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Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

nytimes.com

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Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#81

Post by nsxwolf »

minikites wrote: post #27
mrleiter wrote: post #12

As this thread will ultimately will end up discussing the corporate evil that Nestlé apparently is, I want to, for the sake of the discussion, point out the reasonableness of the CEOs statement regarding water as a human right: He argues water should have a market value so that it is treated more like a resource that should be well managed. Of course a state can also do this and in my opinion should, but of course as…

What about all of their other corporate abuses, including pitching infant formula as safer and better than breastfeeding (an outright lie no matter how you spin it)? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott#Baby_milk_...

Formula is certainly safer and better than getting zero milk from women that can't lactate, no?

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#82

Post by wavefunction »

brm wrote: post #25
mrleiter wrote: post #12

As this thread will ultimately will end up discussing the corporate evil that Nestlé apparently is, I want to, for the sake of the discussion, point out the reasonableness of the CEOs statement regarding water as a human right: He argues water should have a market value so that it is treated more like a resource that should be well managed. Of course a state can also do this and in my opinion should, but of course as…

He might have a point on water, but... Where are his statements on their practices regarding infant formula, the use of child slavery for chocolate, the use of general slavery in their seafood production in Thailand, and the intimidation of workers who wish to unionize in India?

Or how they steal public water and sell it while also claiming to not be subject to the laws governing that water.[0]

[0]http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36161580

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#83

Post by jedberg »

pdog wrote: post #64

> The rapidly expanding niche accounts for 15 to 20 percent of coffee consumed in the United States, according to the Specialty Coffee Association. One in every five or six cups of coffee is Blue Bottle or "third-wave specialty" coffee? This simply can't be true considering the scale of Starbucks, McDonald's, and Dunkin' Donuts, let alone brewing at home and coffee consumed at diners and non-specialty restaurants. I'…

Maybe the mean by total dollars spent. Which given the high prices at least passed the snug test. Maybe.

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#84

Post by agonow »

cwkoss wrote: post #74
throwaway0255 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint: Saying water isn't a human right is different than saying not everyone should have access to water. I generally agree that water isn't a right. I think it's a misuse of the word "right" and a misapplication of the concept of a "right". Rights define what you're free to do for yourself, and the various ways in which those freedoms can't be infringed upon by others. For example, you have a right to free s…

I think the key point of contention is about rainwater harvesting. Making rainwater harvesting illegal (and thus forcing people to overpay a monopolized water system) is arguably a violation of human rights. It is a prohibition of what you are 'free to do for yourself', that forces people to pay for something they need to survive (and could otherwise get for free). However, I agree on the haziness around the issue. M…

This is similar to Thomas Paine's argument for a basic income in Agarian Justice. If civilization has deprived you the natural right to live off the land, it should compensate you somehow (access to cheap clean water or free water).

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#85

Post by Johnny555 »

wavefunction wrote: post #82
brm wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He might have a point on water, but... Where are his statements on their practices regarding infant formula, the use of child slavery for chocolate, the use of general slavery in their seafood production in Thailand, and the intimidation of workers who wish to unionize in India?

Or how they steal public water and sell it while also claiming to not be subject to the laws governing that water.[0] [0] http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36161580

Are they really stealing it? The US Forest service seems to think they have a valid permit:

Yet the firm's permit to operate this seven-mile pipeline in the mountains expired in 1988, though since it pays its yearly $524, the licence is still considered valid by the US Forest Service and by Nestle.... However, activists consider the permit expired and the US government is now reviewing Nestle's licence. A public comment period has just closed and this month a federal hearing will consider the legality of the permit.

Later that year a federal judge sided with the Forest Service and declared the permit legal:

A federal judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of the U.S. Forest Service, declaring valid Nestlé’s permit for water-bottling operations in the San Bernardino Mountains, on a motion filed by three environmental groups that sought to shut down the company’s efforts until its effects on the environment could be evaluated.

http://www.sbsun.com/2016/09/21/why-nestl-can-continue-to-bo...

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#86

Post by biggc »

sergers wrote: post #68
subnaught wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's pretty clear that the article intends "rapidly expanding niche" to refer to all of "third-wave specialty coffee," not just Blue Bottle.

That is still hard to fathom 20% of coffee sales

Maybe by dollar amount spent?

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#89

Post by KGIII »

Lewisssss wrote: post #53
dna_polymerase wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. I often hear this whole "water a human right" argument from the left and when asked about what would change they really can't answer that. I think everyone knows how water is essential for the human life but declaring it a human right won't change anything. After all what would we do the next day after making it a human right?! Send the US Army to Malawi bearing Super Soakers?

Capitalist institutions like the US Army can't deliver what the human needs, only another social system can deliver it.

As a Marine, I delivered food, water, shelter, medical supplies, and even entertainment to refugees. I'd then aid in their defense.

It's not a long-term solution but it was effective.

Re: Nestlé Takes Majority Stake in Blue Bottle

#90

Post by taheca »

Lewisssss wrote: post #52
ErikVandeWater wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And I don't get exactly what it means to declare water a human right. There are certainly people in the world not getting the clean water they need. But how do you solve this? You set up an international agency to acquire water for them. But where do you get the funding for this agency? If it really is a _human_ right, is this agency above local laws? What are the restrictions on this agency? Can this agency ban the…

We have to end this system based on profits and create other institutions based on rights and how to achieve those rights for everyone. Capitalism has failed!

Not according to Nancy Pelosi... why.. this is OUR system my dear, and its the best so just stop talking about it.

It's their system. The Baby Boomers, and it is an abject failure.

We can create something better Hackernews. We just have to give a shit.

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