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July 17, 2006
Campaigns across India ask Coke to Quit
Brunda Kattekola presents an overview of the campaigns against Coke in India. Mehdiganj: Launch of Mehdiganj StruggleA village in Uttar Pradesh, around 20 Km from the holy city of Varanasi. The communities in this village and in the surrounding areas launched an indefinite strike against the unjust practices of the local Coca Cola plant. Kaladera: Falling Water Levels RajasthanListed Located in the desert state of RajasthanLocated in the desert state Rajasthan with annual rainfall of 200 mm. The village has experienced quick drop of 5 m in water table levels in just 5 years since Coca Cola started its operation in 2000. Plachimada:Parched Lands of PlachimadaLocated in the wettest state, Kerala, that enjoys and annual rainfall of 1170 mm, the Perumatty Gram Panchayat cancelled the license of operation for the Coca Cola plant accusing them of polluting the area and affecting their water resources. Listed above are few of the many communities in India that have been demanding Coca Cola and Pepsi Co to stop operating in their villages. Water is of prime importance for the survival of humans. However, with the advent of companies like Coca Cola, Pepsi Co, and other soft drink companies in addition to reduced rainfalls have forced millions (need reference) to face the water shortage. · The ground water level in the area has gone down due to the excessive mining of water by the local Coca Cola plant. More.. · The chemical waste let out by the plant into the nearby farms resulted large scale destruction of crops and soil has been damaged as well. More.. · The plant has also occupied the local panchayat land and has been found guilty of tax theft. More.. · In addition, local civic society groups also discovered financial fraud by the company in Mehdiganj and the courts have held Coke guilty and fined them – the government is yet to implement the fine. More.. The people of Mehdiganj started an indefinite Dharna infront of the coke plant on 23 rd March 2006, under the leadership of Nandlal Master. While Cola companies reserve the right to make profits ethically, they externalize costs of production on to local and global communities which is exploitative and unethical. These unethical practices have been documented and impact communities globally. Some FAQs with respect to Coke's activities in Mehdiganj are also listed. Global communities now oppose this. We demand the Coca Cola and Pepsico stop production of their products till such time that they make products without exploitative methods and without externalizing the costs of production. Until such a time, as members of a global community, we boycott their products and call upon other community groups to do so as well. This is one site listing their exploitative and unethical practices around the world (focusing especially on India where 90 bottling plants are located). It documents campaigns from affected communities and opposition to Cola companies from the world over. It also includes some commonly asked questions and gives some suggestion as to how you can convince the Cola companies to act ethically and your governments to prevent exploitation of communities. More information on the successes of the Right to Information Campaign can be found on thesouthasian website . Related Links Are Coke’s Spinning Wheels Coming Off? Community Groups demand Coke, Pepsi Stop Exploitation Coke Too Big for Lower Courts and Other Stories Pepsi & Coke Facing Ban, Consumer Boycott Posted by campaigns at July 17, 2006 02:58 PM Comments
THE ACTIONS OF COKE AND PEPSI AND OTHER BOTTLED WATER COMPANIES IS NOT UNCONNECTED WITH THE THRUST OF WATER-PRIVATIZATION IN INDIA. INTERLINKING OF RIVERS PROJECT CONNECTING 30 MAJOR RIVERS WITH 37 CANALS (AND OVER 100 MAJOR DAMS)AT A COST OF $112 BILLION (AT LEAST) IS ANOTHER SUCH THRUST. BOTH NEED TO BE EXPOSED AND RESISTED. Posted by: Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere (Retd) on July 24, 2006 09:02 PMI have just returned from US. There is one litter of petrol cost $0.89, one litter of beer cost $.99; one litter of coke cost $1.59 and one litter of water cost $2.99. If we do not kick cock out of India, the same will happen to Indiansafter 10 years. Mathew Mattam Posted by: Mathew Mattam on July 25, 2006 08:52 AMPost a comment
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