http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651473_1651472_1651479,00.html
This interesting source is related to my argument because of the fact that it is about college students coming together and learning the truth about The Coca-Cola Company and doing something about it on their own campus. After the college of Smith's Students for Social Justice and Institutional Change caught wind that there had been "allegations that Coca-Cola was complicit in human rights violations at a bottling plant in Colombia and had contributed to environmental degradation in India", Smith college students decided to do something about it. What did they decide to do? Well since Coca-Cola's "actions would be in violation of Smith's Vendor Code of Conduct", the students forced their college to cancel the contract that they have with the Coca-Cola Company. Coke, of course, denies all of the accusations made against them.
Apparently, "The Smith students' campaign has made an impression on Coca-Cola, which sent spokespeople to meet with concerned students and faculty at the schools that have considered bans". Because of Coke's fear that more universities will start terminating their contracts too, they created a website (cokefacts.com) specifically to inform people about "their efforts to ensure fair labor and environmental practices in India, Colombia and other countries."
In my opinion, the Coca-Cola Company can make as many websites as they like telling millions of people what their efforts are, but until things actually start to change, thats when I will really believe them.
This source supports my argument against Coke by showing other students actions against the Coca-Cola Company. Because of this one university, many others are following in their foot steps and ending their contracts with Coke. Not only will this make Coke hopefully stop all of it's wrongdoings, but this gives local beverage companies the chance to gain enormous profit in their community. It gives the little guy their time to shine and that is what America really needs at this time.
The only part of this source that would complicate my argument is the website cokefacts.com. But frankly I dont think i would believe anything they put on their anyways so i'm not too worried.
I thought this source was very interesting because of the students genuine drive to make things right. They dont want to keep Coke products on their campus becasue they like the taste. They only want to represent companies that deserve to be represented. And Coke is obviously not one of them.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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Wow, this is completely new to me. I had no idea Coke was involved in such scandals. I think it is great that college students everywhere are standing up for what they believe in, and maybe it is time for the University of Oklahoma students to do the same. After you finish your project, you would have enough information to start a group that is against supporting Coca-Cola products, like the ones at other colleges. My topic is very similar; Firestone Tire and Rubber Company has also been accused of exploitation and child labor. Therefore, I can really relate to your project, and the point of view you are coming from. Before this, I had not heard of any other company that has been accused of pretty much the same thing Firestone has been accused of. It really scares me that this is going on in more major companies than we actually think.
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