The African Water Facility (AWF) is an organization launched in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AFDB) that finances and promotes sustainability projects to render water accessible to local population and therefore ameliorate their living conditions.  The AWF serves as a catalyzing force that collects all investments in order to render them profitable towards sustainable actions and projects for the water sector in Africa. The mission of this organization is to ‘” improve the enabling environment and strengthen water resources management in Africa by attracting the massive and appropriate investments necessary to achieve national and regional water objectives” (Source: http://www.africanwaterfacility.org/en/about-us/mission-and-mandate/). In addition, this organization’s mandate comprises the target of investments for infrastructure development projects, raising awareness about water issues, supporting the River Basin Organizations and establishing a method to evaluate the projects and their developments. The Governing Council of the AWF, comprised of thirteen members, establishes the general policies guiding the focus and direction of the organization. In addition, the council proposes areas of intervention and reviews the previous annual reports.

An interesting project approved by the AWF is the Formulation of Burundi’s Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan, supported by the AWF.  The goals of this project are to reduce poverty, consequently improving the well-being of the populations and “conserving vital natural resources through enhanced water governance” (Source: http://www.africanwaterfacility.org/fileadmin/uploads/awf/projects-activities/BURUND_IWRM_PLAN_APPRAISAL_RPT_FINAL.PDF). Despite popular belief, Burundi has abundant water resources, yet the problem arises due to a dramatically uneven distribution amongst the population. With the fervent increase for water, tension is escalatingin the country. In 1989, a National Commission of Water and Energy was created, yet this structure has stopped function since 1992. Since then, no other national structure to control water has been developed. The AWF has recognized the need to make an urgent change and therefore has accepted to sponsor part of the project.

Of course financing such projects wouldn’t be possible without the help of valuable partners like the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the World Water Council or the Global Water Partnership. The IUNC, one of the world’s largest conservation network that an equitable use of water as a fundamental vital resources. The NEPAD focuses on all the challenges facing the African continent, from poverty to social marginalization; the organization seek projects and sustainable interventions that can enhance the general well-being of the continent.

With so many actors involved, coordination and communication become the two fundamental milestones that can determine the success or failure of a long-term sustainable development project. Water is probably the most precious resource on earth and should be accessible to every human being as a right instead of being a privilege for a small minority. The African Water Facility is working in order to extend that privilege to those who need it the most.

In 2007, PUB won the Stockholm Industry Water Award and was also named Water Agency of the year at the Global Water Awards of 2006 due to its hard work and successful way to manage used water with various raw water sources in an integrative and sustainable manner. The agency catch line “Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy” is representative of their hard work when it comes to water conservation in order to “have enough water for all uses- for industry, for living, for life” (Source: http://www.thegovmonitor.com/world_news/asia/singapore-launches-water-wally-website-36582.html). In order to achieve these goals, PUB takes care the collection, production distribution and reclamation of water. Thanks to the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS), used water is treated to be discharged into the sea or further purified into new water. PUB is working very hard to educate population to basic principles of water conservation. According to their official website, it seems that the hard work is paying off:  “Singapore’s per capita domestic water consumption has been brought down from 165 litres per day in 2003 to the current 155 liters” (Source: http://www.pub.gov.sg/conserve/Pages/default.aspx). Their long-term ambitious target is to lower the water consumption to 140 litres by 2030.

PUB has developed a 360 degrees portal that tackles water issues on all possible fronts. They approach water issues from the stand point of all the various targets and social groups found in the local population. From an interactive online mascot for children, to serious tips for business owners PUB has learnt to communicate about important issues in an effective targeted manner. For instance, in order to respond to the ever-increasing water demands of industries and businesses, PUB has launched the Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) in order to raise awareness amongst company in order to educate them to water conservation and teach them efficient ways to manage their water demand.  To encourage Singaporeans to develop a special respect for water, pub is working hard with sporting events and organizations in oder to promote water sports amongst the local population. According to the organization, if people develop a special bond and appreciation for water they will most likely feel the need to respect it and safeguard it.

For its 5^th anniversary, PUB decided to launch the Water Wally e-games, rendering the mascot of water conservation even more popular amongst children. Through games and fun, children can finally learn about water conservation and water issues. The friendly mascot, an amusing water drops, teaches children how to use water wisely and why it is important to keep reservoirs clean. As a reward system, if a child scores enough points in the Wally e-games about water conservation, they can win Wally toys! According to George Madhavan, director of 3P Network, PUB, “these games enhance our sustained efforts in school outreach programme to encourage our younger generation to value water and to care for it” (Source: http://www.thegovmonitor.com/world_news/asia/singapore-launches-water-wally-website-36582.html).  The mascot was launched in 2005 in order to create a real dialogue with children about an issue that is too often portrayed as daunting and for grown-ups. By educating children at an early age, this is somewhat of a long-term investment on the future generations to come.

PUB, Singapore’s national water agency is an example to be followed around the world when it comes to dealing with water conservation. The agency has managed to turn the country’s water supply around, offering now quality potable tap water for all citizens. In addition, PUB is working hard to raise awareness amongst the population when it comes to water issues. Water Wally, the newest mascot has proven to be an interactive way to dialogue with children and to raise awareness with fun games about water and the importance of this natural element.

In 2004, in collaboration with various organizations, P&G created the Children’s Safe Drinking Water programs (CSDW), that helps raise awareness around the globe about the importance of having access to quality drinking water. The famous corporation reminded the whole world that often water scarcity is the trigger to a whole set of other problems such as diseases, health problems, malnutrition and agricultural impediments. This initiative is part of P&G’s larger philanthropic program called Live, Learn and Thrive TM initiative.  According to the official website of the initiative, P&G is “committed to improving the lives of people around the globe, saving children’s lives and providing clean drinking water to as many people as possible” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/csdw_program.shtml). Up to now, the corporation declares it has invested more than $25 million toward clean drinking water. Procter & Gamble has teamed up with organization like the International Council of Nurses or the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs to distribute PUR packets to individuals who need it the most in developing countries or emergency situations.

The PUR packet was developed by P&G in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) and it is “an amazing innovation that quickly turns 10 liters of dirty, potentially deadly water into clean and drinkable water” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/pur_packet.shtml). The packets contain a powder that is able to remove pathogenic microorganisms in order to render the contaminated water clean. According to the official website, the packets are able to remove more than 99.99999% of bacteria and various types of viruses. This product has been sold to various organization and NGOs, for instance the International Rescue Committee has bought enough PUR packets to deliver close to 3.5. million liters of drinkable water for the people in Iraq. Disaster relief is a very important part of the company’s corporate social responsibility commitment that often start with providing clean water, a basic element for the survival of entire population. According to the official website of the organization, the program has “delivered over 1.6 billion liters of clean drinking water and they are committed to delivering four billion liters by 2012” (Source: http://www.csdw.org/csdw/csdw_program.shtml). In addition to this valid water initiative, P&G has set five strategies for sustainable in order to achieve a list of set goals by 2012.

One of their most ambitious goals so far is to enable 300 million children to have a better life, which starts with preventing around 160 million days of disease and saving 20, 000 lives by delivering 4 billion liters of clean water. This goal seems somewhat outstanding and so far the progress made since 2007 comprehend a total of 135 million children reached and close to 930 million liters of clean water were delivered. (Source: http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/strategy_goals_progress.shtml). These numbers are indicative a successful start only time will tell if such ambitious goals can be reached. The importance and validity of this cause seems to be appreciated at the international level since in 2007, the CSDW received the Ron brown US Presidential Award for Corporate Citizenship, the United Nations Association Global Leadership Award. In addition in 2005, the program was also awarded the Stockholm Industry Water Award.

Reconciling business requirements with corporate social responsibility has become a must for small firms and large corporations.  The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Programs have the ambitious goal to provide clean water to all of them who need it. The innovative PUR packet is able to rapidly transform polluted and often deadly water into clean potable water. This mechanism needs to be promoted at an international level and to be further developed since it could save the life of entire population especially in crisis situation.

Born in Milford, Massachusetts in 1962, this young man graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in media and communication from Worcester College. He had a variety of different jobs for years, while cultivating his passion for underwater photography during his free time. Diving for more than 30 years, Brian Skerry managed to transform his passion for the sea life into his full time job. Today he is famous for having managed to capture great shots of right whales as he was standing underwater next to the enormous animal. In an interview for National Geographic he confesses that the pictures he shot of the right whales are probably his favorite since “to see a whale that big in perspective with a human being was cool” (Source: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/right-whales/skerry-field-notes). Cool?!! Yes, I bet your are just as amazed as I am by his nonchalance when it comes to diving into water with a 45 foot subject. When asked if he has ever felt in danger by being around them he responds by saying: “when the whales are three feet or four feet away from you, one gentle lift on its head, and it would be like being hit by a sidewalk. That never happened. They were just highly curious and wanted to know what I was about” (Source: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/right-whales/skerry-field-notes/ ). His gorgeous photographs and honest statements make the public develop a brand new appreciation for sea creatures that often are misleadingly portrayed as scary or aggressive towards humans.  The photographer reminds us of the difficulty to shoot a subject of such an imposing proportion, with whales it is practically impossible to use strobees in order to light them. For this reason he had to shoot at a very high speed, ISOs of 800 which impacted on the resolution of the shot. Despite technical and human difficulties, his shots manage to convey a human and kind aspect to a massive whale that is swimming in a vivid light blue ocean.

According to his official website, Skerry has spent more than 10 000 hours underwater over the course of his career; and “while on assignment he has lived on the bottom of the sea, spent months aboard fishing boats and traveled in everything from snowmobiles to canoes to the Goodyear Blimp to get the picture” (Source: http://www.brianskerry.com/). Covering different issues from the decrease in the world’s fishery, to the sharks of the Bahamas, without forgetting the harp seal’s struggle to survive in frozen waters. It is important to remember that is artist is also member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), an non-profit organization that gathers artists from around the world with the scope of promoting environmental and cultural conservation through the medium of ethical photography. Part of their mission is to “replace environmental indifference with a new culture of stewardship and passion for our beautiful planet” (Source: http://www.ilcp.com/?cid=22).  Part of their ethic principles comprises a careful use of images of animals in captivity: those shots should never ever be represented as wild and not pictures should be taken of animals in any sort of entertainment institutions that exploits animals for profits. With great respect and integrity, Skerry stays true to his values and the ones of ILCP, holding a great attention in order to leave intact and unaltered the natural environments where he takes his gorgeous shots.

Brian Skerry understands the urgent need to save the wildlife and the oceans before it is too late. He believes that visual arts and photography can perhaps be a less conventional but yet more efficient way to get the message across. With his incredible shots he manages to captures the ocean’s majestic glory that often hides a veil of fragility.

Every year, in the small village of Taiji in Japan, fishermen chase dolphins into a hidden cove where they get trapped and killed with knives and spears that make them bleed to death. As the sea turns crimson red, the dolphins are put into boats and brought the well-hidden places where they get butchered into pieces.  Some of the dolphins that see their lives spared are captured and sold for an astonishing amount of money to water parks.  “Taiji is regarded as the spiritual home of Japan’s whaling industry. The first hunts took place in the early 1600s, according to the town’s whaling museum, but the industry went to decline after the introduction of a global ban on commercial whaling in 1986” (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/14/dolphin-slaughter-hunting-japan-taiji). This town is a couple hours train ride from Tokyo, where restaurants serve whale and dolphin meat and where cetacean designs and photographs and designs are splattered all over the town. Locals and fishermen respond to the harsh accusation and critiques of animalists and the international community by saying that for them it is “a legitimate exercise in pest control, blaming dolphins for decimating fish stocks” (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/14/dolphin-slaughter-hunting-japan-taiji). Every year around 20 000 dolphins are killed, including endangered species, and often these dolphins contain a dangerous amount of mercury that renders their meat highly toxic for human consumption. Corruption and citizens misinformation contribute to this dramatic situation where animals are slaughtered and Japanese citizens get intoxicated because of high levels of mercury. The meat greatly exceeds the norms of Japan’s own health standards yet this doesn’t seem the stop this annual massacre. O’Barry, the trainer of the world’s most famous dolphin, Flipper, became a passionate activist for the free dolphins from captivity cause. He is working hard to launch social awareness campaigns that expose people to the suffering of dolphins in captivity where they are kept in pools that are too small.

The Cove, Oscar winner documentary has contributed to raise world social awareness to this issue that had reminded unknown to most of us. In response to the outrage, the Japanese government put a temporary ban on hunting bottlenose dolphins. This ban did not include other species and types of dolphins and even worst the ban ended up being only temporary.

If you have seen the documentary and want to be part of the solution, you can help get the word out by telling all your friends and family, writing a letter to President Obama, making a pledge, or signing an online petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-dolphin-slaughter . WAZA is the world association for zoos and aquariums, as long as Japanese fisherman are paid as much as $150, 000 for a living dolphin, this market of cruelty will never stop.  By putting pressure on WAZA we need to force them to expel the Japanese association of Zoos and Acquariums (JAZA) from their organization. Go sign the petition, it will only take you 2 minutes but each signature can make a difference.  Please go visit http://www.savejapandolphins.org/takeaction.php and find out how you can take concrete action. The next time you are on vacation, if you truly want to be coherent with yourself, refuse to pay money to see a dolphins show in water parks. These beautiful and innocent animals need our help.  Critiquing the actions of Japanese fishermen is easy to do if one doesn’t take action and changes its own behaviors.

Plastic bottles are made from oil, a nonrenewable source and in most cases these bottles are not recycled and are vulgarly thrown in landfill where they can take more than two hundred years to decompose.  Alternative technologies such as bioplastics like Polylactic acid (PLA), a or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), yet the problem is that these new technologies are too costly and are often too slow to decompose. Martin Myerscough, an English inventor and engineer, has come up with a much greener and efficient solution in order to replace milk plastic bottles: a milk bottle that is made from paper, also known as the GreenBottle. “The outer shell is made from paper which can then be recycled, or if left it will just decompose within a matter of weeks. The inner liner, which takes up less than 0.5% of the space of a plastic bottle if dumped in a landfill, prevents liquid from contaminating the paper outer” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/about-us/ ). Myersough claims to have had this brilliant idea after his son came home from school one day with a papier-mâché  balloon. He constructed the milk bottle with on outer shell made of recycled paper and implemented a plastic bag to hold the milk. The plastic bag is meant to be recycled and in case it isn’t it still has less plastic than your average plastic bottle, in addition to also holding up less space. The outer shell made out of recycled paper can be recycled once again. The plastic bag needs to be seperated from the bottled in order to be recycled properly. “The manufacturers claim that it has a carbon footprint 48 per cent lower than that of a plastic milk jug” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/documents/news/the_times.pdf). This is a simple alternative that every citizen should put into practice to lower their daily water footprint. Retailers and businesses all over Europe have been pressured by the European Union and the Department for Environment, food and rural affairs in order to diminish packaging and therefore the quantity of waste that is produced.  The first 50 bottles put on the shelves of a Lowestoft store where sold in one hour on their first day in the store.  Customers all over the world have an increased awareness to environmental issues and the numerous damages caused by plastic bottles. The GreenBottle alternative works because it is a simple alternative that isn’t forcing customers to comply with many compromises or switching costs. Indeed, after having reached an agreement with Asda (british supermarket chain retailer), for Lowestoft stores, to sell the milk paper bottles at the same price as conventional bottles. Even the cardboard bottles cost “around 30% more to produce than plastic bottles, Mr Myerscough believes the price will even out when they get to higher production runs” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/documents/news/independent.pdf ). If this new paper milk bottle is as popular as they hope, Asda is hoping to launch them nationwide “in an attempt to cut the three-million tons of plastic that is thrown away in the UK annually” (Source: http://www.greenbottle.com/documents/news/independent.pdf).

The GreenBottle is a long-term sustainable green alternative that will hopefully spread all over Europe and eventually in the United States. This is a simple alternative in order to large quantity of un-recycled plastic bottles. The bottle has been designed in a simple way in order to be torn apart so that you can easily and quickly separate the paper to be recycled and quickly place it in the bin. This environmental friendly milk bottle is compostable and biodegradable and the hope for the future is that such similar invention should be applied to water bottles and all other sorts of plastic containers.

Washington’s lakes and water streams are so polluted that citizens and local fish restaurants are having problems to find the needed supply from their own water streams.  For many individuals, especially native people and tribes, fish is at the core of their daily diet: “for the Swinomish of La Conner and other tribes in Washington, local game and seafood are an integral part of every funeral, birthday celebration or other family gathering” (Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012448836_tribalfish26m.html ). In 2002, this tribe received a considerable grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to finance a research study for selfish and crabs. The alarming results presented a large quantity of carcinogens like dioxins and PCBs. Toxins dumped in the sea have reached the organs of the fish that now contain a dangerous amount of mercury’ trout are contaminated with alarming level of DDT while shellfish infected with PCBs. The situation is so that there is enough quality fish in the waters for people in the state to have only one portion of fish every month. “Because toxic contaminants accumulate in fish tissue, part of the federal Clean water Act requires that state waters be clean enough for local residents to safely consume certain amounts of fish: The greater the amount eaten, the cleaner the water must be” (Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012448836_tribalfish26m.html). If federal states fail to determine the average quantity of fish eaten by their population, the EPA imposes a representative quality of 6.5 grams of fish daily.

The problem with mercury is that there is no way to see it or smell it, therefore a fisherman has no way to determine the quality of the resources. Even the smallest amount of mercury can damage the brain of younger children and leave them with long going learning disabilities. In larger amounts mercury also harms older adults causing numbness or change in vision. It is impossible to clean the fish from the mercury since it gets directly into the flesh of the animal. “By removing the skin and cutting away other fatty areas of the fish, you may reduce other types of contaminants (Such as PCBs and dioxins) that can be in fatty tissue” (Source: http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/swqa/2008/documents/appendix_27).

The ocean is a precious resource for humankind and the source of life of many communities who live by the sea side. Fishing is crucial to the world’s economy. The lakes of America are starting to be so polluted that fishermen and restaurants are starting to feel threatened. Fish contain an alarming quantity of mercury, a dose that is dangerous to human beings. If rigorous  measures aren’t taken rapidly the situation could get worst, millions of people could lose their jobs and others could get intoxicated by fish poising. Nature and its oceans demand and deserve respect for everything they provide to us in exchange.

On the United States’ version of the website, Yves Rocher clearly states its five of Botanical Beauty, principles that are according to them the outcome of their researching and investing in plan research. Their first active principle consists in basing their behaviour on the plant world while always putting plants at the centre of all their products. The cosmetic company reminds us that they “select amongst 1, 100 ingredients of plant origin, those that are best adapted to the cosmetic benefit of each product” (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/dynpage/~struct=about/~page=botanical_beauty/).  Considering that the flora is the crucial element at the centre of Yves Rocher’s production, the international firm seems to have quickly realized that nature is a golden mine that needs to be protect and conserved.  Endangered species and the destruction of the flora could have direct repercussions on the financial balance of the company. In coherence with this mental framework, the forth active principle of the Botanical Beauty guideline is to protect the planet world by what they call “Actively defending the environment” (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/dynpage/~struct=about/~page=botanical_beauty/).  On the website, Yves Rocher states the importance of verifying the status of a plant before using it, in order to avoid using endangered species. In order to limit their impact on the environment, the company declares that they have committed to planting 3 million trees in five years.  For instance, the company realized the scarcity of Arnica Montana, in order to protect the specie; they have decided to replace it with Arnica Chamissonis, cultivated directly on Yves Rocher’s fields.  The firm’s plant Charter also specifies that they forbid the use of GMO botanical ingredients, forbid animal testing and refuse to use animal ingredients, favor cultivated plants and give priority to organic supplies (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/images/templates/article/cosmetique_vegetale/GUIDE-COSM-GB.pdf). In addition, Yves Rocher also created the Vegetarium, the first museum in Europe totally dedicated to the world of plants. This museum located at La Gacilly (France), is a valid initiative in order to inform public and raise awareness about the need to protect nature.

In order to bring their environmental commitment to the next step and testify their long-term commitment to green causes, in 1991, Yves Rocher founded the Yves Rocher Foundation, under the wing of “Institut de France”, the foundation is “committed to nurturing and protecting nature and humanity” (Source: http://www.yves-rocher-fondation.org/ca/en/foundation/mission/). In order to directly instigate citizens to launch sustainable initiatives at the local level, since 2001, the foundation launched the Women of the Earth Award who celebrates women in 11 countries who are striving to protect nature. The winning recipients receive consistent bursaries that can amount up to seven thousand dollars. In addition to this award, the foundation also directly supports other green initiatives like the restoration of historical gardens or activities to raise awareness on environmentalist issues in schools. In 2007, the Kai Makana project (which can be translated into ”Gift from the Sea”) was awarded $ 7,000, a project “dedicated to the education of the local population to preserve the ocean and marine life” (Source: http://www.kaimakana.org/docs/02282007.pdf).

Based on the firm’s self-corporate presentation, Yves Rocher pushes forward the importance of giving back to the nature constructing “a beauty that uses the regenerative power of plants its vital energy, resistance and longevity” (Source: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/dynpage/~struct=about/~page=50_years/). This cosmetic leader firm has focused its brand identity and marketing strategy on the production of natural botanic products that reflect the natural beauty of nature. It is logical for this corporation to try to preserve and conserve nature, the most important resource and centre piece of their whole business. The seem to demand an ethical respect towards beauty in all its facets: the beauty of a woman should be praised and respected just as much as the beauty of nature!

The spill has had a tremendous impact on the life of indigenous people who hold a great respect and reverence for natural resources. To coordinate their efforts towards finding a solution to diminish or at least contain damage, native people have traveled more than 3500 kilometers from the Ecuadorian Amazon in order to join a support rally with other native tribes. “Members of the United Houma Nation, a state recognized Tribe of 17,000 in the marshland of southeastern Louisiana, are subsistence fishers and trappers, who, in wake of the BP Deeepwater Horizon disaster, are facing an uncertain future” (Source: http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/people-from-ecuador-to-louisiana-forge-alliances-against-global-oil-spills/). Such communities have a special relationship with nature and all its elements; they have a great respect towards water since their survival depends of water’s resources like fish. Nature is at the centre of their economical and social survival. The Ecuadorian people feel directly involve in this situation since for the past 17 years they have been waiting for the outcome of the lawsuit filed against Chevron and Texaco. The case should decide if Chevron is guilty for having polluted around 5000 square kilometers of the Amazon Rainforest. This weeklong meeting was a unique occasion for the Ecuadorian people to share their knowledge, stories and experience in recovering from a disaster of such a large endeavor. In a press release, Thomas Dardar Jr., Principal Chied of the United Houma Nation said that he was pleased to meet his brothers and sisters from the Amazon in order to exchange opinion on how to protect the “indigenous way of life when face with such huge environmental impacts” (Source: http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/people-from-ecuador-to-louisiana-forge-alliances-against-global-oil-spills/).

While the native communities are organizing themselves to come up with a plan of action and to share their stories, musicians and artists all over the United States have offered their own contribution in response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. From direct money donations to benefit concerts, artists have launched a new initiative: they will boycott BP products for all 2010 tours. Lady Gaga is the newest addition to this initiative launched by Jonathon Davis of KORN who has declared in an interview: “From everything we’re hearing about now, it’s become clear that BP cut corners to put profit ahead of safety. The message we are sending should tell all the oil companies to spend they money and take the necessary precautions to make sure this doesn’t happen again” (Source: http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/22/bp-spill-boycott-technology-lady-gaga.html). Not long ago, only the Backstreet Boys and KORN were on board; while now the initiative seems to have had a snowball effect, with many other artists like Creed, Megadeth or Filter. It is yet too early to determine the impact of this boycott, perhaps others bands will jump on board and maybe even fans.  This boycott raises a series of controversial questions and ethical debates. Will a boycott truly make a difference? Will BP use this boycott has an excuse to declare they lack the money in order to reimburse victims and to clean up the gulf?

Other strands of opinion seem to contradict this movement arguing that boycotting BP doesn’t really affect BP but instead causes financial harm to the station owners. Many American consumers are starting to refuse to fill up their cars with gas sold under BP’s name. “In 2008, BP announced it was exiting the retail gasoline business because the margins were lousy. Today, BP owns only about 100 of the 900 or so gas stations bearing its name. The rest are operated by independent business owners” (Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/media/boycott-bp-that-hurts-station-owners-not-the-company/19499350/). Stations who bear the BP brand are suffering greatly in this situation and due to legal contracts they have no way to distance or separate themselves from the giant firm. According to protesters, their objective is not to hurt local station owners, “the boycott’s objective is to tarnish BP” (Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/media/boycott-bp-that-hurts-station-owners-not-the-company/19499350/ ).

While many critiques and reactions are questionable, one thing is for sure, people are angry and demand explanations. While answers fail to arrive, and time is ticking citizens and individuals that have directly been impacted by this disaster feel the need to react and to communicate their sentiments to the entire world. Only time will tell if those initiatives will make the difference, but at least some of us feel the need to take action immediately, putting pressure on BP and the Obama administration.

Since 2004, Coca-Cola’s bottling plant in Plachimada, India, remains closed down as a consequence of a community protest campaign organized in order to denounce the company’s abuse of water resources.  A High Power Committee put in place by the state government of Kerala, India, has “recommended” on march 22, 2010, that Coca-Cola should be held responsible for the damages caused and liable for 48 million US$ “for damages caused as a result of the company’s bottling operations in Plachimada” (Source: http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2010/1003.html ). Activist groups and environmentalists that have always tried to challenge and denounce Coca-Cola’s actions in that region were pleased about the recommendations. According to the Committee, the company is responsible for a series of damages and that they must pay compensations for “the agricultural losses, health problems, loss of wages, loss of education opportunities and the pollution caused to the water resources” (Source: http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2010/1003.html ).  The official report explains that HCBPL (Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited), a subsidiary of the Atlanta based Coca-Cola firm has created serious depletion of the local water resources contaminating the water and soil of the region.  The report declares that Coke should be hold criminally responsible for its “reckless actions” in the region. It is yet too early to be able to tell if an actual legal initiative against the soft drink giant. Paradoxically, while Coca-Cola is indirectly responsible for polluting water in India; according to the firm’s website, Coca-Cola declares its commitment to give back to the community the amount of potable water equivalent to what they spent on their production plants. While they are trying to apply principles of corporate social responsibility on one side, the company seems to neglected ethical values drastically in other conditions. Perhaps, the situation in Plachimada was a mere incident, or perhaps the company’s corporate social responsibility is a witty marketing strategy. While it is hard to judge a firm based on a single case, the accident in India is not a one-time isolated event, and it is plausible to think that the previous episodes were not simple “accidents”.  Another controversy around the Coca-Cola brand and its bottling plant in India occurred on June the 27^th, 2010 where three workers were killed after the explosion of a boiler.

The Indian controversy surrounding Coca-Cola continues with the death of three workers and five other injured that were working at a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Khurda. The individuals were doing regular cleaning activities when the boiler exploded. Once again, just as in the previous case, the bottling plan is operated by HCBPL a substitute of the Atlanta based Coca-Cola Company. According to local media and groups, “the boiler was “old” and a new boiler was undergoing tests before it was to replace the boiler” (Source: http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2010/1033.html ).  The three people that died were not permanent employees of the soft drink giant industry; they were working under temporary contract, working for the summer period. It appears that this explosion could have been avoided and indeed, the police arrested three individuals from the bottling plant who were responsible of the maintenance operations. The contract workers that tragically lost their lives in the incident were paid minimum wage, a salary that ranks between $ 1.90 and $ 2.75. The police arrested the supervisors of the plant and the state has initiated a process of investigations.

While the company promises its commitment towards clean water sources and the respect of the local environment, communities in India are organizing fervent campaigns in order to denounce the fact that Coca-Cola has “destroyed their water resources through over extraction of water and pollution” (Source: http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2010/1003.html). Consumers need to keep their eyes open and try to behave in a responsible manner, by trying to be objectively informed on the positive and negative aspects of a company. One cannot be blissfully blinded by a green and social-friendly campaign done by giant corporations without truly looking more deeply into the matter. Assuming that any long-term sustainable initiative, if truely serious, over time should be celebrated and supported. The critical attitude toward a firm should take into account the overall level of impact from all possible points of view.