The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Union of Students has today made its boldest statement yet: as part of its ongoing battle against the sins of Israel, Zionism, and the Tories, the NEC has tabled a motion to boycott Coca-Cola.
Motion 11, found here, demands that the NEC “cut all ties” with the company – which currently sponsors the NUS Awards. This comes as a result of Coca-Cola’s membership of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign’s target list. The BDS movement aims to promote Palestinian interests by boycotting Israeli products, academics, scholarship, and soft drinks. Coca-Cola is based in Atlanta, Georgia – but the NEC must not let such trivialities dampen their fiery hearts.
Student Unions, ignorant of their own false consciousness, have reacted strongly to the NUS’ tireless work. 150 sabbatical officers have signed a petition demanding that the NEC reconsider. But the NEC, in its righteous crusade for Israel’s abolition and world peace, shall not be stopped.
If the NUS is to commit fully to this movement, it must also boycott all brands owned by Coca-Cola. These include the following:
- Appletiser
- Capri Sun
- Nestea
- Oasis
- Relentless
- Lilt
- Monster
- Sprite
- Fanta
- Schweppes
- Dr. Pepper
- Aquapure
- Powerade
- Minute Maid
- Evian
- Some Bacardi products
- Innocent
No more smoothies for the NEC. One must also assume that the NEC intend to boycott any malicious, profiteering corporations complicit in the distribution of Israeli propaganda, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and my local corner shop.
Benjamin Netenyahu, it is reported, spat out his Powerade upon being told the news, previously unaware of Coca Cola’s complicity in Zionism. The NUS’s spritely activity is on course to turn the West Bank into an oasis of peace, and innocent Palestinians will once again be liberated from the monster that is Israeli foreign policy.
In fact, this is not the first time Coca-Cola has been boycotted by a world power: in 1941, Germany alsobanned the importing of Coke’s ingredients. The resulting creation was Sparkling Orange Nazi Juice, or “Fanta”. Consequently, the NEC manages to undermine both Israeli terrorism and Adolf Hitler in one fell swoop. Excuse me whilst I swoon.
Reactions on Twitter have been mixed.
The @nusuk are trying to boycott coke – come on guys, let’s get #SaveCokeOnCampus trending
— Jan Nedvidek (@janedvidek) July 20, 2015
But the important question is what is David Cameron’s opinion on Coca Cola? #NUSNEC
— Rachel Megan Barker (@rachellybee) July 20, 2015
Double standards. NUS will freely condemn CAGE & not ask for clarity on stance but not condemn Coke despite bad human rights abuse. #NUSNEC
— Areeb Ullah (@are_eb) July 20, 2015
I wonder who on NEC decides who counts as a normal student and what normal students care about? #nusnec
— Tom Phipps (@thomas_phipps) July 20, 2015
MASS EXODUS FROM #NUS OVER BOYCOTTING OF COCA COLA MAKE IT HAPPEN THIS IS NOT A DRILL #NUSNEC
— Adam Barr (@adam3e8ti) July 20, 2015
The BDS campaign’s website contains a list of all prohibited products, which include varieties of hummus, wine, electronics, carpets, and diamonds. The struggle to boycott my weekly procurement of the latter will be difficult, but doubtless worthwhile. A more comprehensive list, which includes Simon & Garfunkel, mathematics, and New Zealand, is available here.
The Coca Cola Company were unavailable for comment.