TWO THOUSAND DRINK TO LIFE SAVING PROJECT

01-07-2008

More than 2,000 people have signed up to the Facebook group set up by a Midlands blogger aimed to encouraging Coca Cola to use their global distribution network to save lives in Africa.

Former aid worker Simon Berry from Rugby wants the drinks giant to deliver rehydrating salts to some of the most remote corners of the earth – and help counteract the dehydration which kills thousands of people every year (see link here).

The power of the online community has already secured Simon a face to face meeting with the company at their European HQ in Brussels earlier this month.

Simon reports; “There have been other attempts by Coca Cola at distribution of non-Coca Cola products in the past but these have not been successful for different reasons.

"The distribution of medication for HIV/AIDS did not work because the medicines need special storage conditions, needed to arrive in a predictable manner, needed specialist medical personnel to prescribe them etc etc.

"The distribution of condoms did not have the same problems but suffered from others, including the usual issues that arise around the subject of birth control."

The issue of rehydration salts appeared less problematic, however.

"We only identified one significant risk to Coca Cola in pursuing this project but there may be more. This was that in order for Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to be used safely, non-infected water is required.

"If ORS were used with infected water then this could do more harm than good."

Now Simon is making further enquiries with the Rehydration Project in India, while Coca Cola are considering their options.

The project has already been nominated for the New Statesman New Media Awards, and Stirrer readers are being urged to keep up the pressure by adding add their voices of support on the Facebook group.

Check out more on Simon’s blog at http://beamends.typepad.com/simons_blog/

DISCUSS THIS ON THE STIRRER FORUM