uksac - how to start a campaign

How to start a campaign

UKSAC main focus is NUS Conference in March 2006 where over 200 universities will decide whether to continue having a commercial relationship with Coca-Cola.

We believe that only strong economic action and bad publicity as a result will be an incentive for the company to start to make objective progress to resolve the issues.

To play a part in this change you need to enter the wonderful world of student union politics. It might seems off-putting but that is where the UK Students Against Coke group list can help. We come from a diverse range of backgrounds so there should always be someone who knows the answer to a question and can support you in taking the first steps. Email ukstudentsagainstcoke-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join.

Action to take:

Stand to be a delegate for NUS conference. (Speak to a sabbatical to find out how) AND Mandate your other NUS Conference delegates to vote in favour of any pro-boycott motions and against any pro'destructive'(for SINALTRAINAL and the Indian Communities) engagement motions.

This requires motions to be passed within your student union either at student council or for a more democratic, representative and educative outcome, through your AGM. These can be duanting task but many students have achieved it; here is a model motion to help. In the process they have found fellow students receptive to it as the campaign is not based on wild accusations but solid allegations backed up by independent, well documented evidence.

Get your student union to submit an amendment for NUS conference. The deadline is February 10th.

On an individual university level there are two possible options, important if the vote at conference falls:

Your union can vote or hold a referendum to decide if they want to stop selling all Coke products and hence stop membership of NUSSL. You cannot have one without the other. This will put huge pressure on NUSSL to alter their ‘constructive engagement' policy, which seems only constructive for Coca Cola and NUSSL.

Alternatively you can pass a motion at your students union stating that your union wants to have dispensation from Coca Cola. Dispensation does not allow you to stop selling Coke but it does allow you to stock an alternative alongside Coca Cola in your bars and shops provided it is for a justifiable reason eg ethical reasons. You cannot effect the pumps, as that is fundamental to the Coke contract. A poster next to Coke and the alternative is a good educative tool; students can read about the issues and decide for themselves what they want to buy.

Campaigning is not just about passing motions (would be very dull if so), it is about raising awareness of the issues, educating students, showing solidarity with other people around the world. To help in this there is material already done:

Material to distribute

the IRC leaflet

the anticoke manifesto

Leaflets (2p) ; Big stickers (8p), little stickers (2p); magazine (£1.50); manifesto (£1); Ethical Cotton T-shirts (£12) all includes postage. Email:

info@colombiasolidarity.org.uk

Please send donations to 'Colombia Solidarity Campaign' at Colombia Solidarity Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6PJ.

For badges email: ukstudentsagainstcoke@gmail.com
There are two badges available - the red 'boycott killer coke' or the gun image above (minus face).

Previous Actions

'Die in' at Bristol's Student Union
Blockade at Bristol Coke depot
Handing out toxic sludge at NUSSL Agm – flour, water and green food colouring worked well
Hokey Cokey Party – fundraiser with food, live music including a specially written 'Don't drink coke, it rots your teeth' song
Flyering on campus
Collecting signatures to call for a referendum on the future of Coke at Middlesex university.