Community & Labour Action
Canada: Bottled water verboten at St. John's city hall
Posted: June 25, 2008CBC News.
A motion to ban bottled water at St. John's city hall flowed easily through a council meeting Tuesday evening.
Councillors backed a motion by Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth to set a good environmental example by supplying only water from the city's taps inside the building, as well as at functions that the city sponsors.
Coun. Gerry Colbert said the decision would have pleased the late Dorothy Wyatt, a former mayor and councillor who complained regularly about using commercial water coolers inside city buildings.
"Coun. Wyatt lives. She was at this, Ron, I guess, longer than you and I were here," Colbert said.
"She would stand up all the time and show us the cost and [say], 'How much bottled water did you buy last week?'" Colbert said.
Wyatt died in 2001.
Only one councillor — Wally Collins, a contractor who believes clearing pipes of stale water on Monday mornings will be wasteful — voted against the motion.
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JOIN THE BOTTLED WATER FREE ZONES CAMPAIGN
Create a bottled water free zone in your classroom, student union, workplace, union local, community centre, City Hall buildings, environmental social justice or faith based group, and more! click here to find out how you can participate in the campaign - Read more
LAUNCH OF THE CAMPUS BOTTLED WATER FREE ZONES CAMPAIGN FOR WORLD WATER DAY
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November 21st campus day of action update and results
Read student organizer's comments and see pictures, click here - Read more
Ottawa Water Study Action Group - next meeting May 27
OWSAG is working on a campaign to encourage Ottawa City Council to stop supporting the bottled water industry and rather, encourage the consumption of tap water. Sign a support letter at here.
Next OWSAG meeting is Tuesday May 27, 12:00, 180 Metcalfe St. Suite 500, Ottawa.
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Campaign tools available for order Click hereto find out how to order campaign stickers and pamplets.
Community Organizing Package This package outlines some useful ideas and tools for building a campaign challenging the bottled water industry in Canada. Click here
Letter to Canadian Mayors Click here to download a copy of the letter Polaris Institute sent to 28 Canadian Mayors encouraging them to reconsider municipal expenditures on bottled water
San Francisco Executive Directive Use this example in a campaign to encourage your local government to ban bottled water. Click here for a copy
Student awareness to action kit PART 1
A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
Utility Calculator for Vending Machines Calculate the energy consumption of your institution's vending machines
Find calculators here
Find calculators here