The crimes of Coca Cola

[Faceless]

In a certain topic from the Guevara forum, it has become evident that many people don't know the real crimes of Coca Cola.

Read the following link:

The Dirty War (http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/cokedeathsquads.cfm)

This is one of numerous links that can be found through a simple search for something like "Dity War Coca Cola Colombia". I urge all people who don't know these crimes to research them.

In short: Coca Cola murder unionists etc. in Colombia and buying Coca Cola is sponsering the potential for more death. You might think that you can do little about the injustice but if nothing else, boycott Coca Cola. :)

[mentalbunny]

I know about this, the Columbian Solidarity people are organising international anti-Coke action, I tried contacting thema bout it but I didn't get a response.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

I had heard about either Coke or Pepsi (I think it was Coke) had used all the drinkable water in some area of India, leading to many dying of thirst. Does anybody know anything about that?

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

why am I not surprised by this?

[Faceless]

I don't know much about Pepsi's crimes. If anyone knows of any then I'd appreciate info. Don't drink it anyway. I only drink juice, water and coffee. I'm curious to know though.

[Faceless]

Is this what you were refering to MiN?
Contamination (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3096893.stm)
It seems that water supplies have been dried up in India by Coca Cola and the water contaminated by fertilisers that the company gave the locals. Supposed to contain carciogenic metals. Pretty nasty.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Comrade Faceless,
Yes, I do believe that is the same situation I had heard about, but I did not hear it on the BBC. I do not recall where I heard it. About the sludge Coca-Cola is dumping... that is disgusting. I read in Toxic Sludge is Good For You!, a muckraking piece about Corporate America and particularly PR firms (public relations, more like propaganda), how waste management companies are trying to "recycle" toxic sludge (a combination of human excrement and industrial waste) as a fertilizer. Of course, in documented cases, the high doses of heavy metals such as cadmium and lead (also mentioned in the BBC link) are quite toxic for any humans living near where such "biosolids" ("greenwashed" corporate euphemism for sludge). It may have actually been in that book where I first read about Coke and India, but I am not sure...

[mentalbunny]

There's a website called cokewatch (see Blacklist in practice for more details) but if you sirf the net for a bit I'm suer you'll find loads of places that are useful.

[mentalbunny]

See here (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=17054) for more.

[Faceless]

It's a bit late coming but click here (http://www2.coca-cola.com/brands/brandlist.html) for a complete list of brands owned by the bastards.

[FabFabian]

In the most recent issue of Adbusters, they have a picture of an Indian girl who is protesting against both Coca Cola and Pepsi. Their products have more than the legal limit of pesticides in them versus ordinary fruit juice in India.

[swapna]

Yes, there was a report that all the soft drinks manufactured by coke and pepsi in india contained pesticides in illegal limits
http://news.indiainfo.com/2003/08/28/28pepsi.html

Coke and pepsi find a potential market in india . They use all kinds of marketing tactics they can to make the indians take coke and pepsi instead of their traditiona drinks like sugar cane juice or coconut water.

[Faceless]

I noticed 7 UP was listed as one of the drinks to also contain high levels of toxic pesticides. I don't drink Sprite or Fanta (also listed) because they're owned by Coca Cola. 7 UP are thier own company though aren't they owning Dr Pepper & RC Cola? Whilst I rarely buy soft drinks, I do occasionally buy 7UP :( .

[dannie]

i heard from a m8 of me that cc buys sugerplantations, exploits all the ground and then sells the lands back @ dumpingprices to the farmers

anyone can confirm this?

[Red Flag]

fuck soda in general.. its like 40 grams of sugar in one can of soda.. thats rediculous

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 2 2003, 03:20 PM
fuck soda in general.. its like 40 grams of sugar in one can of soda.. thats rediculous
I prefer juice myself, but I cannot always afford to buy it.

[Red Flag]

juice and water is what i drink..

but it's a REAL shame that soda is cheaper than Juice... ive even seen instances when soda in 20 oz bottles was cheaper than a 20 oz bottle of water, thats a real problem.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

I know. It's ridiculous. Water should be dirt cheap. Period. Juice should be less expensive, too.

[Red Flag]

i was in a gas station today, a 20 oz soda was $.79 .. a 20 oz of WATER was $1.19 ... a 20 oz of Juice was $1.59..

:(

[Regicidal Insomniac]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 2 2003, 09:22 PM
i was in a gas station today, a 20 oz soda was $.79 .. a 20 oz of WATER was $1.19 ... a 20 oz of Juice was $1.59..

:(
It is truely dispicable that our society monopolizes even the most basic neccesities of life, that even the most essential of commodities are used as weapons of consumerism. Bottled water is total bullcrap, but at the same time our tap supply is being polluted by corperations or allowed to be contaminated because the government refuses to properly fund social services that monitor the quality of our tap water. You loose both ways.

Concerning Coke, their involvement in Colombia is truly horrible. As soon as I found CokeWatch (http://www.cokewatch.com/) I stopped drinking Coca-Cola and switched to small Canadian brands. I know that soda is bad for you, but I'm an addicted teenager with a constant craving for sugar and caffeine so get off my back! :P

[FabFabian]

7-Up is owned by Pepsi.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 2 2003, 06:19 PM
7-Up is owned by Pepsi.
I do not think that is true. You should double check that...

[Hampton]

I think they own themselves. The company is called Dr. Pepper/7-Up inc.

http://www.dpsu.com/

[swapna]

http://us.rediff.com/news/2003/oct/03cad.htm

The news says that they found worms in a cadbury choclate in India.

First, They found out coke and pepsi contained harmful pesticides.

Why dont these big corporations maintain same standards in India and US?Do they think the health of ppl in third world countries is less worth than the Americans?.

[ComradeRobertRiley]

I never knew Coca-Cola owned Nestle/Nescafe :(

[ComradeRobertRiley]

I thought 7up was owned by Britvic

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2003, 02:19 PM
Why dont these big corporations maintain same standards in India and US?Do they think the health of ppl in third world countries is less worth than the Americans?.
Basically... yeah.

The people of India have less power and can be more readily used and abused for profit. They also have less money to consume corporate products, so Indians are considered less than Americans in this capitalist world.

[Faceless]

I stopped drinking Coca-Cola and switched to small Canadian brands. I know that soda is bad for you, but I'm an addicted teenager with a constant craving for sugar and caffeine so get off my back!
Yeah, I know what you mean. I found coffee at an early age and know I'm hooked.

[profound]

for those confused about who 7-up is owned by, this is a direct statement from the website (hoping they're telling the truth)...

"The Dr Pepper/7 UP Company owns and licenses 7 UP within the 50 United States, Guam and Puerto Rico. Outside of these territories, the rights to the product are owned by Pepsi Cola Company."

which is fucked, because i've been boycotting coke and coke products and trying to avoid pepsi ever since reading the topic, and i though 7-up was A-OK.... shame i live in Australia (not really, love the place, hate the fact 7-up is a pepsi product down here)

[Al Creed]

Whats the deal on RC Cola? I buy RC because it's MUCH cheaper than Coca Cola or Pepsi at my corner store

[Bolshevika]

Boycotting things like Coca Cola and McDonalds does nothing at all. You are just wasting your time since all the other people buy Coca Cola. It is not my fault that they make essential things like food and drink. If you study the history of most capitalist companies, they have some sort of criminal record (actually, just by being capitalist companies they are criminals). What do we accomplish by doing petty shit like this?

I say we take hostage 10 Coca Cola executives and execute one for every hour our demands aren't met. Then we'll accomplish something.

[profound]

God Damn Bolshevika,

i can see you're a man of action, but until people are organised enough, have sufficient materials and widespread popular support nothing like that can happen. So, until then, boycott the companies which offend the most and spread the word, so others might take it upon themselves to follow your example... and if you make yourselves heard and start tainting the "good name" of coca-cola, they might decide to change their policies on threatening, torturing and executing Colombian unionists. (just maybe)

message me when you have a hardline left wing military faction with the capabilities and support to "take hostage 10 Coca Cola executives and execute one for every hour our demands aren't met" ok?

thanks man

[Faceless]

Boycotting things like Coca Cola and McDonalds does nothing at all. And perhaps it's attitudes like that which make that so true. I'm not just going to jump on the bandwagon and start eating/drinking this shit. For certain corporations there is no or little alternative (eg Microsoft?) but there are cheap and simple alternatives to sponsoring these murderers and criminals. They sell essential products (ie food and drink) but then so do companies with marginally better records. Until you find a way of executing your grandoise plans just boycott these criminal corporations. Perhaps it'll catch on? Gotta be worth a try.

[Al Creed]

And You know, sometimes a Boycott is more powerful than a Bullet.

If you shoot an executive, he'll just be replaced by another scum-sucking executive. If you boycott, that's a few less dollars the corporation gets in profit. And then, you convince your friends to do the same, and then they convince their friends, and thus, profit loss occurs, and the Capitalist scumbags have no choice but to listen.

Sometimes an ant CAN move a rubber tree plant.

[legot]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2003, 11:07 AM
For certain corporations there is no or little alternative (eg Microsoft?)
Linux is a very valid alternative to microsoft, its free source as well which means others can veiw how it is programmed and improve it themselves so there are alot of alternatives
www.linux.org for more information
saying that thoguh i'm a hypocrite since i still use windows..
an alterntive to microsoft internet explorer would be mozilla or mozilla firebird
i use mozilla firebird and would Definatly advise everyone to get it,it has blockup poppers built in and tabbed browsing,tabbed browsing once your used to it will have you hooked.

[Bolshevika]

Thing is, the American public is too stupid and too indifferent to suffering. So really, they don't care. I'm not going to lie, sometimes when I'm hungry and I'm out for a walk, I go into Burger King and get some fries or something.

Other times, if I'm with a bunch of my friends and we're all hungry and there's only a McDonalds around to eat at, what am I going to do? Be an asshole and say "wow you guys are morons for eating this stuff"? You see, if I'm hungry I have to eat, and if the only thing available at that time is McDonalds than I have no other choice. Thankfully I don't really eat McDonald's much, but sometimes I do. They do make a tasty burger (even though it's pretty fucking small).

I think it's pretty pointless to go out of your way to boycott these things because they are menial. Sometimes when I'm at a party or something, I drink coke (I'm more of a root beer person).

However, I agree we should boycott clothes companies (real labour exploiters) because there are many alternatives in clothes.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2003, 02:29 PM
And You know, sometimes a Boycott is more powerful than a Bullet.

If you shoot an executive, he'll just be replaced by another scum-sucking executive. If you boycott, that's a few less dollars the corporation gets in profit. And then, you convince your friends to do the same, and then they convince their friends, and thus, profit loss occurs, and the Capitalist scumbags have no choice but to listen.

Sometimes an ant CAN move a rubber tree plant.
It depends how many people want to shoot an executive, if there is enough an entire corporation can be eliminated.

The popularity of our movement reflects the number of people in it willing to take the most severe measures. Its not a case of whether we should shoot those filthy pigs that are our enemies or boycott the products of the filthy pigs, it is a question of when we will start shooting them.

Our struggle is political. We work outside the system to destroy the system. As long as the capitalists have power all is illusion (A Maoist phrase). We do not need to stop companies exploiting people or make them sell different products, we must destroy them.

[Al Creed]

What I meant there was just a long, drawn out version of "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword"

[Saint-Just]

I agree, but we should use the pen to destroy them, not to compromise with them.

[Soviet power supreme]

Bolshevik is right but I don't think that killing executives do the trick.
We have to ram the cola trucks out of the road or burn their ships or burn their HQs

Boycott's aren't any good.Just because you and your 10 or 100 friends stops drinking cola, doesn't mean that they shut the production.

You make a protest.1000 or 10000 people gather around the HQ.Then what?When the night comes you all go to your homes and the cola production goes on.

[BuyOurEverything]

I agree with Bolshevika. Boycotts are useless against giant corporations. SPS is right though, assasinating executives isn't likely to be very productive, we need to attack their means of distribution and possibly production. If we couple this with a vocal campaign against them, we have a chance of being succesful.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Bolshevika has made some good points...

I like Coke (though I prefer Dr. Pepper)... I don't like supporting bastard corporations, but that is inevitable if I wish to indulge in soft drinks (which is not offensive in itself, though it is bad for the health)...

People need to eat and drink... and it seems that all of the pro-worker, pro-environment producers are considerably more expensive. If I had the money to buy that stuff and still be able to get by, I would. But I cannot and I empathize with others in my position.

The clothes argument is a good one, since designer clothes are much more expensive. Of course, generics are often made in sweatshops, too... But it frustrates me so much more for Nike to make its shoes as cheaply and still charge ten times more than the generic ones. I should admit that I am wearing Nikes right now... but I got them for free. And I had my friend 3iVi take the swooshes off of them... I may have to wear the shoes, but I will not advertise for them!

[profound]

but until we have enough support for the destruction of the TNC's.... what are we going to do? sit back and watch while unionists get capped for doing their job (refer to the site on the first post)? i'm not... boycotting the products might not harm the companies as such... but at least i'm not contributing and supporting their crimes... and in Australia, there are perfectly good alternatives to coke and pepsi, for example, shcwepps, torquay, and,of course, good old flavoursome generic colas (which i have to say are my favourite(no sarcasm))

some good points have been brought up in this argument.... but one thought keeps on showing itself in my head.... you all talk about destroying the corporations from the outside, getting support from the general popultaion and as SPS said "We have to ram the cola trucks out of the road or burn their ships or burn their HQs" but when is this going to happen??? i am really curious, are you all just going to sit by and wait till it happens? or are people taking the initiative and doing something.....

i am really interested

[Soviet power supreme]

Well there are some radical groups in world like Red brigade.

They should do more material damage than killing politicians.
The capitalist don't do business which isn't profitable.Destroying their property is good thing to do.

Some may think that what about the workers.
Well I think that socialism is achieved better if there are more unemployment.

Think this

If company wolud have to close it's business in some third world country then many farmers and workers would be unemployees.Then they would start the riot and they would crush the goverment.

[Ernestocheguevara]

I have another link from my party web-site, it's a little old now but please take the time to read it, we're not all bad :D

Coca Cola Crimes (http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2003/306/index.html?id=np8.htm)

Thanx for your time.
ECG--

[Ernestocheguevara]

Originally posted by Marxist in [email protected] 16 2003, 11:01 PM


I like Coke (though I prefer Dr. Pepper)...
It's made by Coca Cola all the same though.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

ECG,

Coke does not own Dr. Pepper, though they seem to have some distribution agreement. Dr. Pepper is usually stocked in Coke machines, but Coke makes its own Pepper knock-off, Mr. Pibb...

[Faceless]

I can not believe my fucking ears! MiN, Bolshevika, how dare you say that you know what hunger is!? Yeah I would drink coke or eat at McD's if I was "hungry" but a twinge in my stomach does not qualify! I can wait four or five hours for a different source of food and I'm sorry if that causes you too much discomfort! Let's face it, you guys aint going to be killing corporate leaders any time soon or taking any other action. :lol: Awareness and Boycott are your only weapons now. I shed a tear that you guys really think it hurts to be the "asshole" by saying no! Gimme a break! One man can't overthrow a corporation. It's more bombastic still to think that "you and 10 or 100 friends" could overthrow a government! Still, you believe in awareness etc. to gain support for the final revolution? Why not create public awareness of the criminals elsewhere? Can't wait a couple of hours for some food?

[BuyOurEverything]

face it, you guys aint going to be killing corporate leaders any time soon or taking any other action. Awareness and Boycott are your only weapons now.

But how do you propose to raise awareness among the masses? It's essentially immpossible when capitalists have a monopoly on the means of communication. You and your friends staging a "boycott" against coke is comletely useless. It will neither affect coke's sales nor raise awareness. An ineffective weapon is no weapon at all. You can try and alleviate your guilt all you want by drinking brand x cola but it will never acomplish anything.

[Ernestocheguevara]

Originally posted by Marxist in [email protected] 18 2003, 06:41 PM
ECG,

Coke does not own Dr. Pepper, though they seem to have some distribution agreement. Dr. Pepper is usually stocked in Coke machines, but Coke makes its own Pepper knock-off, Mr. Pibb...
Being british, I have never heard of Mr Pibb??? But the Dr Pepper we get here is firmly stamped with the CC symbol?!?!?! Perhaps it's distributed by CC in Britain? Do you know???? I don't :blink:

[Marxist in Nebraska]

ECG,

Coca-Cola's logo is stamped on Dr. Pepper in the UK? Odd...

A comrade earlier on the thread wrote that Pepsi distributes Dr. Pepper and 7-UP outside the U.S., but you say it is Coke in the UK?

As I wrote earlier, Dr. Pepper is often sold in Coke machines here. Dr. Pepper goes on sale in the supermarket when "Coke Products" are on sale, but Dr. Pepper is considered its own company (in the U.S., at least)

This is getting confusing... :unsure:

[Ernestocheguevara]

Originally posted by Marxist in [email protected] 19 2003, 06:11 PM
ECG,

Coca-Cola's logo is stamped on Dr. Pepper in the UK? Odd...

A comrade earlier on the thread wrote that Pepsi distributes Dr. Pepper and 7-UP outside the U.S., but you say it is Coke in the UK?

As I wrote earlier, Dr. Pepper is often sold in Coke machines here. Dr. Pepper goes on sale in the supermarket when "Coke Products" are on sale, but Dr. Pepper is considered its own company (in the U.S., at least)

This is getting confusing... :unsure:
I will buy a bottle then scan the label and post it, sad I know!!! Perhaps it will end this confusion :blink: NB: I'm only buying it for purely scientific purposes only!!!

[Faceless]

Buyoureverything, it is a matter of opinion as to whether or not it is "useless". You choose to do nothing. Is that not as equally useless. Whether in vain or not, I have succeeded in getting several friends aware and boycotting coke. A few less pennies to murderers might not be much but its a start. I'm surprised such an apathetic person such as you has not given up living. It takes collective power for proletarian revolution. How do you propose to help promote such action? Through a "useless" awareness campaign? Through militancy you threaten only to alienate a potentially receptive public. There is nothing to lose in boycott. There is nothing to gain by sitting on your ass. I hope that you can live with the guilt of sponsering murder. As for Dr Pepper, as far as I'm aware it's owned by Coca Cola.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2003, 02:17 PM
It takes collective power for proletarian revolution. How do you propose to help promote such action? Through a "useless" awareness campaign? Through militancy you threaten only to alienate a potentially receptive public. There is nothing to lose in boycott. There is nothing to gain by sitting on your ass.
Well said...

I agree that it is difficult to build greater militancy. It is bound to frighten many people... people who will only see you as an extremist or a terrorist.

You make a good point that inactivity is useless, but is any action better than inaction? Cannot some actions make things worse?

[Faceless]

You make a good point that inactivity is useless, but is any action better than inaction? Cannot some actions make things worse? Yes, but how could a boycott make things worse? It aint going to alienate people. Militancy of other varieties may.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

What will happen if you boycott... say, Coca-Cola?

Are we just going to drink Pepsi? Is Pepsi a shit corporation, too? How is that worth our time and energy to divert people from one soft drink corporation to another?

And will boycotts hurt sales to the point that Coke workers here or abroad will lose their jobs? Those workers deserve a livelihood...

EDIT: remember, the bosses never take the fall when business is bad... the workers are always the first to suffer.

[BuyOurEverything]

What will happen if you boycott... say, Coca-Cola?

Are we just going to drink Pepsi? Is Pepsi a shit corporation, too? How is that worth our time and energy to divert people from one soft drink corporation to another?


Precisely. Plus just getting to that first step of boycotting Coca-Cola is essentially immpossible without radical means. There are probably hundreds of movements to boycott Coke right now but hardly anybody does. Likewise, it's common knowledge that Nike uses essentially slave labour to create their shoes but nobody cares. Everyone still buys Nike shoes.


Well said...

I agree that it is difficult to build greater militancy. It is bound to frighten many people... people who will only see you as an extremist or a terrorist.

This is a good point. I think that these actions would need to be done in conjunction with a propagandha campaign against them. Military attacks by themselves would be written off as terrorist and would be counter-productive, a boycott campaign by itself would be ignored and would be useless. Together though, I believe that they could be effective.

[Faceless]

livelihood end of the day it can barely be called that anyway. If Coke cut jobs then someone else will fill the gap and perhaps will recognise the power of mass opinion. You guys aren't going to do anything else. Boycotting does not take "effort". I boycott all sorts of things of which this is one and it's surprisingly easy. Tell you what, give boycott Coke a go for a week. If you find it physically draining then, give it up. ;)
One question:
you trying to discourage others that the use of boycott is too much effort?

[Bolshevika]

Oops, someone posted this before me.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2003, 03:39 PM
end of the day it can barely be called that anyway. If Coke cut jobs then someone else will fill the gap and perhaps will recognise the power of mass opinion. You guys aren't going to do anything else. Boycotting does not take "effort". I boycott all sorts of things of which this is one and it's surprisingly easy.

[...]you trying to discourage others that the use of boycott is too much effort?
You are right about many employees of Coca-Cola being horribly underpaid. But it is the best job they can find. Even if another soft drink company replaces Coca-Cola and rehires the workers, the workers will lose seniority and take a pay cut. And who is to say that the new company will not be as bad as Coke to the Third World?

I am not saying individual boycotts consume much energy. But a successful, mass boycott will require much time and energy in organization.

And thank you Bolshevika for repeating my point...

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Even if you manage to succesfully mount a mass boycot against Coca Cola and make it go bankrupt, another Company will the gap in the market.

The other company will probaly look the same as CC in every aspect, except the name. Like it has been said. The workers are the only one who get economicly hurt by these actions. Ofcourse the elite will suffer some money loss too. But it really doesn't matter for a someone's lifestandard if he makes 10 or 20 million per year. For someone who makes 12,000 a year, any changes will matter.

[Faceless]

Let me use another logic. The greatest power that the working classes have in their hands is the power to strike. Coca Cola workers try to use that power and they "disappear". Dead somewhere. Any boycott may damage Coca Cola and make them realise that their repression will not be tollerated thus causing them to clean up their human rights record and allowing unionists in Colombia etc. to take action of their own. Strike action damages corporations but the Colombians are prepared to take that risk; the only thing stopping this is the fact that Coke will no doubt kill them. To dismiss the power of boycott is to dismiss the power of strike action. Bombing Coke will not cause people to demand a clean up of their human rights. I maintain though that you people are not going to take militant action. You prefer to take no action than boycott and I find that hard to understand. It is an obligation to end the tollerance of mass murder and allow Colombians to take matters into their own hands without having to destroy large corporations. The workers will not lose. This is what they are dying for.

[Xuix]

Today I posted a message on the coke and pepsi vending machines at my school, I plan to start a strike to remove all pepsi and coke products from my school. It may not seem signficant, but if all of us find a way to remove coke and pepsi products from our schools than we can cause some serious damage.

[Soviet power supreme]

Even if you manage to succesfully mount a mass boycot against Coca Cola and make it go bankrupt, another Company will the gap in the market.

The other company will probaly look the same as CC in every aspect, except the name. Like it has been said. The workers are the only one who get economicly hurt by these actions. Ofcourse the elite will suffer some money loss too. But it really doesn't matter for a someone's lifestandard if he makes 10 or 20 million per year. For someone who makes 12,000 a year, any changes will matter.

Capitalists won't start a business if it isn't lucrative.If another company startup where cocacola ended then we have to crush that company too.

The workers don't lose anything.They wages are so small that there isn't a big difference if they are in that shitty work or unemployed.

Your attitude is what sickens me.Why we are trying to get communist society if capitalist will always win?

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Faceless,


To dismiss the power of boycott is to dismiss the power of strike action.

I have to disagree. There is a difference in recognizing and honoring a strike... it is always initiated by the workers, themselves. If the workers called for a boycott, I would try to honor that as best I can. Do you presume to declare a boycott on behalf of the workers, when it may cost them their jobs? If they will publicly acknowledge this risk and still support a boycott, that changes the situation.

sps,


The workers don't lose anything.They wages are so small that there isn't a big difference if they are in that shitty work or unemployed.

Awfully easy for you to say, as we are not arguing over YOUR paycheck. Again, if the workers initiate the action, then they are willing to sacrifice. Then I will honor the action. I will not presume to deny struggling workers their paycheck. The United States and its client states in Latin America are not welfare states--people need jobs to survive. I will not challenge the workers' right to survival, and thus I will not cost them their jobs.

[BuyOurEverything]

Any boycott may damage Coca Cola and make them realise that their repression will not be tollerated thus causing them to clean up their human rights record and allowing unionists in Colombia etc. to take action of their own.

That's idealistic. There are probably dozens of boycott campaigns against Coke right now, they just don't get any press, nobody cares, and coke ignores them. The same thing would happen to your campaign if you started one.


Today I posted a message on the coke and pepsi vending machines at my school

What message? Can you send it to me? I was going to do the same thing at my school. I just gotta make sure the DHS doesn't catch me ;)


I plan to start a strike to remove all pepsi and coke products from my school. It may not seem signficant, but if all of us find a way to remove coke and pepsi products from our schools than we can cause some serious damage.

I disagree with this course of action. Unless it is a strong majority of the students calling to remove coke and pepsi, you will either be ignored or worse, the students will become resentful because they can no longer buy pop at lunch. As trivial and petulant as this may sound, it could easily create a "fuckin commies" attitude which would obviously be counter-productive in the end. I agree with education but until most people are educated, I would steer clear of this.

[RaveRDave]

While there are many tragic instances in the world that are brought about by corporate giants and unfair and morally corupt marketing practices, economically, there is little we can do in a capitalist society where water is literally more precious than soda. A boycott of Coca-Cola would do little to nothing to them in reality... too many people have their sight blinded by the marketing blitz campaigns perpetuated by soda companies to participate in such a boycott. The sheer amount of financial power behind these soda giants is enough that even a significantly sized boycott would not hurt their company very much(even the bad PR would be ignored, if there was any reported.) BuyOurEverything is right.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Originally posted by Soviet power [email protected] 21 2003, 05:04 PM

Even if you manage to succesfully mount a mass boycot against Coca Cola and make it go bankrupt, another Company will the gap in the market.

The other company will probaly look the same as CC in every aspect, except the name. Like it has been said. The workers are the only one who get economicly hurt by these actions. Ofcourse the elite will suffer some money loss too. But it really doesn't matter for a someone's lifestandard if he makes 10 or 20 million per year. For someone who makes 12,000 a year, any changes will matter.

Capitalists won't start a business if it isn't lucrative.If another company startup where cocacola ended then we have to crush that company too.

The workers don't lose anything.They wages are so small that there isn't a big difference if they are in that shitty work or unemployed.

Your attitude is what sickens me.Why we are trying to get communist society if capitalist will always win?
Maybe they will stop exploiting at that point to, only to continue somewhere else. When slavery officially ceased to exist, wage-slavery took over.

Yes the workers do loose a lot. That lousy 12,000 or even less, is the difference between life and death.

You're expecting too much from cooperating with the system. You can't stop capitalism by working with them. Maybe you can delay them a little, but nothing more. If you could raise enough support to boycot companies who aren't respecting the worker's rights, then you should also be able to stop capitalism.

That's what capitalism is about, living of the profits made by the laborers. Asking capitalism to stop exploiting workers, is the same as asking capitalism to cease existence.

[Agent provocateur]

One of the really great crimes of Coca-Cola is the contribution of tooth decay, especially in the developing world where fluoridated water is a luxury and dental visits are non-existent (with the exception of
Cuba). The inability of peasants to smile must be very bad for them. I myself do not drink soft drinks. I try not to eat junk food.

[Faceless]

Unless it is a strong majority of the students calling to remove coke and pepsi, you will either be ignored or worse, the students will become resentful because they can no longer buy pop at lunch pulease! you sound like you are in fear of being unpopular. You are speaking hypothetically. We need to make a strong majority. It won't make itself.

I have to disagree. There is a difference in recognizing and honoring a strike... But you keep shut when the Colombians die trying to strike. Hence other actions of solidarity must be taken for those workers. They would lose wages striking and they are prepared to make that sacrifice. They have shown this. Don't you understand?

[BuyOurEverything]

QUOTE
Unless it is a strong majority of the students calling to remove coke and pepsi, you will either be ignored or worse, the students will become resentful because they can no longer buy pop at lunch

pulease! you sound like you are in fear of being unpopular. You are speaking hypothetically. We need to make a strong majority. It won't make itself.


Did you read what I said after? I'm not worried about becoming personally unpopular, I'm worried about my ideas becoming unpopular. Before we try and remove coke from schools, we need to make sure everbody understands why and agrees with us. Otherwise, you'll be doing more harm than good.

[Mike Fakelastname]

This is probably a dumb question, but does this affect the Coke world wide? Or just the Columbian wing of the company? If it's world wide, I'm boycotting it also.

[Mike Fakelastname]

Ignore my last post, here is the message I am posting on my school's coke machines:

"Coca-Cola Supports Murder!

Columbian Trade Unionists from a Coke bottling plant are tortured and gunned down and Coca-Cola not only profits from it, they support it!

BOYCOTT COCA-COLA!"

[Faceless]

Coke's crimes are numerous M.Fakelastname and not limited to Colombia (with an "o"). Keep up the good work. BuyOurEverything,
the Communist movement has been at its best when associated with popular and "moral" movements. In England it almost meant you were "Communist" if you were anti-fascist because of the success in associating Communism with it. People can identify with human tragedy and when they begin to associate Communism with the relief of tragedy, they will see Communism as a force for good. That is why many of the anti-war demos are organised by commies. Even though I (and you no doubt) see Bush to be as much a criminal as Clinton and even Wilson, others might not so it is best often to appeal to the populist nature of other movements. Such is boycott Coke. It also happens to be true that Coke are more criminal than other sectors of the bourgeoisie.