Support From Big Companies

[lady-janine]

I read this morning that Coca Cola and MacDonalds are continuing to trade with Russia and have not joined other big companies in ceasing trading.

Do you think that this should be made known to the public and also should we stop buying their products because of their behaviour?

[youngmafbog]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/calls-grow-to-boycott-coca-cola-mcdonald-e2-80-99s-and-pepsico-as-major-firms-stay-in-russia/ar-AAUH0RK

[lady-janine]

Thanks for the link ymb.

[youngmafbog]

Many newspapers are carrying the story from the Independent to the Sun so I think most people will have now been made aware. I'm not on it but I'd be surprised if TwitFace is not awash with it too.

We live in a free country so if they want to trade like this then fine. But of course it works both ways so if you feel you dont like their business ethics then dont purchase from them.

I wont be.

[woofgang]

It is known to the public!

[ichkeria]

I’d never tell people to boycott this ur that but yes, it would be nice to think people would

[naomi24]

With other big companies making a stand, I can't see them being able to resist for long. I hope they withdraw.

[maggiebee]

Apparently Shell are still buying oil from Russia and are charging £1.83 a litre for diesel. Sheer profiteering. Makes sense to shop around, but
can see most fuel companies jumping on the bandwagon.

[Old_Geezer]

If it isn't specifically barred under sanctions then it's their choice. I can understand folk voting with their cash on their continued trading. I do wonder though, how easily a global company can stop, if the part of the company in the pariah state is capable of carrying on, on it's own.

[jno]

I don't know what McDonalds are supposed to do. It's not like they export burgers from Kansas to Moscow and can stop doing so.

[naomi24]

They can close their outlets.

[youngmafbog]

The problem with just shutting up shop is that it may well end up alienating the little people. I cant imagine the Kremlin sends out for a Maccy D very often.

It is a fine line and as OG says how easy is it to stop quickly. We shall have to see I suppose.

[chelle7272]

They could close their 850 restaurants for a start

[jno]

you're right, naomi, most chains are just franchise operations but it seems McDonalds actually own most of their outlets there. However, I don't know that there's much they can do if someone at HQ tells them to close and they refuse. They'll get their meat and bread locally and can just carry on producing and selling.

[ToraToraTora]

Well I'll be boycotting them, but TBF it won't be too much of a sacrifice for me!

[naomi24]

YMB, whatever hurts the economy hurts the little people. That's unavoidable. It's not about denying Putin a burger.

[tiggerblue10]

I think it's more a way of getting the little people of Russia to turn on their 'president'. By blocking their essential or non-essential goods supply chains there may be more of an uprise to what we've already seen.

[ToraToraTora]

yes tigs, by putting them back to Soviet style bread queues etc they'll hopefully they rise up and bump off their despot.

[sandra4444]

The more companies that refuse to trade with Russia, or in Russia does no doubt help. But at the moment Putin only see's this being a hardship on his population that he doesn't care about just now.

Putin got to were he is today by being ruthless to anyone who gets in his way, either by threatening them or killing them.

In my experience bullies like Putin use other people to do their dirty work, and to put their life on the line not his.
Bullies are very brave when their own life is not in danger but become very concerned on reverse.
Putin is getting away with what he's always got away with, mainly threats. If you fold over again and again because of these threats there is no hope, and only one outcome, he wins again.

We are at this time watching people getting murdered, we cannot do this no matter what the threats. We should go in now and call Putin's, what I believe to be the biggest bluff in History.

I also think that he told China that he would be threatening nukes. China would not be sitting back so comfy if they knew Putin's threat was for real.
China are very interested in how Nato react to such a threat.

[tiggerblue10]

They will need the army to turn on their dictator as already over 3k people have been arrested and detained. Gulags may soon be up and running again.

[lady-janine]

Thank you for all your interesting replies and thoughts. Yes, I agree and think that Putin is a bully and will only be stopped from his aggression when Russians are prepared to stop him. We in the west are being toothless. If not stopped now I think he will continue and then invade the Baltic states and Finland. Do any of you agree?