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Article

26 Jan 2007

Author:
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, Financial Times

Business leaders ‘babbling’ on Aids fight

Business leaders’ new-found interest in climate change at this year’s World Economic Forum is taking their attention off other pressing causes, the chairman of a United Nations initiative to co-opt businesses in the fight against Aids warned on Friday. “There’s complacency and fatigue and more babbling,” William Roedy, president of MTV Networks [part of Viacom], said on the fringes of the Davos gathering of business and political leaders... Neville Isdell, chairman and chief executive of Coca-Cola...[said] companies should stick to areas integral to their business, such as the availability of clean water in Coke’s case, or issues...where there is an overwhelming importance to society... "We’re selective,” Mr Isdell added. “In China and India [Coke’s investment in anti-retroviral programmes, condom distribution and education] is relevant..." [also refers to MTV action on climate change]