A communication happened in reference 2 stolengeneration list ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: R.V.G. Menon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Aug 17, 2006 11:56 AM
Dear Sri Chakri, I got the information I posted by talking to some JVV activists in Hyderabad, during my recent visit to AP. Of course, I presume that any such campaign would necessarily have to be a mass campaign with the involvement of many movements. There was no intention on my part to deny this or deny them due credit. I mentioned only JVV because that was the only name I happened to know. Any misunderstanding on this score is sincerely regretted. If the reported 60% drop in the Cola sales is not factual, that stands corrected. But I might hasten to add that any drop, if it resulted in the closing down of a Cola Plant, is validation of, and a boost to, such campaigns. With best regards, RVG Dear friends, Firstly thanks for the piece posted here.First things first. JVV has done admirable work regarding anti soft drink struggles especially MNC soft drinks and actively campaigning for the use of natural drinks.But it will be unfair to say because of JVV that Chiranjeevi with drew his challenge. It is collective action of say many peoples organisations. Even we collected signatures against his Adv.Secondly I don't know from where Mr RGV Menon got the data about the drop in sales of colas by 60%. I don't thing those figures are accurate.Being somebody associated with anti-cola struggles either thorough STOLEN GENERATION or various other peoples orgnisations the increase in sales of colas is on the rise in rural areas in A.P which didn't even know what soft drink means some 10 years back.But i had admit that I can see drop in sales of colas in cities and semi urban areas of A.P.Also JVV is limited due to its affiliation towards CPM party which of course it never admits. Secondly Chiranjeevi with drew only that particular ad with challenge but not his patronage towards Thumsup. With Regards, Chakri Anivar Aravind wrote: > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: R.V.G. Menon > Date: Aug 14, 2006 11:32 AM > > A very informative article. > During my recent travel in Guntur District (AP) I found a Cola factory > which had been bombed by the Naxals in Mangalagiri Mandal. But it had > been rebuilt and has resumed production. > On the other hand, the Jana Vignana Vedika forced the closing down of > the Nellore Plant of Coca Cola through a boycott campaign. The JVV > launched a campaign with the motto "Boot Out the Colas'. The popular > actor Chiranjeevi was the Brand Ambassador for Thums Up. He made an > open (ill-advised!) challenge that "if any one can prove it is > harmful, I will be the first to stop drinking it". The JVV wrote a > letter to him (very politely) and had discussions with him. They also > launched a letter campaign. In the end, Sri Chiranjeevi withdrew the > ad and withdrew the patronage. > The Cola Company approached the JVV activists. JVV replied with facts > and figures. The sales of the Colas came down by 60% in AP. The > campaign continued for about three years and finally the Plant in > Nellore was closed down in May 2006. > The campaign still goes on. > The campaign against the Colas have to continue in Kerala also, and > should not get hung up on the pesticide residue aspect alone. > RVG --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "stolengeneration" group. To post to this group, send email to stolengeneration@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/stolengeneration -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
