Student Action
The real truth about what you drink at school and on campus...
“The name of the game is to create a Coke or Pepsi drinker in the 6-to-24-age group. If the pop kings can create brand loyalty at that stage of life, chances are they will have nurtured a new crop of lifetime consumers of their products. For both Pepsi and Coke, the place to start is in schools, colleges and university campuses. Their strategy: an ingenious marketing tool called the ‘exclusive beverage agreement’”
Students across Canada and the US are increasingly challenging the presence of the cola kings Coke and Pepsi at their schools and campuses for a variety of reasons, such as corporate misconduct and the commercialization of public space.
This webpage is designed to support these campaigns and foster activism in schools and on campuses that exposes bottled water for what it truly is; a trend based on consumer manipulation, environmental degradation and the expansion of corporate control of a precious, life-sustaining common resource.
This webpage provides a space to connect student grassroots activism, sharing of campaign tools and experiences, and coalition-building amongst student campaigns. It is part of Polaris Institute’s ‘Inside the Bottle’ project – an awareness to action campaign focused on saving our water systems.
Articles
Pensez à l’extérieur de la bouteille au PFCNO 2009
Posted: November 5, 2009 5 novembre 2009, EDMONTON -- Il ne reste qu’une semaine avant le Parlement franco-canadien du Nord et de l’Ouest (PFCNO), qui aura lieu du 13 au...Read More
TAPPED--The Movie
Posted: November 4, 2009 www.tappedthemovie.com--Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like...Read More
Ontario Bottled Water
Posted: October 29, 2009 The Canadian Press, October 29, 2009, TORONTO - University students in Toronto are pushing the Ontario government to stop buying bottled water and...Read More
Fredericton group looks to eliminate bottled water from campus
Posted: October 20, 2009 Kyle Mullin, October 15, 2009, HERE New Brunswick's Urban Voice--A few former students of John McKendy felt the best way to start spreading their...Read More
Is bottled water a thing of the past?: On campus campaign is influencing change one pledge at a time
Posted: October 20, 2009 Nicole Elsasser, October 15, 2009, The Ontarion--It's an all too familiar feeling; the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you know you're...Read More
Group asks PSU to eliminate bottled water
Posted: October 20, 2009 Jourdan Cole, October 15, 2009, The Daily Collegian--The phrase "purified drinking water" appears on the label of every bottle of Aquafina water -- a...Read More
Not a drop to drink?:Report examines the state of water fountains on Canadian campuses
Posted: September 11, 2009 Mitch Gauven, September 10, 2009, TheVarsity.ca--Finding accessible drinking water on Canadian campuses may not be such an easy task, according to a...Read More
Michael Hlinka: Don't soak students for a drink of water
Posted: September 9, 2009 Michael Hlinka, September 8, 2009, CBC News--All over Canada, college and university students are returning to class. Many of them will find the...Read More
Bottle-free the way to be: students, activists
Posted: September 9, 2009 Bailey White, September 9, 2009, The Aquinian--Eleven months after John McKendy’s death, memories of the late professor still have a strong...Read More
Memorial University to Become Bottled Water Free: Water Pledge officially signed at MUN orientation event
Posted: September 8, 2009 For Immediate Release, September 8, 2009, St. John’s – Students joined Memorial University of Newfoundland’s (MUN) president pro tempore, Dr....Read More
Where are water fountains on Canadian campuses?
Posted: September 8, 2009 Andrew Moran, September 4, 2009, Digital Journal-- The Polaris Institute has released a new report titled 'Campus Water Fountains: The Good, The...Read More
Memorial University Signs Pledge to go Bottled Water Free
Posted: September 8, 2009 VOCM--Memorial University is pledging to eliminate bottled water from all its campuses. Interim President Dr. Chris Loomis signed a pledge during...Read More
Campus bottled water ban?: York student groups float the idea
Posted: August 28, 2009 Ryan Buchanan, August 28, 2009, The Excalibur--With York’s Pepsi contract set to expire in 2011, student groups may seize the opportunity to push...Read More
Banning bottled water: will universities take the plunge?
Posted: August 13, 2009 Sophie Haydock, August 11, 2009, The Ecologist.org--Leeds University is the first in the UK to ban the sale of bottled water on campus. Will other...Read More
Student Campaign in City of Surrey
Posted: July 7, 2009 TAP IN is a student-led campaign whose mission is to persuade the councillors of the City of Surrey, BC to promote local water systems by putting a...Read More
Banning the Bottle UW lags in initatives to reduce water bottle usage
Posted: June 15, 2009 Imprint Online. By Julia Hawthornthwaite -Canadian bottled water companies beware. We can start calling 2009 year of the bottled water...
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
Canada: Green on campus: An Earth Day cross-Canada survey
Posted: April 23, 2009 Rabble.ca. By Ronak Ghorbani and Mai Nguyen -Our student union at Ryerson University made environmental initiatives a top priority this year...
Read More
US: Belmont drops water bottles
Posted: April 21, 2009 Nashville Business Journal. Belmont University has discontinued selling bottled water on campus as part of its “Belmont Goes Green”...Read More
U of W bans sale of bottled water
Posted: April 3, 2009 MONTREAL (CUP)—Last week, the University of Winnipeg became the first university in Canada to ban the sale of bottled water on its campus, and...Read More
Acadia celebrates week of water
Posted: April 3, 2009 By Katie Bowers Although World Water Day was offi cially March 22, Acadia University hosted water awareness activities for the entire week of March...Read More
Canadian first: U of W bans bottled water
Posted: April 3, 2009 By Rochelle Francis The University of Winnipeg will be the fi rst university in Canada to implement a ban on the sale of bottled water on its...Read More
World Water Day Follow-Up: Campaign Summary and Update
Posted: April 1, 2009 The past month has been triumphant! Student leaders from across the country organized collective action for World Water Day (March 22) at an...Read More
A Canadian Student Takes Campus Water Action Abroad
Posted: April 1, 2009 Western Australia – A Canadian student working on her master’s degree at Murdoch University in Perth Western Australia began her anti bottled...Read More
EDUCATION: University of Winnipeg bans bottled water
Posted: March 31, 2009 The McGill Tribune. By Theo Mayer -Phase-out will be offset by the installation of more water fountains
Following a recent student...
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