MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: Rally to Shut Down Coca-Cola Plant in Rajasthan, India
WHERE: Coca-Cola Bottling Factory, Kala Dera, Rajasthan, India (45 kms from Jaipur)
WHEN: Tuesday, August 22 11 am
WHY: More than 50 villages living around Coca-Cola's bottling plant in Kala Dera, in the north Indian state of
Rajasthan, have been experiencing severe water shortages as a result of Coca-Cola's bottling operations in the area.
The communities are demanding the immediate closure of the plant, and there will be coordinated protests against
Coca-Cola and Pepsico plants in Jodhpur and Alwar.
This is the latest in a series of demonstrations against the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Kala Dera. In December 2005,
over 1,500 people marched to demand the plant's shutdown, and in June 2004, over 2,000 people protested the plant.
"Like Kerala, we are demanding that the state of Rajasthan ban the sale and production of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the
state," said Sawai Singh of Jan Sangharsh Samiti.
WHO: A large number of groups from Rajasthan are taking part in the protest. Jan Sangharsh Samiti is one of the primary
organizers of the march. Expected to attend are more than a thousand farmers, students and women.
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