‘This is what I was born for’: the drought-ridden Colombian town that took on Coca-Cola Femsa
While La Calera faced severe water rationing, local springs were being drained by the drinks giant’s franchise. So the residents fought back
TL;DR
- La Calera residents faced extreme water rationing due to drought while Coca-Cola Femsa's subsidiary, Indega, continued water extraction for bottling.
- Activists campaigned against Indega, highlighting the company's low water usage fees compared to household charges.
- The campaign involved legal challenges, social media pressure, and activism, with leaders facing intimidation and death threats.
- Local authorities eventually reduced Indega's water concession, cutting extraction rates, the number of springs used, and the concession length.
- The victory is seen as a significant achievement for environmental activism in Colombia, though activists remain vigilant about future water resource protection.