Monday
May242010
blood bananas
Monday, May 24, 2010 at 4:36PM
You have to admit we live in a crazy world when people kill for bananas. Over the past 15 years, Cincinnati-based Chiquita banana has admitted to giving at least $1.7 million to armed groups in Colombia. During this span, approximately 14,000 innocent civilians were killed by those on the Chiquita payroll. More indicting is the fact that Chiquita continued to pay paramilitary groups in Colombia even after they were recognized as terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department in 2001.
The consequence for such actions? The Justice Department fined the fruit company $25 million for "Engaging in Transactions with a Specially-Designated Global Terrorist." You can read the full indictment here.
That's it. A slap on the wrist. A fine that is a drop in the bucket for an organization like Chiquita. Back in Colombia there are 14,000 graves, most of them unmarked, so that we can buy bananas. Our friends at Witness for Peace are determined to not let Chiquita off the hook so easy. They are currently gathering supporters for a petition that will be hand-delivered to Chiquita during their annual company meeting on May 27. We join with them in this fight. Take action now!
The consequence for such actions? The Justice Department fined the fruit company $25 million for "Engaging in Transactions with a Specially-Designated Global Terrorist." You can read the full indictment here.
That's it. A slap on the wrist. A fine that is a drop in the bucket for an organization like Chiquita. Back in Colombia there are 14,000 graves, most of them unmarked, so that we can buy bananas. Our friends at Witness for Peace are determined to not let Chiquita off the hook so easy. They are currently gathering supporters for a petition that will be hand-delivered to Chiquita during their annual company meeting on May 27. We join with them in this fight. Take action now!
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