There is a great battle being fought in this world of men. The dark lord Sauron is moving against the good honest hardworking people of the world. What is Sauron? Surely he is the dehumanising principle, the System, the Machine, the Big Brother, the Devil.

The metaphors are clear. There is a principle of good in the world and there is its antithesis, the abyss, the lack of good, the care-less-ness.

What is the point of this cod-philosophising? It is to introduce the idea that this evil is being allowed to pillage our world unrestricted. The often unrecognised evil is  apparent in the rapacious actions of Big Business:  the multinational, globalised, inhumane machinery that sets profit before people.

As global corporations increasingly acquire wealth and influence, the  people and even the very nations of the Earth become  mere weapons and tokens in their power games, resulting in common decency, respect and meaning being sucked from life to leave a dead landscape laid to utter waste;  filled with creeping crippled creatures, seeking each their precious token of self-esteem, forgetting the very precious community they have lost.

The inspiration of this solemn post is the recent announcement by Diageo that they plan to close the Johnnie Walker plants in Kilmarnock (inc. Hurlford) and also Port Dundas.  The image attached to this post is a representation of how I feel about the effect this closure will have on Ayrshire.  Despite being the biggest drinks corporation in the world, despite making many millions in profit, and despite the loyalty of the hard-working employees that made the company and the brand of Johnnie Walker what it is today, the company plots to close the plants.

The decision is being made in the name of efficiency. A careless, human-less decision, driven by the balance-sheet and financial projection. For shame, Diageo. For black, black shame.

Dear reader, you may be interested to read the full list of Diageo brands.  I fear that the pursuit of wealth may be their only consideration.

The Uruk-hai are on the march. After Ayrshire, it will be your shire.  Please, please – for the sake of the ‘shire – support the campaign. Take up your sword of truth and shield of virtue and join the battle:

http://www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com

Save the Striding Man! Save Kilmarnock, the hometown of Johnnie Walker.

In a severe blow for the town, Diageo, owners of the Johnnie Walker brand, have decided to close their
bottling / packaging plant in Kilmarnock with the loss of 700 jobs.  A further 200 jobs will be lost at their Port Dundas distillery.

The decision is purely one of financial planning – although worldwide sales are down, the company still makes considerable profits. Loyalty to the town  where the famous whisky brand started it seems is sadly lacking. This is awful news for the whole area and very worrying.

Remember singing the song referred to in the title? Remember the old Johnnie Walker end? Remember your heritage? Remember your local pride? It all means nothing in the cold cold world of business efficiency. Feels like betrayal to all the people that have supported the company all these years.

Diageo  produces  many drinks brands including Guinness, Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky.

This Killie fan won’t be drinking these any more.

edit:

a full list of Diageo products below (thanks to Sir Duncan Balfour on TAMB).

This underlines how big a company they are. Can’t they afford to keep JW in its historic home?

Aperitif

Picon

Beer

Guiness, Harp Kilkenny, Red Stripe, Saltzenburg, Senator, Smethwicks, Tusker, Windhoek.

Brandy

Bertrams VO

Champagne

Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon

Cognac

Hennessy

Gin

Gordons, Gilbeys, Tanqueray

Liquers

Baileys, Dulseda, Godiva, Romana Sambuca, Safari

Non – Alcohol

Jose Cuerva Margarita Mix, Kaliber, Malta Guinness

RTD/FMB

Archers Aqua, Jose Cuerva Golden Margarita, Smirnoff Ice, Smirnoff Raw Tea, Ruski, UDL.

Rum

Bundaberg, Captain Morgan, Oronoco.

Schnapps

Archers, Black Haus, Goldschlagger, Rumple Minze.

Tequila

Don Julio, Jose Cuervo.

Vodka

Ciroc, Smirnoff, Tanqueray.

Whisk(e)y

Bells, Benmore Buchanans, Bulleit Bourbon, Bushmills, Black & White, Cardhu, Clan Royal, Dimple, George Dickel, Haig, J & B, Johnnie Walker, Old Parr, Seagrams, Singleton, Slate, Spey Royal, The Real MacKenzie, VAT 69, White Horse, Windsor.

Malts

Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glen Elgin, Glen Ord, Glenkinchie, Knockandu, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, Talisker.

Wine

Barton & Guestier, Beaulieu Vineyard, Blossom Hill, Justerini & Brooks, Sterling Vineyards, Piat D’or.

Quite a list really