There's a difference.
Just over a week ago I had a meeting with David Moran. He's Coca Cola Canada's Director of Public Relations.
He had emailed me and asked me if I'd be willing to sit and chat with him. My initial thought was, "not a chance", but I mulled it over a bit and decided that my curiosity as to what he wanted to chat about, superseded my reluctance to sit and chat with the food industry.
All told, it was just a chat. He was curious to pick my brain about some of my concerns regarding food industry partnerships and I was able to vent about Coca Cola specifically.
I enjoyed our chat. Dave seemed genuinely interested in trying to improve Coca Cola's approach to many of the issues I've blogged about, let me know that some of my blogging had in fact had an impact on how Coca Cola does things, and I honestly believe that while at the end of the day his job is in large part to try to help improve the image of a company selling carbonated sugar, that he's a mensch. But none of that is the reason I'm blogging about our meeting.
I'm blogging about it because of what happened at the end.
He asked me, in a very straight forward manner, could I think of any circumstance where I'd be ok with a health organization partnering up with the food industry.
I answered, "No", but what was surprising to me was how difficult that was. It was difficult because Dave is a truly nice guy who I believe is honestly concerned about doing the rightest thing he can in a company that makes much of its profit off the sales of sugar water. It was difficult because suddenly Coca Cola wasn't this big, faceless, to me at times deceitful and unethical multi-national corporation, it was a nice caring man named Dave.
That worries me.
Not because I think I'm going to change my mind about things like yesterday's blog post detailing what I see as Coca Cola's figurative nose thumbing at their own "pledge" not to advertise to children, I'm far too jaded (I think) to be swayed, but it sure hammered home how tough it must be for politicians, when faced with kind, well spoken, seemingly well intentioned folks, to still push agendas that those kind folks say won't help (like the Children's Advertising Initiative).
And it's not that Dave's being disingenuous. It's just that Dave's a person, and Coca Cola is a corporation, and while Dave can have all the ethics in the world, at the end of the day by their very definition, corporations can't. It doesn't mean they can't do good things, just that they can only be done when those good deeds, products and programs coincide with profit.
I like Dave.
I'm still not fond of the Coca Cola Company.
Posts
The other day, in a You Tube clip dealing with the Wall St protest, I saw a demonstrator carrying a banner that read "I'll believe a corporation is a person when Texas executes one".
ReplyDeleteObviously Dave is very good at what he does.
ReplyDeleteIf Dave was ethical, with his talent, Dave would not work there.
I live in Atlanta (Coke's headquarters) and have visited their museum and tourist attraction, World of Coke.
ReplyDeleteAfter that visit, the notion of Coke not advertising to children is ridiculous. So may cartoons and fun, kid-friendly characters.
Ultimately, Dave's motivation is increasing company profits. Attempting to pacify, or partner with, critics is a decidedly wise strategy to that end.
I think it is possible to partner with food producers, depending on who it is.
ReplyDeleteI attend a lot of food-blogging conferences, and there are two main types of sponsors: Big corporations that make processed food (Pepsico, McDonalds, etc.), and other organizations that promote individual -- and whole -- foods (California Avocados, Idaho Potato Commission, and other single-focused lobby groups.)
I partner with Bob's Red Mill on my site. I have a personal relationship with them, I have toured their facility, and from everything I know and understand about the company, I believe their goals are highly aligned with promoting good health. They're also a profitable company! (Which is in the process of becoming employee-owned, too...)
It took me a little while to start being comfortable with the distinction, and to learn that "not all lobby groups are evil." It takes some work to be sure you're not really promoting a false agenda -- but it is possible to have a good partnership where everyone benefits!
I am Ryan "Energizer" Ehmann, owner of Altitude Fitness and I’ve been out of shape several times in my life, so beat down – tens of thousands of dollars in debt, depressed and my self-esteem so crushed that I was afraid to go out in public. I turned to the fitness industry as the vehicle to heal my mind and body, and that’s when my dreams began to become a reality. The power of a proven fitness program is life changing so just imagine how much more you could give to your family, career and friends if you were on top of your game?
ReplyDeleteThere is a champion in everyone…including YOU!
If you’ve ever wanted to lose that extra 12, 18, 24, 36 (or MORE!) inches of Body Fat off your frame and experience the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, then this message will cut to the chase and give you the answers you’re looking for. My fat loss training system have taken me 28,882 hours and 10 years of personal training to Master it so years ago I quit working at Gold's Gym as the Fitness Manager and opened a small, private workout facility to educate people about foods, fitness and lifestyle. Altitude fitness is a fun family atmosphere that people come as they are in grey sweets, white T-shirts, no make-up and they are accepted as a team member who want to learn and get in shape. No one is judged, it's not a fashion show and no matter your health or fitness shape you are a part of the Fat Loss Team working together.
I promise my "Fat Burning Zone" training program will get you to LOSE 12 inches in 12 workouts, Energize your mind, shrink body fat, sky rocket your confidence, increase your self image of yourself, improve the quality of your life and people will be saying, "WOW, you look AMAZING and have a GLOW of happiness! This will be the last fitness program you ever do...............Wooo Hoooo