Comments on: Saving the earth: Coca-Cola? http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:17:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rosa http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-34520 Rosa Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:40:39 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-34520 Here's a link with more information on the issues: http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/index.html Here’s a link with more information on the issues: http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/index.html

]]> By: Emily http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-34519 Emily Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:38:28 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-34519 Plus, can we mention the huge greenhouse emissions caused by actually transporting bottles of water? How can something be considered enviromnentally responsible when it's doing so much to encourage climate change? Plus, can we mention the huge greenhouse emissions caused by actually transporting bottles of water? How can something be considered enviromnentally responsible when it’s doing so much to encourage climate change?

]]> By: Rosa http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-34518 Rosa Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:37:38 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-34518 Multinationals will never cease to surprise us with the way they turn things around. In 2004-2005, Coca Cola was charged with depleting ground water reserves in three different states in India and leaving local people with no water. They now claim that they want to protect water reserves, but it seems that producing a liter of Coca Cola requires a minimum of 8 liters of water... Multinationals will never cease to surprise us with the way they turn things around. In 2004-2005, Coca Cola was charged with depleting ground water reserves in three different states in India and leaving local people with no water. They now claim that they want to protect water reserves, but it seems that producing a liter of Coca Cola requires a minimum of 8 liters of water…

]]> By: Weekend Links at 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-34157 Weekend Links at 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:10:42 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-34157 [...] • Is Coca-Cola saving the earth? [...] [...] • Is Coca-Cola saving the earth? [...]

]]> By: William http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-33948 William Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:08:20 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-33948 I have been doing corporate sustainability research for the past two years and I agree with the posts that identify regulation as the force behind any positive environmental or social change made by large companies. Any voluntary initiatives are trivial (though not for marketing purposes!) and every substantial improvement has been made out of fear of impending regulations. Diamond's assertion that they're helping the environment by mitigating their own impacts seems like a flaw in logic to me. What's strange is the specific companies he chose as examples. By my measures those three companies are not close to being environmental leaders in their industries. He could have at least picked someone other than Chevron, even ExxonMobil has better environmental transparency and performance. I'm also a big fan of Diamond so I'm willing to cut him some slack, but I think he's being naive. He visited Chevron sites in New Guinea and thinks the company is responsible. If he looked at the global data he might think differently. I have been doing corporate sustainability research for the past two years and I agree with the posts that identify regulation as the force behind any positive environmental or social change made by large companies. Any voluntary initiatives are trivial (though not for marketing purposes!) and every substantial improvement has been made out of fear of impending regulations. Diamond’s assertion that they’re helping the environment by mitigating their own impacts seems like a flaw in logic to me.
What’s strange is the specific companies he chose as examples. By my measures those three companies are not close to being environmental leaders in their industries. He could have at least picked someone other than Chevron, even ExxonMobil has better environmental transparency and performance.
I’m also a big fan of Diamond so I’m willing to cut him some slack, but I think he’s being naive. He visited Chevron sites in New Guinea and thinks the company is responsible. If he looked at the global data he might think differently.

]]> By: amy cotler http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-33937 amy cotler Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:44:25 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-33937 Right on Marion. It saddens me that someone who produces such great books would take that kind of stance. In my interviews for my book, I see a backlash and I guess this is part of it, along with the anti-locavore book that came out this summer. People say only large corporations can feed the world, protect our water. And we know they are looking out for our interests, right. I'll pass your blog comments on. Oh, what did you think of the book I wrote: The Locavore Way: Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Food? Right on Marion. It saddens me that someone who produces such great books would take that kind of stance. In my interviews for my book, I see a backlash and I guess this is part of it, along with the anti-locavore book that came out this summer. People say only large corporations can feed the world, protect our water. And we know they are looking out for our interests, right. I’ll pass your blog comments on. Oh, what did you think of the book I wrote: The Locavore Way: Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Food?

]]> By: Douglas http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-33936 Douglas Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:40:50 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-33936 If it's true that companies like Coca Cola are becoming "positive forces for environmental sustainability", it is only because enough economic/political pressure has been applied upon them to force a change. They see the writing on the wall and are reacting to position themselves as defenders of the emvironment in an attempt to secure their market share If it’s true that companies like Coca Cola are becoming “positive forces for environmental sustainability”, it is only because enough economic/political pressure has been applied upon them to force a change.

They see the writing on the wall and are reacting to position themselves as defenders of the emvironment in an attempt to secure their market share

]]> By: Dr. Susan Rubin http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-33934 Dr. Susan Rubin Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:00:25 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-33934 I'm thrilled that there is another reason besides obesity to not drink this junk! Let's use this opportunity to teach school kids about the environmental impact of this over-hyped brown sugar water and get them re-thinking what they drink. In light of the double whammy of peak oil & climate change, it seems to me that one thing that we can do to reduce our carbon output would be to avoid all Coca Cola products and drink tap water instead in a re-useable container. Math and science teachers can help students calculate how much oil and CO2 are spared by drinking water. I’m thrilled that there is another reason besides obesity to not drink this junk! Let’s use this opportunity to teach school kids about the environmental impact of this over-hyped brown sugar water and get them re-thinking what they drink.

In light of the double whammy of peak oil & climate change, it seems to me that one thing that we can do to reduce our carbon output would be to avoid all Coca Cola products and drink tap water instead in a re-useable container.

Math and science teachers can help students calculate how much oil and CO2 are spared by drinking water.

]]> By: Peter Englander http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-33924 Peter Englander Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:02:06 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-33924 This all says nothing of the fact that Coke's main product is simply awful for you, made out of corn syrup and contributing to obesity, diabetes, tooth decay and over-active children. This all says nothing of the fact that Coke’s main product is simply awful for you, made out of corn syrup and contributing to obesity, diabetes, tooth decay and over-active children.

]]> By: EdSanDiego http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/saving-the-earth-coca-cola/comment-page-1/#comment-33920 EdSanDiego Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:58:00 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1741#comment-33920 Coke should move all its franchised operations to the North Pole where there is plenty of fresh and free flowing melting ice water, nice and cool environment for the end products and few peasants to complain about water theft killing their communities. While there, they could erect mirrors to reflect the solar rays to help slow down global warming. A socially responsible and profit making opportunity win-win for everyone. So, I'm being as ridiculous as a Jaded Diamond. Corporates like Coke only do things for their own benefit. Stealing water from those that can't be heard or fight back is immoral, regardless of the window dressing. Coke should move all its franchised operations to the North Pole where there is plenty of fresh and free flowing melting ice water, nice and cool environment for the end products and few peasants to complain about water theft killing their communities.

While there, they could erect mirrors to reflect the solar rays to help slow down global warming. A socially responsible and profit making opportunity win-win for everyone.

So, I’m being as ridiculous as a Jaded Diamond.

Corporates like Coke only do things for their own benefit. Stealing water from those that can’t be heard or fight back is immoral, regardless of the window dressing.

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