Don’t forget there’s a dark side to Coca-Cola
The only way they will listen is if we take the ‘fight’ to Westminster. Look what happened when 6 million people descended on the capital to a rally against the Poll Tax - it was quickly abolished. June Whitfield, actress Veronica Hurst, actress, Barbara Boxer, American politician, Kathy Lette, comedienne and author, Demi Moore, actress, Calista Flockhart, actress, Leonardo DiCaprio , actor WHEN reading your paper on November 1 I noticed your article on Coca-Cola’s upcoming Christmas Truck Tour coming to Macaulay Street in Huddersfield town centre and felt compelled to respond.
As a resident of Huddersfield, I do not welcome Coca-Cola’s marketing strategy coming to our part of the world.
Their truck tour is a central part of their brand marketing which makes them appear as a friendly company peddling a harmless, fun product.
A truckload of plastic enters the oceans every minute.
Coca-Cola contribute to this by manufacturing 100billion single-use plastic bottles every year (over 3,000 a second).
Most of these end up in our oceans and rivers, on our beaches or in landfill and 90% of seabirds globally have ingested plastic, a shocking statistic that reflects the true extent of plastic pollution.
Coca-Cola do not think they are to blame for this plastic pollution, demonstrated by their production of throwaway plastic bottles increasing 12% between 2008 and 2015.
They refuse to take responsibility and would prefer to blame their customers rather than themselves.
Coca-Cola try to hide behind the friendly, fun brand image they project with their marketing.
I’m writing to counter the positive image Coca-Cola try to present to us in Huddersfield with their Christmas truck tour and ensure that people are aware of the harm Coca-Cola causes and are conscious of their attempts to hide this behind their elaborate marketing campaigns.
The Examiner carried a story on October 29 giving details of Liverpool’s response to this marketing gimmick.
Greenpeace UK’s campaign on ocean plastics focusing on Coca-Cola as the market leader is one I wholeheartedly support.
I hope this letter will alert my neighbours to the harm CocaCola causes and inspire them to join Greenpeace in calling on Coca-Cola to reduce their destructive plastic footprint. IT is that time of the year again; the nights are closing in, the shops start playing their festive music and the more organised of us begin to start thinking about present shopping.
All things point to Christmas a time for togetherness, festivity and fun; a time to spend with friends and family and a time to eat, drink and be merry.
Sadly, for many older people the reality is a little different, with a large number of over 55s saying that loneliness and social isolation is one of their most prominent worries across the festive period.
That’s why my charity The Abbeyfield Society started Companionship at Christmas; our annual drive to both highlight and alleviate this issue by encouraging our houses and homes in Huddersfield to open their doors and offer free festive activities, hot meals and friendship.
So if you, or a friend or relative, might be alone this Christmas, we would be absolutely delighted to welcome you in across the advent period to spend time with residents, meet the staff and get involved in the events and activities taking place. We’re always looking for volunteers to help spread the festive cheer too.
Do check out our website to see what is going on near you or call 01727 734144.