I recently saw a picture of French Legionnaires somewhere in west Africa patrolling in Coca-Cola liveried pick up trucks with the Coke logo and strap line on the side of the vehicles. I also saw a picture of troops in the Congo driving in what looked like a flatbed Coca-Cola delivery truck along with the logo on the side. But then the Coke Empire is almost everywhere. There will now be a Coke bottler in Syria even though the USA says Syria is part of the axis of evil but then again Coke was alive in the apex of the Axis during the 1940's in Hitlers Germany. And no one should ever forget that shareholders in Chilean Coca-Cola Bottler during the Pinochet regime. Coke is also big in the USO the relief and rest provider to the USA military. Remember when the first Gulf war was over Coke thanked the Generals at a big party in Tampa led by Stormin Norman. But then again we wouldn't have wanted him to lose to Saddam. Remember the Coca-Cola organisation through Bottlers sold to Libya when the regime had still not paid up for the Lockerbie atrocity.

In your face

Last week I read the- Fountainhead- by Ayn Rand and there was mention of Coca-Cola in the book several times... once when someone was described as a lout with a Coca-Cola bottle and the other of a rusty Coca-Cola sign swinging in the wind. The book was written in 1943. This week reading the book - DC Confidential- by Christopher Meyer there was mention of Coke and high culture.... '' Next door was a Coca-Cola and Opera Museum combined. The building had been the home of Joseph Biederharn the first man to bottle Coca-Cola in the United States''. So Coke is everywhere.

The Emperors of Coca-Cola Book

More Information

Low Profile respondents...

I have noted the respondents to date have come in as anonymous. Understandable as people often want to keep a low profile relating to what is a Big Issue- questioning a multinational. Someone rang me from Africa and another from the Middle East and the result is the idea of setting up something for bloggers. The idea mooted was an interactive '' Play the Coke game'' on the site. Anyone with suggestions or ideas please revert. I understand it that Coca-Cola will get a new Emperor soon.

What about the Coke Police?

When i was in the British Civil Service and attended a PCS UNION meeting on one agenda [ not put forward by myself ] there was a call to Boycott Coke products on site. Reason- bad PR for Coke in dealing with Trade Unionists. One frightened person would not sign because she thought ''what could Coke do to me''. I thought that was a little craven until speaking to more and more people they say '' watch out''. So details of my address and photograph etc. will not be made public. Why should I? Would Coke hurt anyone they do not like... either financially or otherwise?

Is the Pope a Catholic? Coke have had  individuals with family connections to unsanctioned ''militias'' running their operations in such diverse places as the Middle East or South America. 

Why a new book?

People keep asking me '' but what is so interesting about a fizzy drink?''. I could say yes it is a banal subject to many people or I could say so is the history of tea or coffee? The world wasn't built on Coca-Cola or tea or coffee or was it? Wars have been fought over tea routes and why is it in America coffee is more popular than tea? Remember the Boston tea party? Or why is Coca-Cola so important to so many small entrepreneurs running food outlets especially in the developing world? When water was unsafe to drink having boiled tea made people much healthier. Or an '' ice cold'' Coca-Cola. Much of the spread of refrigeration in retail outlets is based upon the pioneering distribution methods of the Coca-Cola organization. Or what about nationalism... Ask many people what they associate with the English and they will say '' cuppa tea'' , for an Italian ''expresso'' and for an American '' a Coke''. Coca-Cola is the best known business expression in the world. Still ahead of Shell, Microsoft, Google. But what do people know about this massive organization? Read the book and you will be surprised to see the '' face behind the mask''.

New Book

Watch out!!! 

There is a new book about to hit the Net called 'The Emperors of Coca Cola' a very interesting book about the men behind the most famous multi-national corporation that has taken over the world and our taste buds. And when I say men, I'm not being sexist! 

This is not a 'kiss and tell' book but does give great insight into the minds of the people that have dragged this powerful company through many a law suit and have made it the obedience demanding corporation it is today. 

It will be advertised on 'You-Tube' and will be available to down-load soon. So watch this space! 

Feel free to let me know what you think when you have read it.