YOUTH FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Say No to Coke: Chennai Students Challenge Aamir

"We wish to make it clear that with or without pesticides, we considerthese products unnecessary and unhealthy for consumers. We cannot sitquietly sipping colas while our borthers and sisters are losing theirwater to companies like Coke and Pepsi. We have a choice, and we'reexercising it by resolving to drive out companies that do not respectour environment, communities or India's consumers."

Chennai, 12 August, 2006 --
Students from Chennai-based Youth forSocial Change today challenged Aamir Khan to withdraw his endorsementof Coca Cola during the Gollapudi Awards Ceremony held at KamarajarArangam in Chennai today. Jennie Dolly Antony and Meghna Sukumar whoshouted "Aamir: Stop Endorsing Coke" and "Ganda Matlab Coca Cola" also held up a placard that read: "Aamir, Set An Example: Boycott Coke."Within minutes, security personnel grabbed the placard, and began manhandling the two girls. Meanwhile, other students from Youth forSocial Change seated elsewhere began raising slogans and held up anti-Coke placards urging the superstar to stop endorsing the killerCola.
The direct action was carried out at a ceremony to commemoratethe death anniversary of Gollapudi Srinivas, a debutante director who was tragically killed at a young age of 26. Aamir Khan was the chiefguest at the function."We did not want to disrupt the awards ceremony, and wish to convey our solidarity and sympathy to the Gollapudi Srinivas family which had found the courage to celebrate the death anniversary of young Srinivas. As youth, we wish to not just mourn the dead but also fightfor the living. Coca Cola is bad for health. And celebrity endorserslike Aamir and Madhavan are acting irresponsibly by using theirlarger-than-life screen presence to peddle these dangerous drinks tounsuspecting youth who think it is cool to consume junk food," Youthfor Social Change said. The youth organisation has said it is still hopeful that Aamir will do the right thing and withdraw his endorsement for this unhealthy product. "We are not going after the other celebrities. They have never claimed to have a conscience. Aamir has lent his support for two of the best known struggles for justice Aamirhas lent his support for two of the best known struggles for justice
endorsement of Coca Cola after the mountain of evidence regarding howit has robbed communities in Plachimada and Mehdiganj of water, orused death squads to kill trade union leaders in Colombia is nothingshort of hypocritical. We hope he has the good sense to withdraw."Not wanting to interrupt the Awards ceremony, the Youth for SocialChange had attempted to set up an appointment with Aamir Khan through email. Even before he entered the venue, two youth approached him andrequested him for five minutes but were refused. Left with no choice,the youth raised their issue with the Bollywood star inside the hall.The youth group has decided to launch a nationwide campaign networkingwith other youth groups to pressure celebrities to stop endorsing Coke and Pepsi, and other unhealthy products."We wish to make it clear that with or without pesticides, we consider these products unnecessary and unhealthy for consumers. We cannot sit quietly sipping colas while our borthers and sisters are losing theirwater to companies like Coke and Pepsi. We have a choice, and we are exercising it by resolving to drive out companies that do not respect our environment, communities or India's consumers."His continued endorsement of Coca Cola after the mountain of evidence regarding how it has robbed communities in Plachimada and Mehdiganj of water, or used death squads to kill trade union leaders in Colombia is nothing short of hypocritical. We hope he has the good sense to withdraw."Not wanting to interrupt the Awards ceremony, the Youth for SocialChange had attempted to set up an appointment with Aamir Khan through email. Even before he entered the venue, two youth approached him and requested him for five minutes but were refused. Left with no choice,the youth raised their issue with the Bollywood star inside the hall.
The youth group has decided to launch a nationwide campaign networkingwith other youth groups to pressure celebrities to stop endorsing Coke and Pepsi, and other unhealthy products."We wish to make it clear that with or without pesticides, we considerthese products unnecessary and unhealthy for consumers. We cannot sit quietly sipping colas while our borthers and sisters are losing their water to companies like Coke and Pepsi. We have a choice, and we are exercising it by resolving to drive out companies that do not respect our environment, communities or India's consumers."
Aamir has lent hi support to two of the best people's movements,i.e Narmada and Bhopal. His continued endorsement of Coca Cola after the mountain of evidence regarding how it has robbed communities in Plachimada and Mehdiganj of water, or used death squads to kill trade union leaders in Colombia is nothingshort of hypocritical. We hope he has the good sense to withdraw."Not wanting to interrupt the Awards ceremony, the Youth for SocialChange had attempted to set up an appointment with Aamir Khan throughemail. For more information, contact: Youth for Social Change Lakshmi Premkumar: +91 9841519160Meghna Sukumar: +91 9884333578Email: laqshmepremkumar@yahoo.com , meghna_sukumar@yahoo.com