There has been increasing support of protests against the Colas in USA. In Europe, Coca-Cola's regional subsidiary 8.66 million euros for discriminating against retailers

Yahoo News reported that The Greek competition regulator fined Coca-Cola's regional subsidiary 8.66 million euros (10.89 million dollars) for discriminating against retailers that did not use its products exclusively, the state body said. Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling (CCHBC), the dominant soft drinks distributor in Greece, was fined for preventing its contractual clients from deploying rival company coolers at points of purchase, the Hellenic Competition Commission said.

Meanwhile, inn Minneapolis, USA, a coalition of 64 organizations passed a resolution to boycott Cola products from their organizations. Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, a coalition of 64 organizations from around Minneapolis and St Paul including churches, music groups, veteran groups, environmental groups and civic society forums, after listening to a presentation by Sandeep Pandey on the policies and activities of Coke and Pepsi moved and passed a motion on their own initiative to boycott all products of these companies and recommend to their members to boycott them as well. In addition, they resolved to carry out an awareness campaign in their own communities.

In Gainseville, students from University of Florida agreed to take up the issue of Coke and its unethical practices with the University administration. The presentation by Sandeep Pandey was covered by the local newspaper.

Increasingly, Coke is finding that communities in universities, schools and larger society are becoming aware of its unethical policies. In response, it has in the last few months been running full page ads in most newspapers of large Universities. In some Universities, it has even employed staff to organize focus group discussions and sessions to tell students about the great job it is doing vis-à-vis water conservation (with free Coke of course).

In Minneapolis, a student at University of Minnesota said that they have been giving out free Coke products – Coke for men and Diet Coke for women. “It is interesting”, she points out sarcastically, “that they do not realize how sexist this is”.

In fact, the efforts of Coke are a reflection of the heat they are feeling owing to the increased awareness of the campaigns pointing out their unethical policies. During the relay of the Olympic flame through Italy for the 2006 Winter Games was repeatedly disrupted by protests at Coca-Cola’s role as principal sponsor, with Turin council actually declaring the host city a no-go zone for the company (a decision subsequently overruled by the mayor).

In Kerela, India, meanwhile, the Pioneer News Service reported that the state government has continued it stand against the operations of the multinational cola giant Coca-Cola in Plachimada, Palakkad. If the assurances given to a delegation consisting of Coca-Cola Virudha Samithi (Anti-Coca-Cola Committee) and Plachimada Solidarity Committee are any indication, the cola major will have to really sweat it out in the Supreme Court to convince that it was complying with all the environmental norms and not causing any pollution as alleged by the agitators. The Government has also given assurance to monitor the decisions of the Pollution Control Board.

According to R Ajayan, convener, Plachimada Solidarity Committee, Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has promised all the legal help they needed. Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan on Wednesday assured the Plaachimada Coca Cola Samara Samithi urgent measures to resolve the controversy surrounding the extraction of groundwater by the Coca Cola plant.

In Mehndiganj, the indefinite struggle is approaching its 100th day. While more national newsmedia is now carrying the story of stolen water and dumped pollutants, the administration is yet to act. Global communities are, however, increasingly supporting the protests and asking Coke to take responsibility. Sanat Mohanty was part of some of these meetings

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Posted by collective at June 14, 2006 10:49 PM