Community & Labour Action
Of all the natural resources on Earth, drinking water is arguably the most precious. It is essential to life. As recently as 10 years ago, most people living in the United States and Canada took their drinking water directly from the tap or the water cooler in their workplace. Today, close to one-fifth of the population relies exclusively on bottled water for their daily hydration. Over the past decade, sales in bottled water have exploded in North America. It is now the fastest-growing segment of the entire beverage industry.
Between 1993 and 2004, the consumption of bottled water more than doubled in the U.S. alone—from 10.5 gallons (40 litres) per capita to 23.8 gallons (90 litres). (Source: Beverage Marketing Corp).
Articles
US: Nestlé to rework environmental review for proposed McCloud bottling plant
Posted: July 3, 2007 Attached is a Press Release about the most recent development in the ongoing controversy around the Nestle water bottling proposal in McCloud, CA....Read More
Canada: citizens fight Nestlé over town water
Posted: June 18, 2007 Rabble. By Silvie Fojtik - Located in Southern Ontario, near Guelph, Aberfoyle is the residence of Nestlé's contentious bottling operations. ...Read More
US: Group wants temporary ban on bottled water plants
Posted: June 11, 2007 High Springs Herald. Rachael Anne Ryals - HIGH SPRINGS – The group “Our Santa Fe” is asking for a temporary halt on all new and renewal...Read More
US: Bottled water, no longer cool?
Posted: June 4, 2007 Fortune senior writer. By Marc Gunther - Activists turn up the heat on Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestle, says Fortune's Marc Gunther. NEW YORK...Read More
Canada" Water issues ranging from bottles to advocacy
Posted: June 4, 2007 The United Church of Canada. By Jim Cairney - Avoid those purchased water bottles--where possible. The United Church's 39th General Council voted...Read More
Canada: North Bay should be bottled water-free zone
Posted: June 4, 2007 The North Bay Nugget. By Bernice Cleator - An empty water bottle tossed on my lawn reminds me of something I have been thinking for quite some...Read More
Canada: Sacred activism bans plastic bottles
Posted: June 4, 2007 The Toronto Star. By Jennifer Hollett -Behind the ban The directors of the Unitarian Congregation of Niagara voted to ban all bottled...
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US: Bottled vs. tap: a challenge to tell them apart
Posted: June 4, 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer. By Harold Brubaker - It's about profit, say activists pitting Phila. water against major brands Bottled water or tap...Read More
US: Rural communities exploited by Nestlé for your bottled water
Posted: May 30, 2007 By Tara Lohan, AlterNet Across the country, multinational corporations are targeting hundreds of rural communities to gain control of their most...Read More
US: Fighting the Tide, a Few Restaurants Tilt to Tap Water
Posted: May 30, 2007 New York Times By Marian Burros DON’T bother asking for Fiji, San Pellegrino or any other designer water at either Incanto, a restaurant that...Read More
Stay Connected
BC Municipal Bottled Water Campaign
On May 28th, a joint package of materials was distributed to every municipality in British Columbia. Click here to read the letter sent to municipalities. Click here to see Municipal examples. Click here to read the press release. - Read more
Take the Bottle Water Free Orientation Challenge!
Now is the time to promote a bottled water free orientation/event to your Student Union and PIRG for Fall 2009. Here are two ways you can help: 1) Send Elly the contact info of your campus orientation organizers; 2) Call or meet with your orientation leaders to discuss bottled water free events. If you think you can do either of these tasks, please email Elly Adeland, Water and Energy Campaigner at: Elly@polarisinstitute.org
We will get the ball rolling together!
- Read more
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Action on Bottled Water
March 7, 2009 - The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) adopted a policy to encourage their members to "phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water" on city/town property. Click here to access: FCM Resolution, Polaris Institute FCM Briefing Memo, Polaris Institute Press Release, FCM Press Release - Read more
Ontario Municipal Bottled Water Campaign
On February 20th, a joint package of materials was distributed to all 444 municipalities in Ontario. Click here to read the letter sent to Municipalities. Click here to read the Municipal Examples and click here to read the Municipal Options sent to municipalities. - Read more
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Confronts Bottled Water
Click here to read AMO's memo to all its members on bottled water. - Read more
Nova Scotia Campaign to Turn on the Tap and Ditch Bottled Water
On December 12th, a provincial campaign on bottled water was launched in Nova Scotia. Click here to read the press release. Click here for Municipal Examples and click here for Municipal Options on bottled water. - Read more
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
CFS Bottled Water Policy Canadian Federation of Students policy on Bottled Water passed at the May 2008 General Meeting. Click here
FOI Request Template: Accessing Your University's Beverage Exclusivity Contract Click here
Cliquer ici
Alternatives to Bottled Water on Campus Organizing bottled water-free events on campus, such as Orientation Week.
Bottled Water FAQ Take the plunge! Frequently asked questions about policies for phasing out bottled water and re-investing in tap water.
Click here
Cliquer ici
Bottled Water Facts Fact sheets on the environmental, health, social and economic impacts of
the bottled water industry.
L'empreinte ecologique de l'eau embouteillee
Sante
Repercussions sociales
Repercussions economiques
L'empreinte ecologique de l'eau embouteillee
Sante
Repercussions sociales
Repercussions economiques
Municipal Action: Bottled Water Options and Examples Take the Plunge: Materials for Municipal Action on Bottled Water!
For Municipal Options click here
.For Municipal Examples click here
Community Organizing Package This package outlines some useful ideas and tools for building a campaign challenging the bottled water industry in Canada. Click here
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