Can Coke Save Lives?
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 07.30.08
image credit: Tielmann, on Flickr
Did you ever ponder the irony that a Coke can be bought just about anywhere on earth, but we cannot succeed to save the dying children of our own species with inexpensive medications for diarrhea and other illnesses? Simon Berry did. He is campaigning to convince the Coca-Cola Company to put its mighty and extensive distribution network to use in delivering life-saving medications and information in developing countries, maybe by "dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as 'the life saving' compartment." Coca-cola is listening.
Of course, it is not Coke's job to deliver medications. And WaterAid points out that distributing rehydration salts for treating diarrhea is one of the least cost effective methods to save lives, well behind educating people about hygiene (est. cost of $3/day per disability-adjusted life year) and installing proper sanitation ($11/day/DALY).
Simon's answer to dissidents: Coca-cola reaches people. If people see the "life-saving" compartment, they will ask questions. Questions like: "How do I use these rehydrating salts?" and "How can I improve hygiene or sanitation to avoid disabling and life-threatening diseases?"
Simon Berry's campaign is picking up supporters through a Facebook Coca-Cola Campaign group, media awards and a BBC interview. And Simon is reaching Coca-Cola. According to Inhabitat, "Simon was invited by Salvatore Gabola, Coca-Cola’s Global Head of Stakeholder Relations, to a meeting to discuss the idea further at Coca-Cola’s European HQ in Brussels." That's having a Coke and a smile.
More on Coca-Cola:
Coca-Cola to Step Up Recycling, Improve Image
Coca Cola and WWF Conserving Water (?)
Coca Cola & UPS Canada Try to Clean Up Their Truck Fleets
More on Simon Berry's Coca-Cola Campaign:
Inhabitat
Facebook Coca-Cola Campaign group
Simon Berry's Blog
media awards
BBC interview of Simon Berry
Coca-Cola Manual distribution photo series by Tielmann
Thanks to tipster Kate A. for bringing this to our attention
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maybe it would be a gesture to make them life neutral? My work union has boycotted all coke products because Coke keeps murdering union figureheads in Columbia to stop unions from forming. So they already take lives and if they now save lives that would have them breaking even... maybe.
Now this is genius. Taking advantage of a powerful symbol and the far-reaching influence and resources of a global brand to do some good. I hope it works out.
The actual cost of almost abolishing malaria (as long as there are mosquitos, it'll never go away completely) is really just a few billion dollars a year, to save a million lives annually. Maybe we'll actually accomplish it.
I have less guilt about my coca-cola addiction.
Now if we can just get them to stop putting HFCS and plastic bottles out in the US (I buy imported Mexican coke for the cane-sugar and the glass and the tasty) I'd be an even happier camper.
go Coke!
wow. greenwash away, treehugger. i just read about Coke setting up factory and distribution in India, and where they lowered the watertable so farmers (who had been doing so for generations) couldn't farm, for lack of access to water in their wells, and where Coke dumped all the manufacturing waste in the water, poisoning it, making it undrinkable. when folks complained the city finally revoked Coke's license and Coke then sued the city. Coke also flew in fancy lawyers from the US to intimidate and lobby the local government and spent over a million dollars doing so. Meanwhile, farmers couldn't feed their families, famine ensued and health issues cropped up where people had been drinking the contaminated water. All because Coke couldn't admit Coke's actions were wrong and harming a community. Coke saves lives? Hardly. No amount of cargo will convince me otherwise.