Environmentalist Vadana Shiva launched a global offensive against multinationals Coca Cola and Suez Degremont at the People's World Water Forum (PWWF). "These two companies are the prime exploiters of global water resources," Shiva said. "Suez leads in privatisation of water in most countries and Coca Cola leads in having conflicts with the local people over groundwater mining". Suez Degremont has just built a water treatment plant at Sonia Vihar, New Delhi - this is seen as the first step in a plan to privatise the city's water supply. Recently Coca Cola was ordered to stop drawing water for their bottling plant in Plachimada, in the southern Indian state of Kerala [1]. The Forum took place in New Delhi, India, 12-14 Jan 2004 and attracted organisations from more than 60 countries. One of the key speakers was Danielle Mitterrand, wife of the late French President Francois Mitterrand. Ms Mitterrand has been involved in the global movement against water privatisation for the last four years. Other issues raised at the PWWF included water as a human right and river diversion schemes.

[1] India, Kerala: Coca-Cola plant must stop drawing groundwater, Source, 30 Dec 2003, http://www.irc.nl/page/7661

Contact: PWWF Delhi Group, India, pwwf@pwwf.org

Source: OneWorld South Asia, 14 Jan 2004
Indian Express, 13 Jan 2004
Alertnet, 17 Jan 2004

People's World Water Forum (PWWF), http://www.pwwf.org/

Tags: financing