Dear Rohit and others, Suppose if Cocacola stop the production of coke and enter in to organic farming. What would be our reaction? Are we fighting against 'coke' as a product? Or are we fighting against the company for their particular set of policies? If the second is the case, one can even have alliance with people who work with cola company.
Now about extreme situations as Rohit said, I know many activists friends who drink the cola only with old monk rum. Now if it is about health, do we believe that the whisky and brandy we buy from the shops are really good for health? We are not even getting good spirit. So the issue is not of health, but of the particular brand. I have a hate and love relationship with cocacola. I drink it at times, and I am no more keeping it in the closet. Will I be eligible to protest against the company's dealing with the Plachimada people or in Varanasi? I say yes. I am not against the particular chemical components of the product, I like it as I like old monk or arrack. But I oppose the company and stand with the demand of the people of Plachimada. Now coming back to what Salim said , of course it would be offensive if I go and drink cola in front of the Samarapanthal. If I do I may get manhandled also. Remember the cases in Kerala where CPI(M) destroyed the bottles of coca-cola of non CPI(M) local shop owners. What I am cautioning is that cola is poisonous is a crap which I dont believe. I donot oppose it because of that, I oppose Cocacola for what they did in Plachimada. To oppose the company I dont want to convert myself in to an organic food eater, or a naturopathy person. Similarly I, or some one in the anti coca-cola struggle will not be against genetic products. Now if some one see it as a contradiction, I would say no. It is not a contradiction. For various reasons, people can oppose some thing. Ramasethu was opposed by the BJP. Does it make the issue 'untouchable'? Yes, it made few people to at least discuss on getting branded as right wing, if they oppose it. On Thu, Apr 10, 2008 at 2:23 PM, Dileep Raj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear Rohit, > > What interested me in the discussion was the set of 'qualifying' conditions > imagined for supporting the boycot. "If I were in a desert", "At least in > front of the samarappandal"... naomi Clein writes in No Logo about the > possibility of allinaces fascilitated by the symbols. It becomes more > political when students in 'developed' countries boycot Nyckie ( I am not > sure about the spelling :)) while knowing about the > human rights violation in factories located in third world countries. > When we do it in front of the samarappandal, it indeed is to 'convince' some > onlookers. > > I am afraid, some UGC professors in Kerala wear khadar jubbas, not because > they don't have desire for other products nor because they lack resourses , > but being afraid of the 'people' who will judge them while they speak on > public issues. > > If somebody mixes cola in whisky ( in private) after boycotting it in public > (in front of samarappandal), the same moralists will aprove that as > politically correct. Because you are not causing damage to the struggle! > > Why do we experience guilt while drinking cola? Out of our inability to > support Plachimada struggle or out of our image consciousness? > > The main demands of plachimada struggle at this point are, > > Cola quit Plachimada and Compensate > Prosecute criminal Coca Cola > > Is boycotting effective as major strategy in supporting these demands? > > > > On Thu, Apr 10, 2008 at 1:19 PM, Rohit Shetti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Hi Dilieep, > > > > I don't think that product users are not un-qualified to participate in > the struggles. > > > > I support the ex-workers of Hindustan Lever in Kodaikanal - but have still > not been able to boycott all Unilever products in my life. I speak against > Nestle's child rights abuses in cocoa farms, but I still eat Maggi Noodles. > These are cases where we can atleast know the products and identify > alternatives. However in the case of Dow Chemicals, I may not even know if > the dye in the shirt I'm wearing has a Dow product in it. But that still > does not stop me from supporting the Bhopalis. > > > > Bocycotting can be interpreted as political correctness, but its not an > absolute in itself. A fellow protestor may not agree with boycotting and > there could some valid reasons of not boycotting too. However, I would just > like to look at boycot as one of the many means in which to support an issue > in an atmosphere where we agree to disagree. > > > > I share your concerns about judgement. Infact I have myself been somewhat > judgemental in expressing reservations in many discourses on caste when it > happens in elitist circles. Nevertheless, judgement has its place, but we > ought to be smart enough not to make them a bottleneck > > > > Rohit > > > > > > > > > > > > On 4/10/08, Dileep Raj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > "The other important thing here is to recognise the symbols - Coke is a > symbol of water-rights and environmental abuse" > > > > > > Do symbols overpower us at times? > > > > > > Suppose the product is an undergarment or condum. Will there be a > conspicous campaign to boycot > > > it? > > > > > > Another concern always disturbed me in discusiions like this is about > the judgemental nature of it. > > > ( I am sure, once I take part in this discussion, i will be judged) > > > > > > Is boycotting a symbol of the political correctness of the boycotters? > The performative nature of such acts need to be rethought. > > > > > > Most of the time, those who are not in the least sympathetic to the > struggle raise such allegations against those who support it. > > > > > > Laha Gopalan, owns land, so he is not morally qualified to lead the land > struggle. > > > > > > This guy uses this product, so s/he is not qualified to support this > struggle. > > > > > > When boycotting itself is a form of struggle, the situation is > different. Otherwise I always doubt such "impeachments". > > > I stand by Aryan's sincere position here. Not that others are > hypocratic. > > > But there is a fear factor underneath, I am 'afraid' > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 11:23 PM, salimtk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > dear Aryan, > > > > > > > > as rohit said, will it not be an insult to the people n organizations > around the world, who struggle against cola if u drink it? at least, isnt it > basic courtesy no to drink it infront of a samara panthal? when a boycot > appeal against criminal cola is raised, what will be the primary action one > has to take? cola products include all products coke produces including > kinley exploting local water resource unjustly. isnt it our 'ethical' > commitment no to drink any cola products in kierala as long as the > plachimada struggle continues? > > > > love > > > > salim > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 4/9/08, aryakrishnan ramakrishnan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 12:04 AM, salimtk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > any ethical question in drinking cola? > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Salim, > > > > > I was very apologetic and closetted about my liking for coca cola. > > > > > Still I like the taste of the cola. I dont have any opposition to > the > > > > > cola based on health grounds or ethical grounds. Tropicana juice , > > > > > that natural flavoured one also come from Pepsico in India. If they > > > > > exploit people I will support that struggle also, but will I stop > > > > > drinking it? > > > > > > > > > > Is the opposition towards cocacola or is it against their corporate > > > > > policies and double standard in Plachimada? I would say my > opposition > > > > > is towards the second. > > > > > > > > > > Aryan > > > > > ps. I dont understand the logic of drinking tropicana and avoiding > > > > > cocacola for political reasons. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Dileep R I thuravoor --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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