Anti-Pepsico and Coca-Cola protesters detained in India

On March 22, World Water Day, more than 40 people were arrested in New Delhi while protesting against water theft by Coca-Cola and Pepsico. The India Resource Centre reports that more than 300 people marched to the planning commission's offices to demand action from the government over the soft-drink companies' creation of severe water shortages and contamination of soil and groundwater. An organiser of the march and one of those detained, Nandlal Master from Lok Samiti and the National Alliance of People's Movements, said the protest was aimed at "one of the world's worst abusers of water, the Coca-Cola company", which has "destroyed the lives of thousands of people in India as a result of its thirst for water". For more information, visit <http://www.indiaresource.org>.

From GLW issue 704