The Boycott Has Spread to This Many Countries:
United States, Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, Bahrain, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, France, Italy, Morocco, Serbia, Sweden, Chile, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela
Preemptive Q&A:
Q: What exactly is a boycott and what does it entail?
A: You don't know what a boycott is? Well. . . A boycott is, for example, us using our ability to abstain from Coca-Cola's products to force them to change their practices. It entails you honestly abstaining from the products listed (if you live in a country other than the U.S., you may want to look through the company's full product list. You may want to double-check me anyways). You won't drink them if they're offered to you, either. If you have trouble cutting down on your general consumption of soda, well, maybe it's time you did gave soda a rest after all.
Q: How long will this boycott take to work?
A: That depends how loud we are. However, if you have and kick a habit then your body will adjust and love you for it, and you won't get the cravings. If you already don't drink a lot of soda, then it should be easy to maintain.
Q: What is the purpose?
A: The purpose? You could say there are two. One is compensation for communities affected, and the other is assuring that unethical practices will come to a halt and not resume under any circumstances. Job compensation is just part of the package for the communities. An additional perk? Other companies would be wise shape up further afterward to make themselves look better while being able to say "We never did that".
Q: How can I stay motivated?
A: Stay informed about this and other issues. Indifference can be a tough habit to break, but I've seen the most stubborn people I know let it go. Another way to look at it? Your dedication is being outdone by that of a teenager. Ouch.
And now, The Responses to Questions and Statements Frequently Presented Section, or the RQ&SFPS, for short.
Those were basic questions to answer, here's what I've actually been asked.
Q: Are you stupid? Coca-Cola does so many good things like scholarships!
A: Yeah. Scholarships, sponsorships, greenwashing (not good, by the way. That's a bit sarcastic), the whole shebang. Time to re-read the home page. I addressed it across the site, actually. First of all, it's good business. They want to look like an awesome company, through and through. If they didn't, they wouldn't advertise so much, hire public relations firms in countries they operate in, or try to talk reporters into toning down stories.
So far, an incredible few of the people that have joined the boycott had any idea what was going on. If what went in to making the soda was on the bottle, less people would be okay with it. Way less, it seems. Some people never find out, others ignore it. Frankly, I believe that says enough.
However, in the interest of addressing the first question (which I've had thrown at me many a time in much more vulgar ways, so it must need addressing), no. I'm not stupid. I'm well aware of the fact of all that they're doing in terms of scholarships and the suchlike. I've spent plenty of time exploring their website, company statements, etc. It's just that some good isn't good enough for me. If someone were to, say, punch a child in the face, take their lollipop and then hand it to another kid and affectionately spoil the recipient, I would not congratulate them. Especially not if they handed me a soft drink to shut me up. In fact, I'd take it as an insult, you know? There's nothing respectable about being two-faced and hiding your flaws. Not in my book, at the very least.
Q: What if I don't really drink soda?
A: I'd just like to point out how many times people have thought that any action from them would be irrelevant because they consumed so little soda. The action is the same and you can still spread the word. Plus, you probably drink their bottled water or their juice. If you actually don't? Well then, you're in luck because studies show* that it becomes three times easier to boycott a soda company when you don't drink soda. (*Disclaimer: I'm just kidding. Studies aren't necessary for common sense, despite what the news seems to tell me.)
A: You don't know what a boycott is? Well. . . A boycott is, for example, us using our ability to abstain from Coca-Cola's products to force them to change their practices. It entails you honestly abstaining from the products listed (if you live in a country other than the U.S., you may want to look through the company's full product list. You may want to double-check me anyways). You won't drink them if they're offered to you, either. If you have trouble cutting down on your general consumption of soda, well, maybe it's time you did gave soda a rest after all.
Q: How long will this boycott take to work?
A: That depends how loud we are. However, if you have and kick a habit then your body will adjust and love you for it, and you won't get the cravings. If you already don't drink a lot of soda, then it should be easy to maintain.
Q: What is the purpose?
A: The purpose? You could say there are two. One is compensation for communities affected, and the other is assuring that unethical practices will come to a halt and not resume under any circumstances. Job compensation is just part of the package for the communities. An additional perk? Other companies would be wise shape up further afterward to make themselves look better while being able to say "We never did that".
Q: How can I stay motivated?
A: Stay informed about this and other issues. Indifference can be a tough habit to break, but I've seen the most stubborn people I know let it go. Another way to look at it? Your dedication is being outdone by that of a teenager. Ouch.
And now, The Responses to Questions and Statements Frequently Presented Section, or the RQ&SFPS, for short.
Those were basic questions to answer, here's what I've actually been asked.
Q: Are you stupid? Coca-Cola does so many good things like scholarships!
A: Yeah. Scholarships, sponsorships, greenwashing (not good, by the way. That's a bit sarcastic), the whole shebang. Time to re-read the home page. I addressed it across the site, actually. First of all, it's good business. They want to look like an awesome company, through and through. If they didn't, they wouldn't advertise so much, hire public relations firms in countries they operate in, or try to talk reporters into toning down stories.
So far, an incredible few of the people that have joined the boycott had any idea what was going on. If what went in to making the soda was on the bottle, less people would be okay with it. Way less, it seems. Some people never find out, others ignore it. Frankly, I believe that says enough.
However, in the interest of addressing the first question (which I've had thrown at me many a time in much more vulgar ways, so it must need addressing), no. I'm not stupid. I'm well aware of the fact of all that they're doing in terms of scholarships and the suchlike. I've spent plenty of time exploring their website, company statements, etc. It's just that some good isn't good enough for me. If someone were to, say, punch a child in the face, take their lollipop and then hand it to another kid and affectionately spoil the recipient, I would not congratulate them. Especially not if they handed me a soft drink to shut me up. In fact, I'd take it as an insult, you know? There's nothing respectable about being two-faced and hiding your flaws. Not in my book, at the very least.
Q: What if I don't really drink soda?
A: I'd just like to point out how many times people have thought that any action from them would be irrelevant because they consumed so little soda. The action is the same and you can still spread the word. Plus, you probably drink their bottled water or their juice. If you actually don't? Well then, you're in luck because studies show* that it becomes three times easier to boycott a soda company when you don't drink soda. (*Disclaimer: I'm just kidding. Studies aren't necessary for common sense, despite what the news seems to tell me.)