coke sucks!

The nature of the Coca Cola industry is water intensive, subsequently the plants' activities reduce water levels in surrounding areas. Consequentely displaced people have to dig deeper into the ground or walk further to access water. Once found, the water resource is polluted as Coca Cola discharges it's waste water back into the ground. Toxic practices also include providing solid waste to farmers in Kerala as fertiliser, a practice only stopped by the order of the Indian Government.

In September 2003, the Indian parliament banned the sale of Coke and Pepsi products in it's cafeterias. Tests found high concentrations of pesticides and insecticides in the drinks. These toxins were over 30 times the standard deemed safe for consumption by the European Union. Tests of the same drink in US were found to be safe.

THE STRUGGLE:
Indian communities are challenging Coca Cola practices to regain control over natural resources.

Plachimada, Kerala- since April, 2002, symbolic blockades and picketing. A constant vigil outside Coca Cola bottling plant in their village. The High Court has recently ruled in favour of the people, Coca Cola had to find alternative sources of water for use in it's plant. It has recently shut down.

Mehdiganj (near Varanasi)- Coca Cola illegally occupied part of the village common property resources. The High Court found Coca Cola guilty of evading land payments. This plant enjoys heavily subsidized electricity and spews toxins into surrounding agricultural fields. Protests there were met by 200 Police and 50 private security guards with guns, highered to protect the plant. Protesters were beaten up.
Kudus, Thane District- severe water shortage. Villages question the sudsidized water, land and tax breaks this plant receives, while they go thirsty. Protesters are harassed regularly by the Police for demonstrating at the pipeline, recently built to transport water from a river to the plant.

Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu- April 2003, 7000 people (mostly women), joined to protest a proposed Coca Cola factory in their village.

The Peoples Forum Against Coca Cola were demonstrating at the WSF 2004, Mumbai, and joined by the Mark Thomas Team whom have been investigating/filming the struggles of the people of Kerala. So watch out for it in the next series.

For more info-  http://www.indiaresource.org/

For info on Coca Cola's activities in Columbia, including the murder of 8 union leaders from Coca Cola bottling plants since 1989, by paramilitary forces -

 http://www.sinaltrainal.org/
 http://www.mtcp.co.uk/coca-cola/
 http://mumbai.indymedia.org/
 http://india.indymedia.org/
 http://www.countercurrents.org