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 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
Hide the following 13 comments
No coincidance
09.07.2012 15:49
Dan Factor
no coincidence taken
09.07.2012 17:24
Analyse This
not posh round here
09.07.2012 18:12
eastender
Torch event today
09.07.2012 19:29
1.That the Save Temple Swimming Pool struggle is still ongoing
2.That one of the sponsers of the olympics are nasty company called coca cola who not only produce beverages which are unhealthy if drunk, polute the environment and have been known to shoot and kill their employees who stand up to them! but that there are local people are willing to make a stand and try to educate the rest us us and boycott coke.
bystander
Homepage:
http://killercoke.org/ http://tiny.cc/savetcp
this article may not be accurate
09.07.2012 21:25
If they did they weren't placed very noticably. I came down Cowley Rd just before the relay and didn't see any.
As someone who was involved with a small protest that did actually happen in Oxford:
...I can say that the only people I know organising on these issues in the run up to the relay did not have time to distribute posters etc on Cowley Rd, and have no idea who wrote this article.
Happy to be proved wrong - if anyone can post photos of the billboards and posters mentioned.
Impulsive Clamberer
Coca-Cola unhealthy/Unhealthy sponsors
09.07.2012 21:44
I don't get the whole "this or that company cannot sponsor a sport event like the Olympics because their products are unhealthy and sport is all about health".
The athlets won't be drinking/eating the products so one can only assume the concern for the impact of the sponsorship/advertising on the spectators.
The objectors believe that the ordinary punter who attends events like the Olympics will see slogans and adverts for Coca-Cola and McDonalds around the venues and be compelled to go and buy and consume their products and stuff their faces with junk food and junk drinks.
The whole protest against the world's biggest McDonalds at the Olympics venue has stemed from a belief that the common people attending the event will see a massive McDonalds and will find it almost impossible to not go in there and eat their food.
But people have brains and can make their own minds up.
Dan Factor
@Danny boy
09.07.2012 22:35
On the one hand, people are adults and have brains. Its up to them if they want to buy a McDonalds or a coke. It isn't up to the objectors what the public can and can't eat.
The objectors will say "but the people are stupid and can't think for themselves...we have to think for them." The intelligent answer to that is a firm: "fuck off and mind your own business. I don't bitch about you smoking your rollups and drinking your beer so piss off and leave me alone you nosey twat."
On the other hand, companies don't spend money on advertising/sponsorship for fun. They have to justify those costs to the shareholders. They've been in the game long enough to know that X money spent on Y = Z benefits to sales. So yes, more advertising = more people buying McDonalds (but less buying Burger King!?)
But, at the end of the day, they arn't breaking any laws. And nobody put the protestors in charge of these decisions. So i guess things will remain as they are as there is reason that it would be prevented.
Max
@Dan & Max
10.07.2012 09:09
Isidro Segundo Gil
Homepage:
http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/
Human rights abuses
10.07.2012 15:12
Dan Factor
pics of killercoke signs and bill board
10.07.2012 16:40
Shop display
Bill board
For those of you not from Oxford yes there are a load of rich toffs and middle class wannadbees in the city but it also has some of the highest indicators of poverty in the country - scratch the surface and real people exist
PS Apologies if an autonomous group didn't inform others activists of Oxford beforehand but remember we are everywhere even if we don't wear our badges as loudly as some.
tom
nice
10.07.2012 18:13
Impulsive Clamberer
Why they do it
10.07.2012 18:21
Sugar gas and water
PS
10.07.2012 18:24
To explain further, I interpreted the original article as saying that shops had put up anti-Coke posters. Now I realise from the photos it actually meant that shop signs were subverted.
I have no problem believing that there are many autonomous Oxford pixies out there (long may that continue!) I just found it hard to believe that a more public above-ground campaign of getting shops to put up posters would have escaped my notice...
Hope that explains my initial scepticism, and that no offence has been taken?
Impulsive Clamberer