Isolate Sudan, pull out of Talisman, be Ethical, just don't touch my soft drink
The United States has long accused Sudan of involvement in international terrorism and human-rights abuses. But U.S. economic sanctions leave a big loophole: gum arabic, a derivative of the acacia tree. It's a largely unknown but extraordinarily useful product.
Among its many uses, gum arabic acts as an emulsifier, helping to prevent fruit particles from falling to the bottom of soft drinks like Fresca or Fanta Orange. It also seals the inner portion of candies, permitting the application of the outer coating. It's in M&Ms, Minute Maid Orange Soda, Coricidin, Ultra Slimfast diet drinks and scores of other everyday products.
Without gum arabic, inks, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics would not be the same.
Soft drink makers say there is no artificial substitute, and newspaper journalists, while editorializing about "soda-pop diplomacy", were careful to note that they couldn't run ink through the presses without gum arabic.
Sudan accounts for 70 percent to 90 percent of the world's supply, of which about 4-5000 tons are exported annually to the United States - a $9 million business.
When the lawmakers decided to punish Sudan's government because of its alleged transgressions, the gum-arabic lobby sprang into action, pointing out that a ban the Sudanese product would be felt throughout the American economy.
Gum arabic is the main source of trade with Sudan, and the waiver for it makes the sanctions meaningless. Most of Sudan's exports come from gum arabic.
So far, American candy eaters and soft drink consumers have helped finance the Sudanese government's military operations more than Talisman's oil production has.
Be a good Christian, unload your Talisman shares, continue to drink your Fanta Orange and eat M&Ms.
Talisman oil bad. Candy good. |
