an effort led by President Evo Morales to rehabilitate the image of plant, used in the Andes for millennia but better known internationally as the base ingredient of cocaine.
#3. To: tom007 (#0)
Coca-Cola released a statement Thursday saying their trademark is "the most valuable and recognized brand in the world" and was protected under Bolivian law.
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02]
#4. To: Diana (#2)
We've got too many damn laws in this country regarding most everything.
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02]
#5. To: tom007 (#1)
#6. To: YertleTurtle (#5)
#7. To: tom007 (#6)
I understand it is used quite a bit for nose and nasal surgery, I am not sure why.
#8. To: YertleTurtle (#5)
#9. To: YertleTurtle (#7)
o stop nosebleeds it would have to constrict blood vessels
#10. To: tom007 (#1)
I thought it was common knowledge that the Coke company put pretty hefty doses of cocaine in their product until the Drug Safety Act of the 1920's.
#11. To: tom007 (#0)
But the United States, which funds a Bolivian coca-eradication program, is adamantly opposed to the policy, saying it only encourages more coca production.
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