Coca - Cola ’s global distribution channels are so well - developed that a Coke can get reasonably much anywhere on the planet — even place where there ’s no access to fresh piddle . But Coke is mould on that , too . As part of its mission to bring drinking water to the communities it serves , the troupe has developed a solar - powered , Wi - Fi - equipped kiosk with a water purification system — and it plans to drop them in 20 countries by 2015 .
TheEKOCENTER , as it ’s called , is a modified cargo ships container outfit with satellite communications and aSlingshot weewee distillerdesigned by Dean Kamen ( yes , of Segway fame ; there ’s along leaning of other partnersthat include IBM and UPS ) . The solar panels on the roof not only power the purification system and the Wi - Fi , they also play as a shelter from the sun .
In add-on , each EKOCENTER may provide “ basic necessities ” like food , refrigerated vaccination storage and health education . The images here are from a airplane pilot program currently up and run in Heidelberg , South Africa , and there should be at least one more install by the end of 2013 . They guess that they could put up access to safe water to 500,000 masses by 2015 .
The EKOCENTER is fundamentally an expanded , semi - lasting version of the ColaLife projection , where Coke uses theextra space in their crates to ship medication . It should , of course , be part of Coke ’s mandate to provide water , medication , and healthy food to office where they ’re also selling diabetes - make sal soda . But perhaps even more interesting is what Coke representative called the kiosk to aNew York Times newsperson : “ We ’re call it a business district in a box . ”
These Clever Packages Can wrench Crates of Coke Into Boxes of Life - Saving Medicine
The big idea here is that ameliorate access to basic penury plus Wi - Fi can spur economical development . In fact , this is part of another one of their grand plans : The5by20program ( so many programs , Coke ! ) to endow five million woman entrepreneurs by 2020 ( so many goal , Coke ! ) .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogVHwYu2gAU
Okay , perhaps , yes — giving people Wi - Fi could help oneself them to take payments for their business or take grade or get a loan or something like that . At the very least , you ’d hope these things had tons of release so they could serve as a appoint place for wandering phone . But a “ business district ” ? Um , no . perhaps a library . But even then , it lacks the basic base ( SEATING ) and amenities of a dead on target residential district inwardness . Perhaps it ’s up to the local house physician to build up these things , but to paint a picture that they do n’t already have their own economic hubs and/or public shopping center is scornful . Of of course they do .
clean H2O and solar power are very prissy of Coke to provide , in addition to commercialize their products . But have ’s just call this EKOCENTER what it is : A exalt concession base . [ Coca - Cola viaNew York Times ]
AfricaCoca - ColaWater
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