Fudged Ethics?
The Oxford Union have announced that they will be using Nestle as their sponsor for this term's Union Viennese Ball, despite the fact that many members and their colleges are still supporting the Nestle boycott.
Several Oxford colleges and OUSU have had a policy against Nestle for many years, mainly due to the fact that they supplied powdered baby milk to third world countries, posing major health problems for children who drank milk contaminated with dirty water. OUSU resolved to renew their boycott on Nestle in Michaelmas 2000 as did many Oxford colleges, a resolution that stands for five years.
Despite opinion that Nestle today are making steps towards improvements, including fair-trade products, Rob Vance, President of Wadham SU, told The OxStu that the company have not yet gone far enough: "I don't think that Nestle has yet sufficiently recognised their responsibility for the events in the third world. I would hope that the Union would take the concerns of its members seriously and take ethical issues into consideration".
Edward Tomlinson, President of the Union, told The OxStu: "Already in Oxford there are institutions such as Magdalen and St Peter's College JCR who use Nestle sponsorship. Even the OUSU shop used to stock Nestle products such as Kit-Kat. Under these circumstances I am satisfied for a Union party to receive a donation of Nestle chocolate and a very modest cash sum."
Nevertheless, one Hertford Student told The OxStu: "I have bought a ticket for the Ball but would have reconsidered if I had known it was sponsored by Nestle". Tickets for the termly ball, organised by Mohammed Khuram, the Union Secretary, sold out after less than two days.
29th Jan 2004