Russia: PepsiCo plans to expand their own “special operation” in Russia…

“According to the newspaper Kommersant, whose journalists got acquainted with fragments of the company’s presentation, the organization wants to create new products with different names and packaging. In particular, the New Cola product was presented in various containers of different volumes. Under the Fruitz brand, orange and lime flavored drinks were introduced” (…) “In addition, the company wants to expand the local brand Russky Dar, which currently produces only kvass. However, PepsiCo plans to expand the range with carbonated drinks in different flavors” (Viktor Bazhenov – ‘PepsiCo plans to create special products for Russia’ 07.04.2022, Komsomolskaja Pravda).

While other Western Companies and Brands are suspending their operations in Russia. As the sanctions and outrage of the Russian-Belorussian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. There are about 200 companies that has either ceased, suspended or stopped to invest in the Russian market. That has been done as a result of the brutal war in Ukraine. This is being done because of the issues of transactions, lack of business opportunities or to get positive publicity in the West.

That’s why it’s very interesting that the soft-drink maker and conglomerate Pepsi Corporation who earlier this year suspended their production of Pepsi, SevenUp and Mirinda. Now has other plans and creating a new strategy. That is clearly to circumvent and get a bigger market share in the Russian Federation. As other Western soft-drink makers like Coca-Cola and others stopped producing sodas and beers in Russia.

After the other corporations and businesses has ceased or suspended their operations in Russia. There will be openings and possibilities from a business stand-point. In a way of filling the gap and finding new parts of the beverage market that PepsiCo can fill. From a direct business view it makes sense, but from a publicity angel it sucks.

The Pepsi Corporation is trading, earning profits and ensuring a bigger tax-base, which is good news for Kremlin and President Putin. This is supporting and making sure the Russian economy is going. That there is products to trade, people is getting salaries and such. This is a dream for a dictator to have a company of this stature to do this.

Yes, they did suspend the production of the world-wide famous soft-drinks, but they plan to make other special ones for the Russian market. That will be in addition to the Kvass. This is an deliberate attempt to get a bigger profits and ensure viability in the Russian Federation. That is really it and it’s being a token soldier of the Russian war-machine. They are trading, investing and finding ways of profiting in a marginal space without any preconditions.

PepsiCo is by doing so. They would stand up to huge scrutiny, as they are willing to earn blood money by association and by their decision to not only uphold certain products, but to add and create new ones. This is creating own products and soft-drinks catering to the Russian market. Securing them a vast market and huge profits in the middle of a war. That is it really and what they are willing to do.

The PepsiCo will be renowned by many. Their legacy of these drinks will be in the letter of “Z” and the association will be looked that way. The Ukrainian war and the lack of solidarity there will also be seen. As the corporation only dipped a minute and later found new avenues for furthering their business operation in Russia. The PepsiCo is more into long term gains than the dwelling into the problematic ideals of doing this.

The yellow and blue colours of Ukraine will clearly not matter to PepsiCo. They rather have a “special operation” of their own in the Russian market. Peace.

Opinion: To drink a Coke or not to drink a Coke, that is the question…

Today the reactions to the new voter laws in the State of Georgia is happening. Rightfully so. It is a need to address and take account of the awful and disenfranchising electoral laws the Republican Party have signed into law. The act of Governor Brian Kemp and his fellow Republican Representatives. They have all deliberately done this and with intent of making it harder for fellow citizens to cast their ballot and vote. That is for the simple reason. The less voters means more likely a Republican majority. Therefore, it is winning strategy to make it harder for the general public to vote.

Now… what is tragic about the politics in America at the moment. Is that instead of looking at the initial issue. The progressive and the ones who wants voters to show up is going up against the businesses in Atlanta, Georgia. The ones who has a base there and the ones who funnel money through the political system. A system that the Democratic Party and the Republican Party is fine with in the days of sunshine, but speaks ill of in the days of rain.

This week has been a storm and been heavy rain. The raindrops are clearly hitting hard and not so easily to get to the storm-drain. Nevertheless, the ideals should be to revise the system. Get new legislation to counter this one or repeal the acts that disenfranchise voters in Georgia. That should be the focus. The focus should be on the ideals and integrity of the ballot, which John Lewis stood for and fought for all his life.

Not battle the beverages industry and one of its giants Coca-Cola Company. Yes, the giant international beverage company has its sins to answer for. They have their ills and its profit motive at any given time. However, it isn’t the bottles of Coke fault for the voters law. Neither is it in the interest of a bottling and beverages company to stop people from voting. Their best interests is to get people hooked on their drink and purchase more of bottles next time they pass by a Wall-Mart.

That is why politics in the United States have gone bonkers. Yes, the politicians are screwed by lobbyist and secretive PAC-Money, which funds their massive and expensive campaigns. Still, in the middle of that. That doesn’t mean they are responsible for the ills and evil, which occurs now and then. Right now that’s all on Governor Kemp and his Republican comrades.

A bottle of Coke will not solve this. Neither will a bottle of Pepsi. Heck, no sort of drink will juice up the veins of democracy. Not the Speakeasies or the roaring 1920s will make fudge about it either. Coca-Cola isn’t the company to solve or in the dominion to do so. Yes, they can stop giving money to the Republican Party, but that they will only cease for a hot-minute and return when they need favourable legislation. As long as the dark-money and PAC money can fund politicians. The companies will return and secure results on their “investments”.

The activists shouldn’t go for a boycott and stop drinking Coke. That is a short-term and a losing strategy. Who will win? The one with billions in the bank and can sustain a hit or the few consumers with a moral obligation? I think the guy with the biggest bank and there are so many who don’t care. Those folks will drink Coke regardless.

That is why, the ones who wants change and make a difference. Call the legislators. Email them like crazy. Make their team and staff go nuts over all the feedback. Make the legislators of State of Georgia packed with messages, faxes or whatever they get memo home. That what they was wrong and they need to revise it.

The GOP and the Governor will not care if you stop drinking Coke. They will not give a damn. You are the ones who losing your beverage. It is not difference then when Republican activists burns their Nike’s or destroyed their coffee-maker. In some ways … its the same thing and neither was winning.

The activists and the ones calling for this. Better think ahead. The Democrats who are fearing for the ballots and voters of Georgia. Better do “Good Trouble”. What they are doing is symbolic hogwash. This is changing their Tinder Profile and thinking their soulmate will love that you were drinking Pepsi instead of Coke. Sorry brother, but that’s not it and that wasn’t the reason why the person swiped your way.

Let’s be clear. You can stop drinking coke, but that will not save democracy. You can boycott Coke, but that not resolve the issues either. What you can do and what you should do. Is to show civil disobedience and call for changes in legislation. Both in Georgia and in the Federal Law. So, that dark-money cannot run rampant behind closed chambers and decide what lawmakers do. Secondly, you can pressure state legislatures to actually vote for laws that makes it easier to vote and not what they did this week. That is what you should do. Not stop sipping Coke.

That means visible protests in the streets. Sponsoring billboards, sending letters, emails and other texts to legislators and by all means be vocal about the cause. Nevertheless, the idea of stopping to drink a beverage. Well… that is futile and not doing anyone any damage. Coke will not be hurt and their bottom-line will not even feel the sting.

It is a time for everything, but boycotting Coke over voting legislation is redundant and a foolish enterprise. Especially, when there are so many other avenues where the ones in power would fear you and would feel your presence. They are not fearing what your drinking in your living-room and at your kitchen. No, they are fearing your feet stomping in the streets and your voices cracking close to their chambers of power. That is why they take away your access to vote in the first place. Peace.

Opinion: We need to give Trump a can of Pepsi and do it quickly!

We need someone to give Donald J. Trump a few cans of Pepsi, if not some tranquilizer, since he soon not only dropping bombs overseas like now. Soon he will create more wars than President George W. Bush did. There is enough tensions as it is and the other leaders plays on it. Like they are oblivious of the fact.

It is not like President Kim Jung-Un doesn’t know about his state and their nature in the world. That they doesn’t only have to show force and continue to oppress their citizens to keep control. The extension of fancy weapons and long-ranging missiles should worry, as the dictator of North Korea isn’t as “diplomatic” as his forefathers. Kim Jung-Un has been known to slaughter his family to prove strength. Therefore, the carrier or naval combat ship from the United States in the seas outside of Pyongyang isn’t creating a good situation. So can someone please send the Chinese negotiator with a few cans of Pepsi, and the

Not that the Trump Administration care, as they wants to send signals, like they wanted to send to Bashar Al-Assad with a few bombs over an airfield, lie the warlord and President, a third Generation dictator get scared of few missiles over his airspace. When he has deserters, ISIS and other rebel forces within his grasp, as well as the Syrian government forces has the grand support of Russia. So, the Syrian army will have Russian airplanes and armory that can keep up with any if needed be. It would be better to send Rex Tillerson with a six-pack of Pepsi Cans and talks to stakeholders, to see if they could get a peaceful grin. Even President Putin would enjoy a ice-cold Pepsi and shake hands with Foreign Secretary of hte United States.

Just like Trump thinks he solved the ISIS issues with dropping the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB) in Afghanistan, as the Fox and Friends called it “that what we call freedom”. I don’t know if the great people of Kansas or Ohio would feel at peace if someone was dropping bombs on them. Still, the United States feels they have done President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai a giant favor. Not like this one bomb get rid of Taliban or ISIS, even other local warlords, as there are only two districts that are seen as peaceful in Afghanistan. Wonder if the Americans and Trump feels they have done themselves worthy to share. The MOAB doesn’t create an atmosphere to make naan-bread or anything else. Certainly if they send a delegation with cans of Pepsi, that create more peace than the MOAB ever will do. Blowing up a few possible structures does not build lasting peace.

You can wonder if the Trump administration has any clear plan of securing a sustainable peace in Yemen, as he had order mission inside the Yemen Republic. Still, this was not successful and killed dozens of innocent civilians. Not that Trump will say he was wrong sanctioning it, as this was his Benghazi moment, the moment he has attacked the President Barrack Obama and then Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton for. So the killings and lose of military personnell for nearly nothing should worry Trump, but it doesn’t because he is either playing golf, eating food or watching Fox. Such a gentleman who orders with thinking what effects it may cause, So he should himself drink a can of Pepsi and think of his acts. Not like there are any clear policy of how to find a solution, maybe the best to trust the Pepsi to give guidance to Trump.

Than, you have the long-going conflict in Somalia, the Federation where there has been in conflicts for decades. The Americans have been involved through co-operative missions and trainings of AMISOM, Kenyan Defence Forces and even the Ethiopian when they entered Mogadishu a few years back. Still, the clear-cut involvement has been from afar and covert-operation. Therefore that President Trump tries and thinks of sending a mandated soldiers, boots on the ground, shows his involvement, but how many and for how long is not known. It is like a myth and wonder if it will be as though true as the mission in Yemen. Or a proof of a military planned intervention in Somalia, which is needed. Since Al-Shabaab isn’t something dying down, neither is piracy, since the Federation need structural change and institutionalization where the state grows strong. This cannot be solved with a peaceful sugarful soda called the Pepsi. It needs something more.

The world and conflicts are complex, they cannot be solved with some bullets or missiles, it is a quick fix and even just for show, though the dead and the damaged property isn’t coming back. The local problems would still be there, unless the Trump Administration plans to bomb the world into a million pieces and hope the ones left behind after the blow, will praise his wisdom. Doubt it will be fanfare after the blood and death. Like the erratic and uncertain plans of Trump doesn’t help the local governments or the stakeholders, who doesn’t know what to believe. If they will strike with reliable force or be symbolic. Or as the whole public career of Trump be shambolic with a swagger of a buffoon.
Well, we can alway drink an ice cold Pepsi and hope we make sense of the of the world we live in, but not expect Trump understands it, because he supposed to be such a genius mind. The liability of the free-world lays in his hands and his guns are soon pointed at dozen nationalities all over the world. If the war-zones created or made worse will hit home close to Washington D.C. or even knock down the Twinkie (Trump) Tower in New York. That is yet to know, but if there will be issues around the decisions made by the United States government. If it will be short-term or long-term, play for the gallery or even just barbaric moments of horrific deaths, is not yet to know. For now we don’t know the endgame of a military interventions under Trump. What we do know is that he likes to play high and risk without knowing the possible return.  We can hope he soons chill down with a can of Pepsi and starts to listen to advice. Peace.  

PepsiCo ‘moments content’ ad were trivializing real-life demonstrations!

“…they’re weak, petty, so apathetic about this gift of life as if it were all a mere Pepsi commercial.” – Marisha Pessl

We live in interesting times, where a soft-drink company’s advertisement can spark this sort of outrage, I wonder if people could have used this anger against the brutality and the violence around the world, when it comes to government sponsored authorities. I wonder, because this sort of act of discontinued discussions usually appears in culture, when there are something real behind it.

That it was, it was something real, the Pepsi Corporation together with a marketing company went together and made a fake ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest, but instead trying to say, “We will bring harmony to the world if you listen to Skip Marley’s and drinks Pepsi Coke!” Yeah, brother!

Well, the ad is trivializing the protest movements and their demonstrations, that is clear, making it seem so simple, while everyone around is drinking and giggling on the Pepsi. The way they have made it is with such flair and so look like it is a manufactured reality, which it seems that there should not be any police brutality when demonstrations appear. They should just be smiling and giggly, wearing designer clothes and be top-notch mood, while all are drinking Pepsi.

Therefore the company had to come out with this statement:

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 5, 2017 – “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.” (PepsiCo – ‘Pepsi Statement Re: Pepsi Moments Content’ 05.04.2017).

That demonstrators worldwide and organizers feels a bit betrayed by the motivation and the use, is understandable, that Piers Morgan defended the corporation was to be expected. Corporations can do as they please and especially if it is benefits the likes of Piers Morgan, who we for some strange reasons doesn’t know why is famous or why he acts entitled to the world to care about his opinion. Well, let go back to the ad in question.

It is not like PepsiCo and other corporation’s tries to tap into the youth culture, the company of Pepsi have made fortunes doing so and selling stories that fits that paradigm. So that they trying to fit themselves into BLM, the growing resistance against Trump or any movement that is questioning the powers-to-be. That seems a little beneath a soft-drink company. It seems a bit insincere. Since a company of this stature and this size are blend into the establishment and the greater state, who is not that favorable of demonstrations.

That there will be trivializing this is natural, that will be people not understanding the outrage, but next time, the corporations might tap into your struggles and your fights to get justice in society. Than you up next homie. Your definition of understanding, of justice and freedom, liberty and fight for better society might be portrayed in a sugarcoated reality by Coca-Cola, will you accept it?

There is healthy reasons to question PepsiCo and their management for their use of demonstrations, which has inflicted pain and suffrage for many, as they have been there because of the violent police force, who has brutally used weapons and tactics to disperse fellow citizens. Around the globe, the police use all sort of methods to keep the demonstrations at bay and detain unlawfully citizens. Still, that was not in the sweat dreamy portrait of Pepsi.

We do not have to wonder, to know that the PepsiCo tried to tap into protest movement and be more edgy, as the world have become more fragmented and use of international model and reality star in Kendall Jenner would peak interest. Therefore, she jumped on the project in the faith of the PepsiCo as she considered this a good move and secure move to get even more exposure. Something she did, but not on the purpose as she anticipated. She anticipated the sort of glare and glory as Nespresso commercials does for George Clooney. That she should be an iconic commercial and a game-changer. Instead, it all has boiled down to controversy!

The misuse of public anger and of injustice in trying to sodas does not seem like a good idea, but for one or more in the boardroom of PepsiCo, it did for a brief moment. The ideals behind the demonstrations and the acts against violence on fellow citizens was supposed to tap into with persisting a message, if you drink Pepsi, there will be peace. That story no one else believe, than the ones stuck inside the boardroom.

Therefore, when a multi-national enormous corporation as Pepsi tries to sell their soft drinks, they should consider the stories they are sending! It is not rocket science. It is very simple; do your drink supposable taste better than the competition? If YES, sell that; is the drink more affordable than competition? If YES, sell that; is the drink more environmental friendly packed or produced? If YES, sell that; but a product and a company of this magnitude will never be symbol a protest. They are the same establishment that the Occupy Wall Street in 2011 would go against. Not only the Merrill Lynch‘s of this world and the other banking buddies, but also the core food and beverages producers as well.

So next time Pepsi tries to start a campaign, go back to the basics, the reasons why you still exists was that you became the cheap alternative to Coca-Cola and was the one for use in the kitchen. Time reconfigure out that message to the public! Peace

Opinion: Eric Trump are right, under the Trump Administration, the US is becoming a “Third World State”!

“It’s really sad that we’re in an environment where tax returns are leaked by whoever it may be” (…) “Just think about it. Think about how dangerous that is, how third world that is on a practice that happened. When personal information is put out by people for political agendas. As a civilian, it’s actually scary” – Eric Trump on Fox News (Tani, 2017).

It is just one of these days where the sons of President Donald Trump speaks their mind and hits the nail. The nail is in the coffin, with the knowledge of the plans to make the republic less attractive, less business-friendly, more lassiez-faire and more focused on army than on progressive financial instruments and regulation to create growth. Trump Administration is busy with deporting millions, building a wall and starting trade-wars. The U.S. Government does not need to be transparent or accountable while doing so. Especially, not in the minds of one of his sons. That claims something unique and special. I have claimed in the near past that under President Trump, the U.S. Government could turn the Republic into a Banana Republic, a sort of style government that could be described by others as a third world one. Therefore, let the dictionary explain that!

Eric Trump needs a definition of the Third World:

“1: a group of nations especially in Africa and Asia not aligned with either the Communist or the non-Communist blocs” (…) “2: an aggregate of minority groups within a larger predominant culture” (…) “3: the aggregate of the underdeveloped nations of the world” (Merriam-Webster).

So the United States can itself soon be fitted, not that it is an Asian or African nation, neither Communist, but still it is getting underdeveloped by the way the financial framework and industry is set-up under the Trump Administration. Where the Industry and Financial industry has the Administration by the balls and no eager of taking care of nature or the resources, except for eating the profits without giving anything back to the Republic. Just like the Oil Industry in Nigeria or in Ghana. The same as the mining and mineral industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So the United States under President Trump, will be similar. Eric Trump is not so far off, just not the way he thought he would be.

Another man’s vision:

“This brings about complete dysfunction. It makes everything — economy, politics, roads, bridges, police, school — broken and shitty. Those who can leave do. Making it worse. This leads to more extremism, and more corruption, and more cynicism. And sometimes extreme violence. Because the other side becomes evil” (…) “The US has been shifting towards all four of these over the last 30 years, with inequality leading the way. We are more divided, economically and socially, then we have ever been (we are less divided racially. But only marginally so.)” (Arnade, 2016).

So when you have a system on the brink of collapse, a wealthy elite eating of the government plate and settling score to not pay their bills to the public, while the citizens and middle-class cannot build a steady life or afforded needed services, you know there are something wrong with the system and the state. That makes the Eric Trump words so right, that United States is becoming more like a third world country, with a sophisticated army, but cannot afford health care, schools or infrastructure. Just like the countries President Trump doesn’t want to affiliate with or been seen with. Since him and his advisor Bannon are supposed to be superior, and like a dictator in a Third World country, he believes he is always right and isn’t wrong.

So one smudge of evidence of his fathers Tax Returns from 2005 leaked to MSNBC Rachel Maddow, proves the realization of the state, that the Trump Administration would dislike. As they are not capping the debt, neither taking into account their ideas of taxation and tax-releases, as much as their will to deregularte industry and financial institutions. Therefore, leading the space of more expenses and negative environmental policies, that damage earth and only gains profit for a slim elite. Just like a Third World Country.

This is degrading for the United States, but the harsh truth, the ideas and policies in the making, the killing of health insurance, the idea of building the giant nuclear silos, while not paying for food for the starving. Proves that the U.S. Government are no closer to countries it does not want to be affiliated with, but still can be consider to be assimilated with. President Trump and his administration is clearly not wishing to be differing from chauvinistically taking charge and not caring what effect it has. Clearly, it is only his image that matter, just like any big-man and authoritarian leader.

So, soon we can say that the United States is underdeveloped and need aid, as their waters are daft, the industry is lacking technology, the roads are more potholes than tarmac, the bridges are weak, their railways not working and often not trusted. The United States has soon more expensive foreign imported goods, than what they produce and is losing money on their export of cash crops as soya and other grain. Therefore, President Trump leading his Republic to become underdeveloped or become a Third World Country.

Reference:

Arnade, Chris – ‘USA: A Third World Country in the making’ (05.10.2016) link: https://medium.com/@Chris_arnade/usa-a-third-world-county-in-the-making-14064ea5c534#.ah2gi0loi

Tani, Maxwell – ‘Eric Trump blasts Trump’s tax return leak on Maddow: ‘Think about how dangerous…how third world that is’ (19.03.2017) link: http://nordic.businessinsider.com/eric-trump-tax-return-leak-maddow-third-world-2017-3?

Merriam-Webster – ‘third world’ link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third%20world

Jon Stewart on President-elect Trump, hypocrisy in America (Youtube-Clip)

NYT: We’re proud of our election coverage & we will continue to “hold power to account.” Here’s what we told our employees & our subscribers (11.11.2016 & 13.11.2016)

Reid Spokesman: Trump’s Threats Should Concern all Americans (13.11.2016)

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi Statement on Trump Victory (10.11.2016)

Arnold Schwarzenegger – “We Are Not Enemies” (Youtube-Clip)

“I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from one of my heroes, President Lincoln. I think it’s an important message for all of us today, and I’m sure you want to hear me read Lincoln speeches in my Austrian accent. Remember, today, the campaign is behind us. We aren’t enemies. We are neighbors. We are friends. We are all Americans, and we have a lot of work to do” (Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2016)