For the third time in less than a week, there is news of
great importance having to do with bullring sponsor Pepsi Cola.
It started with a challenge issued by a powerful and
prominent leader of the nation of India. Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, Indian
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, sent a three-page
letter to PepsiCo CEO and Chairman Roger Enrico that basically tells him
to kiss off the approximately one billion people in India to whom he
would love to sell Pepsi and other PepsiCo products.
Mrs. Gandhi sited the Indian people's "nonviolence and
compassion for animals, particularly cattle which are revered," and
warned, "We do not take kindly to people or companies that violate this
ethic." She called Pepsi's public relations spin "flimsy," and promised
to put SHARK's bullfighting footage, complete with Pepsi ads, on Indian
national television networks.
Next, pet supply giant PETsMART sent a letter telling
Pepsi to pick who it wants to do business with, a large American company
that supplies products and services to help animals, or a foreign
industry that tortures and kills them.
Now, there is stunning information direct from Mexico
that once and for all demonstrates the greed, insensitivity and
absolutely untrustworthy nature of PepsiCo.
Months ago, Pepsi reacted to a growing tidal wave of
public outcry against its sponsorship of bullrings with a promise that
all Pepsi advertisements in the bullring in Puebla, Mexico had been
removed.
You may recall that Puebla is one of the bullrings
investigated by SHARK last year in which Pepsi ads were present. In
fact, dozens of Pepsi signs and banners were documented high and low in
the Puebla bullring, and even on the stairs and chairs. You can see
these and other Pepsi bullring ads at www.PepsiBloodbath.com.
Pepsi falsely told callers that Puebla was the only
bullring with Pepsi ads, implying that the supposed removal of these ads
meant that Pepsi was no longer present in bullrings. In fact, SHARK
documented ads in numerous bullrings throughout Mexico and Spain.
From the beginning we had doubts that Pepsi was telling
the truth about the Puebla bullring. Now, we are certain.
Yesterday, November 21, a SHARK team attended the
bullfights in Puebla, Mexico. Indeed, the Puebla bullring no longer has
the signs and banners documented by SHARK. But now we must go to what
fabled radio commentator Paul Harvey would call, "The rest of the
story."
Pepsi has replaced its dozens of previous ads with
thousands of advertisements on serving cups, and even on the clothing of
people selling Pepsi in the bullring!
While an initial examination shows the obvious, that
Pepsi has again lied to the public about its presence in bullrings,
there is an even more disgusting aspect to this story.
Those who have been following this campaign will recall
that one of Pepsi's more enduring excuses for its bullring advertising
has been that a bullring is a multi-use facility. Pepsi maintained that
its ads are present at all the events at bullrings, not just
bullfighting.
This propaganda was a poor attempt to justify Pepsi's
long and enduring relationship with an industry that survives on the
torture-slaughter of calves, heifers, bulls and horses. Bullrings ARE
NOT multi-use. They exist for the torture killing of animals. But let's
examine Pepsi's argument in light of the latest facts.
Yesterday, [November 21] Pepsi chose to have thousands
of its advertisements specifically at the bullfights. The Pepsi cups and
clothing were provided by Pepsi! It is crystal clear that Pepsi wants a
connection to bullrings. Pepsi is now completely exposed for the
corporate liar and animal abuser that it is.
If you have an opportunity, please call Pepsi's toll
free number (800-433-2652) to tell Pepsi's public relations drones what
you think about Pepsi latest show of contempt for either truth or
compassion. Please make sure you inform us of Pepsi's response, as it
may well be used to cause further embarrassment.
Pepsi now finds itself on sliding down a very slippery
slope with regard to its image, and ultimately it sales and profits. And
so long as Pepsi continues to support animal abuse, SHARK will be only
too happy to grease the rails.
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Suggested action.... Boycott Pepsi/Frito-Lay's
This is a big step to take, but an important one. The
Frito-Lay's Company (a part of PepsiCo) is the world's leading
manufacturer and distributor of junk food, Pepsi is the world's second
leader in junk beverages. Tropicana brand is the only division of Pepsi
marketing a healthy product, but there are other brands of orange juice.
You will probably want to give up the products listed
below for ethical reasons, but PepsiCo won't notice or care unless you
tell them. This is the way to make a difference. Call Pepsi's toll free
number (800-433-2652) and tell them that you don't approve of the Pepsi
company's involvement with bullfighting and for ethical reasons you have
stopped using all Pepsi, Tropicana and Frito-Lay's products. You can
send snail mail to....
PepsiCo, Inc.
Purchase, NY 10577
Here is a list of Pepsi products to boycott:
Pepsi Cola
Tropicana brand juices
Mountain Dew
Pepsi Max
7-up
Mirinda
Lipton Tea
All Sport
Slice
Mug Rootbeer
Aquafina-bottled water
Smooth Moos-dairy based drink
All Frito-Lay's chips including:
Lay's potato chips
Doritos
Tostitos
Santitas tortilla chips
SunChips
Grand Ma's cookies
Funyuns
Sabritas
Ruffles
Cheetos
Fritos
Rold Gold pretzels
"Better-For-You" snacks
Smartfoods snacks
Cracker Jacks
Matutano
Frito-Lays also makes several dips and salsas under the above product
names.
Go on to 2000: Year
Of The Humane Child
Return to 28 November 1999 Issue
Return to Newsletters
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