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Olympic Spirit? Oxford residents reject Coca-Cola's hijacking of Torch Relay

tom | 09.07.2012 13:33 | Oxford

On the day that the Olympic torch arrives in Oxford slogans appeared in shops and Bill Boards along the route highlighting the human rights abuses of Coca-Cola. Signs in shop windows read Killercoke.org directing readers to a website that details the string of human-rights abuses around the world that Coca-Cola is accused of

On the day that the Olympic torch arrives in Oxford slogans appeared in shops and Bill Boards along the route highlighting the human rights abuses of Coca-Cola. Signs in shop windows read Killercoke.org directing readers to a website that details the string of human-rights abuses around the world that Coca-Cola is accused of.

Tom Simpson of the Cowley road said “Local people were obviously so outraged by the sea of coca-cola advertising that appeared on the Cowley Road they wanted to show that a huge company can't just buy it's way into people's community. The true values of the Olympics - those of respect,excellence and fairplay- are the opposite of what a large human-rights abusing organisation like Coca-Cola symbolises.

Previously residents and community leaders have also criticised plans by Coca-Cola to fly over 22 Americans to carry the Olympic torch in Oxfordshire rather than choose community participants.

Tom went on to say “I've spoken with families who are appalled by the idea that a world sporting event like this can be hijacked by such an unhealthy drink with such a bad track record around the world – it completely contradicts what the event is about. I hope these messages send a clear message to the organisers of this event and others like it, people want to get into the spirit of an event but not one that is a way of force-feeding advertising upon us. “

tom
- Homepage: killercoke.org

Comments

Display the following 13 comments

  1. No coincidance — Dan Factor
  2. no coincidence taken — Analyse This
  3. not posh round here — eastender
  4. Torch event today — bystander
  5. this article may not be accurate — Impulsive Clamberer
  6. Coca-Cola unhealthy/Unhealthy sponsors — Dan Factor
  7. @Danny boy — Max
  8. @Dan & Max — Isidro Segundo Gil
  9. Human rights abuses — Dan Factor
  10. pics of killercoke signs and bill board — tom
  11. nice — Impulsive Clamberer
  12. Why they do it — Sugar gas and water
  13. PS — Impulsive Clamberer