Pepsi AND Coke??

[InvisibleTouch]

From the front-page thread about Dubya's inaugural donors:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20050113/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inaugural_donors_list

I'd been under the impression that Coke wasn't as red as Pepsi, but now I see that both Coke and Pepsi donated $100,000 to this fiasco. I'm not a huge pop drinker, but I do love the occasinal Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke (much to the disgust of numerous friends). Here's a reason to cut down even more, I guess. It's not healthy for you anyway. One side-benefit of refusing to support the big corporations - you end up going back to the basics and eating healthier.....

[Emillereid]

1. Anybody know the color of diet rite and royal crown colas?

[JaneDoughnut]

2. Is Dr. Pepper OK?

I see that it is owned by Cadbury's in England, but I would assume that Coke or Pepsi get to bottle and distribute it here in the US.

[Touchdown]

4. No listings for Dr. Pepper/7up company on OS.org .

..who also owns Royal Crown, Diet Rite, A&W Root Beer (not the restaurant), Welch's Grape Soda, Sunkist Orange, Orange Crush, Squirt, among others.

[JaneDoughnut]

5. New info

I just got this reply from a member who is unable to make new posts. Other Dr. Pepper addicts may be interested:

I know Dr. Pepper is listed on the Carlyle Group website as an investment, but I don't know how much stake they have in the company. They also list Dr.Pepper as being based in Dallas, TX. Not the state I want my money heading to.

http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/eng/industry/industryportfoliol4-2309.html

[Mandate My Ass]

3. Yes both of them--I'm glad I gave that crap up

It sure tastes good but quitting colas made almost as big a difference in the way I felt quitting smoking. I drink water now.

Now when I get the urge for soda I drink "Jarrito's" which comes from Mexico. It's not as sweet as the soda we're used to but that suits me just fine.

[Warpy]

6. Nearly all food conglomerates are bright red

so unless you're willing to shell out the money to eat nothing but organic stuff from the local food co-op (which at least bypasses the conglomerate part) or explore breatharianism, you're going to have to support a company that contributes to pubbies.

Personally, I've been swigging Brand X colas so long that the Real Thing tastes weird to me. I avoid most convenience foods like the plague, since I don't need the salt and trans fatty acids cloogging my arteries and hiking my blood pressure. I've rediscovered iced tea. I've learned how to cook.

I'll have to give these parasites money unless I want to starve to death, but I'm making damned sure I'm giving them as little of it as possible.

[redacted]

7. What about Hansen's natural colas?

Trader Joe's carries Hansen's, and we replaced Pepsi and Coke with them in our buying routine.

[buycottJoe]

8. Some more info on Pepsi and Coke

"Pepsico works in countries that have oppressive regimes, it uses animals to test nutritional studies. Pepsico is one of the sponsors of Bush. They are sending millions every year to Bush Jr. From 2000 till now, Pepsico have given 1,970,000 $US to the Republican Party."
"Coca-Cola sponsors Bush and does not care about human rights or the environment. In Columbia union workers who bottle Coca Cola products have been kidnapped, tortured and murdered."

http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/imperialism_en.php

Local colas still exist in many places. A local brand, Faygo, is produced in Detroit, Michigan. It's no longer locally owned, but at least it's still locally made (in a city that passed an antiwar resolution in 2003). It's owned by National Beverage Corp which makes Faygo and Shasta. Both the president and CEO gave to the Dems. Also, Whole Foods Market has their own cola.

[buycottJoe]

9. Students at various universities are opposing Coke

They are campaigning to get Coke vending machines off campus and to have the universities cancel contracts with Coke because of Coke's policies in Columbia and India. In Columbia, Coke is being accused of complicity in the murder of union members at bottling plants by paramilitaries. In India, Coke is being accused of human rights violations.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/29/opinion/main683763.shtml