Vandana Shiva and Coca-Cola

This article is a detailed example of a successful modern day Satyagraha, which eventually included Dr. Vandana Shiva, among many others.

An excerpt from the article:

The example of the transnational Coca-cola in Plachimad, Kerala, satyagraha which has had the support of Vandana Shiva, Medha Patkar, Arundati Roy and numerous other activitis, is a wonderful example of a Satyagraha campaign, without the use of the past. Since the rise of US corporate transnationalism, the trademark logos of the Coca Cola company have become synonymous with US economic imperialism. The Coca Cola company operates in over 200 countries, more than belong to the WTO. In 1977, Coca-Cola was kicked out of India, as under government leadership concerned about its citizenry, recognized that she herself could make sodas if necessary for her population, and retain the profits. Furthermore, India’s villages are extremely hard pressed for adequate and clean water for daily needs and soda is rarely a healthy drink. 33% of her villages have grossly inadequate water supplies. With the rise of the WTO and its influence upon Indian government echelons, India’s doors were again opened to foreign ’investment’, under a new attitude of corporate ‘neo-liberalism.’ Hindustan Coca-Cola Pvt., Ltd., along with Pepsi came back to India in 1993. Coca-Cola began huge plant operations in approximately 50 locations throughout the country. Once India embraced the Coca Cola company, her own indigenous soda makers, and their employees, were out of work in a short time.