http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=24957
 http://www.rediff.com/money/2004/jan/28cola.htm

A four member International Public Health team which visited Plachimada in the wake of the World Water Conference has urged Chief Minister AK Antony to withdraw all support to the multi-national Coca-Cola plant and make the state free from Coke and Pepsi.

Addressing a media conference here, team co-ordinator Arturo Quizphe, former Dean of the faculty of medical sciences, University of Cuenca, Ecuador, said it would take up the issue of abuse of human rights by the multi national company at the upcoming World Health Assembly in Geneva and demand the setting up of a team to monitor the health of the people of remote Plachimada in Palakkad district, affected by the dumping of high levels and cadmium into the environment by the company.
Expressing concern over the media reports to this effect and substantiated by BBC radio and the Kerala Pollution control Board, Dr Arturo said both the substances were know to cause cancer, neurological disorders and developmental disabilities in human beings.



The team members representing the People's Health Movement of the Americas, which participated at the recent World Social Forum held in Mumbai, made a one-day trip to Plachimada to express solidarity with the local community in their struggle against Coca Cola before reaching here to address the media conference.


The PHM, they said, was to coalition of health activities and grassroot health workers representing more than 100 countries.


Edgar Isch Lopez, former minister of environment, Ecuador and Julio Monsalvo from Argentina were the other team members. Jeff Conant, environmental educator and journalist translated into English the speeches made by the Latin American members.