Coke drains water out of India
PR Newswire
Issue date: 2/2/05 Section: News
ATLANTA- Students and local community
leaders are joining with Corporate
Accountability International(CAI) in urging the
Coca-Cola company to stop draining water
from rural communities in India at a Human
Rights Forum titled "Bridging the Gap" and
a youth conference.
The forum and the conference,
organized by Reverend
James Orange and the
Martin Luther King, Jr.
March Committee, was
part of this year's King \
Week activities, timed to
coincide with Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day.
Representatives of various
organizations are speaking
out against Coke's abusive
practices in India during
this year's panel discussion.
"It is hard for adults in Atlanta to
believe that Coke would ever do anything
that would harm people, but the truth is that
they are basically stealing water from poor people
in India...it may be difficult to challenge
Coca-Cola but it is the right thing to do," says
Illai Kenney with Kids Against Pollution.
As a result of Coke's water extraction, at least
five communities across India face severe water
shortages and health problems. In Plachimada,
in southern India, Coke's water extraction has
dried up hundreds of hand-pumped wells, leaving
people without enough water for basic
needs.
In Mehdiganj, in northeastern India, Coke
decreased the level of groundwater by 40 feet,
leaving small farmers without enough water to
irrigate their crops.
Across the US people are joining with allies
in India demanding that Coke stop
stealing water, starting by: never reopening its
Plachimada plant, closing its Mehdiganj plant
and paying for the damage it has done to affected
communities.
"Coke's abuses are threatening the lives and
livelihoods of people in rural communities in
India. The corporation's leadership needs to
know that people across the US, and here
in Atlanta, are joining with people
in India to reject its irresponsible
leaders are joining with Corporate
Accountability International(CAI) in urging the
Coca-Cola company to stop draining water
from rural communities in India at a Human
Rights Forum titled "Bridging the Gap" and
a youth conference.
The forum and the conference,
organized by Reverend
James Orange and the
Martin Luther King, Jr.
March Committee, was
part of this year's King \
Week activities, timed to
coincide with Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day.
Representatives of various
organizations are speaking
out against Coke's abusive
practices in India during
this year's panel discussion.
"It is hard for adults in Atlanta to
believe that Coke would ever do anything
that would harm people, but the truth is that
they are basically stealing water from poor people
in India...it may be difficult to challenge
Coca-Cola but it is the right thing to do," says
Illai Kenney with Kids Against Pollution.
As a result of Coke's water extraction, at least
five communities across India face severe water
shortages and health problems. In Plachimada,
in southern India, Coke's water extraction has
dried up hundreds of hand-pumped wells, leaving
people without enough water for basic
needs.
In Mehdiganj, in northeastern India, Coke
decreased the level of groundwater by 40 feet,
leaving small farmers without enough water to
irrigate their crops.
Across the US people are joining with allies
in India demanding that Coke stop
stealing water, starting by: never reopening its
Plachimada plant, closing its Mehdiganj plant
and paying for the damage it has done to affected
communities.
"Coke's abuses are threatening the lives and
livelihoods of people in rural communities in
India. The corporation's leadership needs to
know that people across the US, and here
in Atlanta, are joining with people
in India to reject its irresponsible