Chiquita Banana: Tales of “The Octopus”

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You may have read here (and here) before about U.S. corporations’ shady dealings with Colombian paramilitaries. The next issue of Virginia Quarterly Review (edited by Mother Jones‘ contributing writer Ted Genoways) includes an excellent piece by Philip Robertson on Chiquita’s dark history in the Colombian banana business. The new VQR doesn’t come out until next week, but you can read an electronic version of Robertson’s piece here.

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

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