[DRAFT] Ethical Soft Drinks Act (WITHDRAWN)

[Aligned Planets]

Ethical Soft Drinks Act

Category: Social Justice
Strength: Significant

The World Assembly

NOTES:
• That many unethical multi-national soft drinks companies stand accused of making profits on the backs of human rights abuses, including imprisonment, kidnapping, death threats and the general dismissal of Trade Unions;
• That in some member states, allegations of malpractice have been made concerning the distribution of contaminated solid waste from these multi-national companies to farmers as fertiliser, and the excessive extraction of ground water, which has led to drought and low crop yields;
• That the response of the global soft drinks trade is inadequate. There has not been an independent investigation into events and these multi-national companies have sought to deflect responsibility rather than shoulder it and investigate.

FURTHER NOTES:
• That there is massive backing for the boycott in a global campaign, but financially, it would be detrimental to the interests of many member nations to cease trading in these soft drinks;
• That there is a lack of choice for the ethical consumer.

BELIEVES:
• That there is evidence to support allegations against the malpractices of these multi-national soft drinks companies and that the World Assembly should actively raise awareness on this issue;
• By providing more options citizens will be able to have the choice to choose ethically;
• That member nations of the World Assembly are key customers for these soft drinks consumers and therefore that a WA boycott would send a very powerful message to the companies, and help lead to improved conditions for their employees and the communities in their factories worldwide.

FURTHER BELIEVES:
• It should be made known to the consumer that there are more options available;
• There are ethical alternatives and these therefore should be readily available for the consumer in ALL outlets in ALL World Assembly member nations (i.e. supermarkets, shops, pubs, clubs, restaurants, etc.);
• Offering an ethical alternative is a product choice that consumers are entitled to make, and does not diminish customer choice;
• That by following an educative programme, the World Assembly can aid individual boycotts of these unethical multi-national companies which will have an impact far beyond the boundaries of single member nations.

RESOLVES:
• To provide consumers with increased variety and ethical options;
• That all outlets in World Assembly member nations should supply ethical soft drink alternatives;
• To have at least one ethical drinks machine in the government offices of all World Assembly member nations by the end of the following calendar year which will increase choice;
• To set up a Sub-Committee of the General Assembly to organise an effective strategy that will result in an education programme for consumers on the unethical practices of these global soft drinks companies.

Comments and thoughts please!

[Flibbleites]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Dear God we discuss the most stupid things here.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Aligned Planets]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Dear God we discuss the most stupid things here.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

The United Federation of Aligned Planets is an atheist nation - we don't recognise your monotheistic God ^^

We look forward to receiving some constructive criticism from World Assembly members and delegates.

Ra-ghoratreii
WA Representative, Aligned Planets

[Philimbesi]

Nigel blinked, then squinted, then blinked again... if willing himself to unread what he had just read. When that didn't work, he rose and said.

"Ah, we have strict laws in the USP governing the manufacture of food and drink and I can say with 100% certainty that none of the allegations in the notes section are occurring in the USP, therefore we would suggest to the ambassador that they take the time to get the companies breaking the law in their own nation under control instead of wasting the WA's time with what is at it's core a National Issue"

[Flibbleites]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Dear God we discuss the most stupid things here.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

The United Federation of Aligned Planets is an atheist nation - we don't recognise your monotheistic God ^^

We look forward to receiving some constructive criticism from World Assembly members and delegates.

Ra-ghoratreii
WA Representative, Aligned Planets

To be honest, I don't care what God or Gods you do or don't believe in. You're telling me that out of all the possible topics for a GA proposal you thought soft drink ethics was the most pressing. To me soft drink ethics is the one of the stupidest, if not the most stupid, topics for a proposal that I've ever seen in my entire career here in both the WA and its predecessor.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Aligned Planets]

Proposal edited: additions appear like this, deletions like this.

Nigel blinked, then squinted, then blinked again... if willing himself to unread what he had just read. When that didn't work, he rose and said.

"Ah, we have strict laws in the USP governing the manufacture of food and drink and I can say with 100% certainty that none of the allegations in the notes section are occurring in the USP, therefore we would suggest to the ambassador that they take the time to get the companies breaking the law in their own nation under control instead of wasting the WA's time with what is at it's core a National Issue"

Many of these soft-drinks companies are trans- or multi-national, operating out of tiger economies whose governments pay little or no attention to World Assembly resolutions and the associated human rights afforded to workers.

I would agree with the honourable World Assembly member, The United States of Philimbesi, in that none of the allegations are occurring within The United Federation of Aligned Planets; these companies are operating and manufacturing outside of our jurisdiction. However, many of our citizens (and citizens of many other World Assembly member nations) are continuing to consume these unethical products and providing a market for continued malpractice.

We are not seeking a ban from the World Assembly on these unethical products, but an education programme to be established that highlights other more ethical options available to consumers within member nations and to actively promote these products.

Whilst this proposal might not be the most relevant to some member nations, it might be appropriate for others. Certainly, for The United Federation of Aligned Planets, it is more important than current legislation regarding, for example, the Numismatics Appreciation Act.

Ra-ghoratreii
WA Representative, Aligned Planets

[Grays Harbor]

Ethical soft drinks? Whats next?

We would try to add something constructive to this, but, well, nothing comes, this is not something the WA need consider.

And no, we do not consider this "more important" than the Numimatics Appreciation Act, which is a means to preserve and showcase a nations history and artistic achievements as coinage and the engraving involved in a window to the issueing nation.

Ethical soft drinks is bleeding heart whining about ebul corporations and how we should all wring our hands and ban them to save the upper kuzbeckian green-beaked wood warbler or whatever.

Also, if there is "massive backing" for boycotts, some proof beyond merely stating such would be advised.

[Unibot]

"I've never heard of Soft Drinks, do you mean Soda drinks, otherwise known as Pop (not the music type)? Ambassador? You might want to define what you mean by these 'soft drinks'. Do they contain alcohol, recreational drugs? Or our they soft for only containing creamy substances? Do you mean coffee or tea? I can't imagine anyone having a problem with tea..." asked Pascal, while enjoying a sip of Iced Tea, and tweezing his immaculate eyebrows.

OOC:
1. NationStates refers to the soft drink industry as "Soda Sales".

[Grays Harbor]

• That many unethical multi-national soft drinks companies stand accused of making profits on the backs of human rights abuses, including imprisonment, kidnapping, death threats and the general dismissal of Trade Unions;
• That in some member states, allegations of malpractice have been made concerning the distribution of contaminated solid waste from these multi-national companies to farmers as fertiliser, and the excessive extraction of ground water, which has led to drought and low crop yields;
• That the response of the global soft drinks trade is inadequate. There has not been an independent investigation into events and these multi-national companies have sought to deflect responsibility rather than shoulder it and investigate.

Is there any evidence for any of this?

• That there is massive backing for the boycott in a global campaign, but financially, it would be detrimental to the interests of many member nations to cease trading in these soft drinks;

Again, any evidence?

• That there is a lack of choice for the ethical consumer.

lack of choice is not a valid reason for a proposal. Start a company. produce "ethical" soft drinks. Problem solved.



•

That there is evidence to support allegations against the malpractices of these multi-national soft drinks companies and that the World Assembly should actively raise awareness on this issue;

So show us this evidence, please.

• By providing more options citizens will be able to have the choice to choose ethically;

Again, lack of choice is not a valid reason for a proposal. Start a company. produce "ethical" soft drinks. Problem solved.

• That member nations of the World Assembly are key customers for these soft drinks consumers and therefore that a WA boycott would send a very powerful message to the companies, and help lead to improved conditions for their employees and the communities in their factories worldwide.

Without actual evidence, a mandated WA boycott would send the message, "We are sheep who can be led by the nose because of emotional pleas which may or may not have any real credibility."

• It should be made known to the consumer that there are more options available;
• There are ethical alternatives and these therefore should be readily available for the consumer in ALL outlets in ALL World Assembly member nations (i.e. supermarkets, shops, pubs, clubs, restaurants, etc.);
• Offering an ethical alternative is a product choice that consumers are entitled to make, and does not diminish customer choice;
• That by following an educative programme, the World Assembly can aid individual boycotts of these unethical multi-national companies which will have an impact far beyond the boundaries of single member nations.

So lets turn the WA into an advertising agency which promotes "green" products?

• To provide consumers with increased variety and ethical options;
• That all outlets in World Assembly member nations should supply ethical soft drink alternatives;
• To have at least one ethical drinks machine in the government offices of all World Assembly member nations by the end of the following calendar year which will increase choice;
• To set up a Sub-Committee of the General Assembly to organise an effective strategy that will result in an education programme for consumers on the unethical practices of these global soft drinks companies.

The WA should not be used as the vehicle to pimp products.

[Golgoglot]

I fail to see how a resolution concerning beverages qualifies as "significant" in strength. This resolution is worthless, and were it to somehow go to vote, you can be guaranteed that Golgoglot will not support it.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Honoured ambassador, Ethical Soft Drinks are too small to address at an international stage. Maybe try the promotion of fair trade food as a whole.

[Grays Harbor]

Honoured ambassador, Ethical Soft Drinks are too small to address at an international stage. Maybe try the promotion of fair trade food as a whole.

The WA is not really the place to mandate what can and cannot be purchased in the way of food, nor is it the job of the WA to become the advertising agency for "fair trade" foods, any more than it is for them to be the adverts for "ethical soda".

[Tanaara]

"Someone take this young and delicate delegate out back and educate him as to what is and is not a worthwhile endeavor for the WA!" The UnDelegaqte grumped. "This is the second bit of stupidity wrought by him that I have had to plow through."

"It's utter rubbish, and I've seen a lot of rubbish here in these supposedly hallowed halls, but this is one of those that rather takes and makes off with the cake. Or is the delegate so intent on getting his name on a proposal that he has to scrape the bottom of his shoes for ideas?"

The UnDelegate folds, spindles and mutilates the proposal before sending it to the round file.

[Unibot]

"Someone take this young and delicate delegate out back and educate him as to what is and is not a worthwhile endeavor for the WA!" The UnDelegaqte grumped. "This is the second bit of stupidity wrought by him that I have had to plow through."

"It's utter rubbish, and I've seen a lot of rubbish here in these supposedly hallowed halls, but this is one of those that rather takes and makes off with the cake. Or is the delegate so intent on getting his name on a proposal that he has to scrape the bottom of his shoes for ideas?"

The UnDelegate folds, spindles and mutilates the proposal before sending it to the round file.

OOC: Ah, gawd I'm slow. This whole time I thought that the circular file was reserved for all the Repeals of SC#3, and #5, and all of their replacements, because of the circularity of events. It never occurred to me... aw....

[Arkinesia]

This is a preposterous idea. Our nation's companies are not held under strict regulations, yet from inspections we know that the workers are being treated properly in all industries, including soft drink manufacture.

[A mean old man]

I burst into laughter after reading the first clause. Is this serious?

[Enn]

If you are going to look at the ethics of transnational and multinational corporations, why is this being limited to only soft drinks?

[The Sentenial Empire]

• That many unethical multi-national soft drinks companies stand accused of making profits on the backs of human rights abuses, including imprisonment, kidnapping, death threats and the general dismissal of Trade Unions;
• That in some member states, allegations of malpractice have been made concerning the distribution of contaminated solid waste from these multi-national companies to farmers as fertiliser, and the excessive extraction of ground water, which has led to drought and low crop yields;
• That the response of the global soft drinks trade is inadequate. There has not been an independent investigation into events and these multi-national companies have sought to deflect responsibility rather than shoulder it and investigate.

Is there any evidence for any of this?

• That there is massive backing for the boycott in a global campaign, but financially, it would be detrimental to the interests of many member nations to cease trading in these soft drinks;

Again, any evidence?

• That there is a lack of choice for the ethical consumer.

lack of choice is not a valid reason for a proposal. Start a company. produce "ethical" soft drinks. Problem solved.



•

That there is evidence to support allegations against the malpractices of these multi-national soft drinks companies and that the World Assembly should actively raise awareness on this issue;

So show us this evidence, please.

• By providing more options citizens will be able to have the choice to choose ethically;

Again, lack of choice is not a valid reason for a proposal. Start a company. produce "ethical" soft drinks. Problem solved.

• That member nations of the World Assembly are key customers for these soft drinks consumers and therefore that a WA boycott would send a very powerful message to the companies, and help lead to improved conditions for their employees and the communities in their factories worldwide.

Without actual evidence, a mandated WA boycott would send the message, "We are sheep who can be led by the nose because of emotional pleas which may or may not have any real credibility."

• It should be made known to the consumer that there are more options available;
• There are ethical alternatives and these therefore should be readily available for the consumer in ALL outlets in ALL World Assembly member nations (i.e. supermarkets, shops, pubs, clubs, restaurants, etc.);
• Offering an ethical alternative is a product choice that consumers are entitled to make, and does not diminish customer choice;
• That by following an educative programme, the World Assembly can aid individual boycotts of these unethical multi-national companies which will have an impact far beyond the boundaries of single member nations.

So lets turn the WA into an advertising agency which promotes "green" products?

• To provide consumers with increased variety and ethical options;
• That all outlets in World Assembly member nations should supply ethical soft drink alternatives;
• To have at least one ethical drinks machine in the government offices of all World Assembly member nations by the end of the following calendar year which will increase choice;
• To set up a Sub-Committee of the General Assembly to organise an effective strategy that will result in an education programme for consumers on the unethical practices of these global soft drinks companies.

The WA should not be used as the vehicle to pimp products.

I am a member of the Anti-World Assembly and instead of sounding like an idiot like some of my counterparts have...allow me to say, if this reaches quorum you guys are going to look like complete idiots!

[Unibot]

I am a member of the Anti-World Assembly and instead of sounding like an idiot like some of my counterparts have...allow me to say, if this reaches quorum you guys are going to look like complete idiots!

Pascal mumbled "Just like someone else I know", under his breath.

[A mean old man]

I am a member of the Anti-World Assembly and instead of sounding like an idiot like some of my counterparts have...allow me to say, if this reaches quorum you guys are going to look like complete idiots!

His "Incident level" is at "FULL ALERT" - not "half-full alert" or "3/4 of the way full alert" or "half-empty alert" - which means "OPEN WAR" - not "closed war" or "slightly ajar war."

Excuse me. I couldn't help but mess around with that somewhat... simple terminology.

I'm getting rather sick of the AWA suddenly popping into our discussions and pointing at the WA as a whole, saying "you guys" or referring to us as members of the WA as some sort of unified body with a single mindset. Don't you understand how often WA members make other WA members look like idiots?

Why do you come here? You don't respond to the debate at hand - you just post messages that are directed towards the World Assembly as a whole and are trying to instigate or maintain some sort of pathetic, obnoxious conflict with "us." It's always "you're going to look like idiots!" or "we're going to get you!" What's the point? The AWA is always making empty threats that only serve as a nuisance. You don't even roleplay wars when you start them - you just move to the region you think you're attacking and spam their RMB. Anti World Assembly is just a massive bridge with a whole colony of trolls living underneath it. Hell - Gatesville is a peach compared to you, at least they pose a minor but realistic threat and work to actively oppose the WA while keeping their business to themselves. The AWA is all talk.

If all the AWA is going to do here in these forums is troll and make empty threats, I don't see the point in your posting in here at all.

[Aligned Planets]

The President of the United Federation of Aligned Planets stands up, smoothes down his dress uniform with both hands, and steps forward to the mike. "Good afternoon, citizens," he says, and there is an instant and ear-splitting feedback whine from the P.A. system. From among the crowds, incredibly, there is laughter. It's hard not to laugh, it's the tension, and the look of irritation on Jaresh-Inyo's face as he adjusts the sound. This is supposed to be dignified.

"Good afternoon, citizens," he says again, his voice now tinny and flattened. It's citizens instead of officers because of the civilians. "I'm sure we are all aware of the unfortunate circumstances that bring us all here together on this beautiful morning, when I am certain we would all rather be doing something else, at least I speak for myself, but duty is a hard taskmater and it is in the name of duty that we are here today."

He goes on like this for some minutes, but I don't listen. I've heard this speech, or one like it, often enough before: the same platitudes, the same slogans, the same phrases: the torch of the future, the cradle of the race, the task before us. It's hard to believe there will not be polite clapping after this speech, and tea and cookies served on the lawn.

That was the prologue, I think. Now he'll get down to it.

"Well then," says Jaresh-Inyo. He nods. Two security officers come forward now from behind the stage, behind me. Between them they half-carry, half-drag a third man. He is dressed in the remnants of his Ambassadorial uniform, but he is wearing no rank insignia nor decoration and the uniform is dirty and torn. His face is cut and bruised, deep reddish-brown bruises; the flesh is swollen and knobby, stubbled with unshaven beard. This doesn't look like a face but like an unknown vegetable, a mangled bulb or tuber, something that's gone wrong. Even from where I am standing I can smell him: he smells of shit and vomit. His hair is a deep purple and falls over his face, spiky with what? Dried sweat?

"This man," says the President, "has been convicted of failing the Federation in the line of his duty." His voice trembles with rage, and a kind of triumph. "He was once an Ambassador, our delegate to the World Assembly. He has disgraced his uniform. He has abused his position of trust. Those who were his accomplices have already been shot. The penalty for the failure of the Federation, as you know, is death. Article 14, Section 31 of the Federation Charter. I might add that these crimes have caused our United Federation to be the laughing stock of the entire World Assembly; our legislature stands upon a precipice. I will not offend your ears with any details, except to say that our Ambassador has long not been working for you but has been subversed by an extremist fringe."

From somewhere in the crowds there is the sound of retching. I've seen it before, of course. The white bag placed over the head, the Ambassador helped up onto the high stool as if he's being helped up the steps of a bus, steadied there, the noose adjusted delicately around the neck, like a vestment, the stool kicked away. I've heard the long sigh go up, from around me and in front of me, the sigh like air coming out of an air mattress. I've seen Jaresh-Inyo place his hand over the mike, to stifle the other sounds coming from behind him. I've watched as the hooded man struggles for air, heard his coughs and attempts to scream, and then, as one with the crowd, punched the air with my fist and chanted the Federation slogan as the latest traitor to our great nation dies for his crimes.

Peace, prosperity, duty.

Jaresh-Inyo steps forward to the microphone once more. "Citizens," he says, "It is with the greatest honour that I now present to you the Federation's newest delegate that we send to the World Assembly in the hopes that he can bring peace and prosperity to our great nation through his duties. I give you... Ambassador Dienes!". The cheers echoed through the throngs as the citizens, instructed as they had been in how to celebrate the passage from one to the next, obediently acknowledged their new Ambassador.

I stepped towards the dias...

OOC: Proposal withdrawn! Thanks for all the constructive criticism - it's been brutal but hopefully I'll have a better idea of what should or should not be submitted to the World Assembly!

[Enn]

OOC: Proposal withdrawn! Thanks for all the constructive criticism - it's been brutal but hopefully I'll have a better idea of what should or should not be submitted to the World Assembly!

Heh, it's fine. Good to see you're taking it in such good spirits. I look forward to seeing you around here, with other ideas, or otherwise offering advice.

[Philimbesi]

I'm getting rather sick of the AWA suddenly popping into our discussions and pointing at the WA as a whole, saying "you guys" or referring to us as members of the WA as some sort of unified body with a single mindset. Don't you understand how often WA members make other WA members look like idiots?

OOC: Don't feed the trolls...