2008 Woodie Awards
Why Coca-Cola shouldn't be sold on our campus
Colleen Klees '07
Issue date: 11/3/06 Section: Opinion
Over 32 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and Europe have broken their contracts with Coca-Cola, thanks to student-led campaigning against the giant corporation. In addition over 130 other colleges and universities in these countries are currently involved in the campaign called "Stop Killer Coke," and could possibly break their contracts with Coke (statistics from www.killercoke.org). Many students at St. Joe's do not realize that our University is included on the list of the 130 schools that are active in the campaign against Coke. In fact, they may be shocked to hear this, and wonder what in the world someone would have against their beloved beverage of choice. Most students, as well as faculty and administration, do not understand the environmental and human rights violations that have been committed by because they have not been informed about them.
Last year, as a junior here at St. Joe's, I did not understand anything about the issue either. I had learned about workers' rights violations by Nike in sweatshops, but I had no idea that there was any issue with Coca-Cola until I attended a presentation by the student group, Students for Workers' Rights, on the violations of Coke. I became both intrigued and appalled by the fact that such a large, well-known corporation could both deny and get away with the major allegations against it.
When I became an officer of Students for Workers' Rights and one of the students leading the campaign against Coke at SJU, I researched more about the charges against Coke to understand exactly what the company has done wrong. When I explain to friends or family the cause in which I am involved on campus, they often ask, "What exactly is Coke doing that's so bad?" The answers to this question are obviously at the root of the campaign. Coke has many human rights violations throughout the world including the dehydration of communities in India, pollution and contamination in India, and association with anti-union activities, particularly in Colombia.
Last year, as a junior here at St. Joe's, I did not understand anything about the issue either. I had learned about workers' rights violations by Nike in sweatshops, but I had no idea that there was any issue with Coca-Cola until I attended a presentation by the student group, Students for Workers' Rights, on the violations of Coke. I became both intrigued and appalled by the fact that such a large, well-known corporation could both deny and get away with the major allegations against it.
When I became an officer of Students for Workers' Rights and one of the students leading the campaign against Coke at SJU, I researched more about the charges against Coke to understand exactly what the company has done wrong. When I explain to friends or family the cause in which I am involved on campus, they often ask, "What exactly is Coke doing that's so bad?" The answers to this question are obviously at the root of the campaign. Coke has many human rights violations throughout the world including the dehydration of communities in India, pollution and contamination in India, and association with anti-union activities, particularly in Colombia.
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