... and I say, "It's about damn time!".The Canadian Federation of Municipalities is toying with the idea of banning the sale of bottled water on municipal properties.
Setting aside the very real fact that there's a water war brewing in this world and that water privatization is scary as hell, the existence of bottled water is killing our environment. Our landfills are filled with the stuff and even if every bottled was recycled, the environmental cost of making those bad boys is outrageous.
And then you throw in the various studies showing that most bottled water is no better than what you get from the tap and personally, I'm left scratching my head.
To me, bottled water is one of the biggest scams in existence. I see it in the same category as "Botox" where our children and their children will look at us and say "WTF were you think?" "You mean, you used to BUY water from a BOTTLE when you could get it from the tap?" And then they'll burst into laughter. Especially if the water wars continue and our children's children will be forced to buy water from a bottle because we'll have sold it all to a handful of corporations.
Treat your water like a commodity to be bought and sold and that's exactly what will happen.
So "Kudos" to those municipalities who decide to follow through on this. There will be tons of pressure from Coke, Pepsi and the like but I'm hoping they stick to their guns.
Drinking bottled water has become a cultural symbol, right up there with drinking from a Starbucks cup. It's a class symbol. But it's also learnt behaviour. And just as society is starting to shift towards carrying around travel mugs for their coffee, the same can be done for water.
This may blow some people's minds, but there are such things as water bottles that you buy and you use over and over and over again. Yup. You buy it once and you keep using it again and again. And you fill it up with whatever you want. I know, it's crazy. But you should try it. All the cool kids do.
4 comments:
I don't think this is a good idea. I understand the environmental benefits, but I don't think that I should be forced to go thirsty or drink pop if I forget my water bottle at home. I just don't think that this needs to be banned by cities. Instead, how about economic or other incentives? That would make me choose to be more environmentally friendly, instead of making me resent the situation I'm in, or have to drink empty sugary calories!
The banning would only involve municipal properties and is not a city-wide ban. Therefore, if you were really in need of a bottle of water, you could go to a nearby store and get one.
Furthermore, there are always water fountains and the like!
I get that but it seems like an unfair burden being placed on those who work in municipal properties. Not everyone needs to have environmentalism shoved down their throat.
I guess that's where you and I both disagree, then. Personally I have nothing against environmentalism but even if I did, I don't see this as being "shoved down my throat" or even of this being strictly an environmental issue.
It's good economic sense to rely on existing goods (ie: water fountains, taps, etc) than to spend more money on landfills and the manufacturing of water bottles.
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