Spring Break
There Is No Anti-Coke Movement
Rob Helmuth
Issue date: 4/4/06 Section: Commentary
There have now been two articles in The Daily Campus criticizing what they call the "Anti-Coke" movement. There is no such movement, although many seem to oppose it. One can only assume that they are referring to Students for Corporate Accountability's campaign to convince the university to end its contract with Coca Cola. That they disagree with the campaign is fine, but The Daily Campus articles significantly misrepresent its goals and motivation. The campaign is not "anti-Coke," nor is it "anti-corporate," "anti-capitalist," or "liberals" with "rage." So, a question to the authors, and anyone else in opposition: How can you oppose something you do not understand?
Though some seem to think so, it is not a political issue; support is welcome from anyone who values human life and our future on the planet. The cause is not anti-capitalist, no one is trying to put Coca Cola out of business. One article calls our campaign a waste of time. President Philip Austin doesn't think so. According to a representative, he is very concerned with the seriousness of the allegations and considers it a critical issue. His Committee on Sweatshop Labor is currently investigating the matter and will recommend further action, likely later this semester.
The campaign is accused of having a huge number of unreasonable demands of the company. Not true. There is one demand, and it is simple: stop doing business with people who deliberately violate human rights, the environment and ethics-regardless of whether it makes you money.
Coca Cola representative Ed Potter (whose article was also in The Daily Campus) denies any connection to the atrocities. However, when the workers are producing and delivering Coca Cola, wearing Coca Cola uniforms, it becomes hard to deny a connection. When they are told they must resign from their union or face death after one of their co-workers, Isidro Gil, was gunned down during his shift at the Coca Cola bottling plant by paramilitaries who work for the plant managers … it becomes hard to deny a connection. When Austin's committee receives e-mails in support of Coca Cola supposedly from Colombian workers who somehow heard that the UConn administration was dealing with the issue (I guess they read The Daily Campus?) AND got a hold of the members' contact info-even though, according to Coca Cola, they are not Coca Cola employees - it becomes ridiculous to deny a connection. In a recent meeting with the Committee, Mr. Potter was questioned about this perplexing situation, and was-GASP!-unable to explain.
Though some seem to think so, it is not a political issue; support is welcome from anyone who values human life and our future on the planet. The cause is not anti-capitalist, no one is trying to put Coca Cola out of business. One article calls our campaign a waste of time. President Philip Austin doesn't think so. According to a representative, he is very concerned with the seriousness of the allegations and considers it a critical issue. His Committee on Sweatshop Labor is currently investigating the matter and will recommend further action, likely later this semester.
The campaign is accused of having a huge number of unreasonable demands of the company. Not true. There is one demand, and it is simple: stop doing business with people who deliberately violate human rights, the environment and ethics-regardless of whether it makes you money.
Coca Cola representative Ed Potter (whose article was also in The Daily Campus) denies any connection to the atrocities. However, when the workers are producing and delivering Coca Cola, wearing Coca Cola uniforms, it becomes hard to deny a connection. When they are told they must resign from their union or face death after one of their co-workers, Isidro Gil, was gunned down during his shift at the Coca Cola bottling plant by paramilitaries who work for the plant managers … it becomes hard to deny a connection. When Austin's committee receives e-mails in support of Coca Cola supposedly from Colombian workers who somehow heard that the UConn administration was dealing with the issue (I guess they read The Daily Campus?) AND got a hold of the members' contact info-even though, according to Coca Cola, they are not Coca Cola employees - it becomes ridiculous to deny a connection. In a recent meeting with the Committee, Mr. Potter was questioned about this perplexing situation, and was-GASP!-unable to explain.