In response to Eddie Klatka's Nov. 21 column, "OSU should can Coke deal," I was at first skeptical of the accusations he made against Coca-Cola. He said the corporation "has a laundry list of human rights and worker's rights violations extending around the world," that, in India, Coke is "continually polluting villages, where their bottling plants are located, with toxic waste" and that, in Columbia, union leaders have been killed or threatened with murder. This all sounded very serious and far-fetched, so I did some independent research.
I found a video by British journalist-investigator Mark Thomas on YouTube, that covered the very same issues Klatka spoke about. It also included information on Coca-Cola's past ties to the Nazi Party and touched on its having been a member of Martin Luther King Jr.'s boycott list because of racist business practices. All of this seemed very surprising to me. All of Klatka's claims seemed to check out.
But, there are some obvious concerns that come to mind with banning Coca-Cola from Ohio State's standpoint. Mainly, where will all the funding come from for our university events? I asked Klatka if he thought of this. He told me that any cola company would be glad to give OSU money to sell their product. He also pointed out that many students do not want to drink Coke products but have no other choice.
Tonight, Ray Rogers, head of
killercoke.org, will speak on campus. Klatka told me Coca-Cola has refused to attend any event in which they would be forced to confront any sort of opposition. I questioned why a one-sided event would be good at giving accurate information. He said that even though there is only one side, educated individuals should hear both sides of an issue before making up their mind.
Klatka concluded our conversation by asking me why the farmers in India and the workers in Columbia would bring up these accusations against Coca-Cola if they were false? What do the farmers and workers have to gain? Fame? Fortune? Their crops are being destroyed and their families are being murdered. There is nothing to gain except getting Coke to clean up its act through international pressure. At OSU, we can take a stand. We can add pressure.
Klatka told me that before Richard Hollingsworth, OSU vice president of Student Affairs, would support this cause, he said he needs to see the Undergraduate Student Government pass a resolution supporting a Coke ban. I hope USG takes a stand on this, and I hope other students do too.
Harry Lindner is a junior in psychology. He can be reached at lindner.27@osu.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 19
Wesley Tamkin
posted 1/16/08 @ 11:09 AM EST
If those united against coke believe that enough undergraduates agree with them on this matter then they should write up a Initiative Petition and submit it to the Election Governance Board by the 6th week of this quarter. (Continued…)
Michael
posted 1/16/08 @ 12:02 PM EST
So the "independent research" on some activist of questionable legitmacy was surfing YouTube?
Copy-and-paste media lives on.
Matt
posted 1/16/08 @ 12:40 PM EST
Coke is the best soft drink product in the world. You Tube evidence isn't quite what I would call extensive "Independent Research". Even if some of these facts are true, it happens with more then just Coke. (Continued…)
Alana
posted 1/16/08 @ 2:21 PM EST
I say right on to the author of this opinion article. I've been hearing these allegations about Coke for years now and I'd be totally in to fighting against it. (Continued…)
Amanda
posted 1/16/08 @ 3:46 PM EST
Way to pretend to provide research, then give us a biased opinion article with nothing more than a little back up from some random guy on Youtube.
I dunno if Coke is good or bad, but I can tell you that every major corporation has its ups and downs. (Continued…)
Benbo
posted 1/16/08 @ 6:49 PM EST
I think we should replace the Coke machines with milk machines.
grad student
posted 1/17/08 @ 9:34 AM EST
Don't forget that henry ford worked with the nazis and published his own nazi newspaper here in the US not so long ago... it's why you find so many who won't ever drive fords!
good for a person who researches and stands up, but what a bummer that this newspaper publishes crap from someone who watched one youtube video and considered it research. (Continued…)
Barbara
posted 1/17/08 @ 9:41 AM EST
You support CocaCola and their practices every time you buy one of their products. It's like you're casting a vote of support. You might want to think about whether or not you want to support this company (or any other) with your vote/money. (Continued…)
Jerry
posted 1/17/08 @ 11:48 AM EST
Coke has phosphates, which we now know destroys your kidneys, and it has high-fructose corn syrup, which makes you fat fat fat fat fat. Goes good with pizza. (Continued…)
Coke Fan
posted 1/17/08 @ 2:15 PM EST
Does anyone remember just a few years ago when Coke donated $1 million to delay renovation of the Oval from spring quarter until summer quarter? Thatwas pretty incredible. (Continued…)
Post a Comment