OT - Bottled Water Sales Down (or, Consumers Wising Up?)

[Guest guest]

Companion piece:http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/7363/content.jsp?content_KEY=4971Would you sell your public water utility to the highest bidder?Communities across the country are considering deals like this, and Food & Water Watch – with your help – is there to fight back.Earlier this year, we learned the mayor of Akron, OH, in a bid to raise money for the city, cooked up a scheme to sell the public water utility for $200 million. Meanwhile, he sold to the public the notion that the proceeds would fund a scholarship to send Akron students to college for free.Besides the fact that the students would have to stay in Akron for decades after graduation or be forced to pay back to the fund, the scheme was a loser for Akron entirely. The sale and resulting privatization of the public water would mean higher water costs for Akron residents, job losses, worse service, less transparency, and other problems.Recognizing the plight Akron was in, Food & Water Watch lent our expertise to local activists on what we call a "site fight." We provided speakers, published editorials and gave strategic advice and guidance. In addition, Food & Water Watch supported local efforts to place an initiative on the ballot to require that all such privatization proposals be subject to a public vote.But this fight in Akron is just one of many that Food & Water Watch is taking on. With your year-end, tax-deductible donation today, you can help us continue this fight against water privatization.On election day, Akron won its battle to safeguard its water. The city acknowledges Food & Water Watch for giving its effort credibility in the community and helping to educate voters about the harms of water privatization.We are engaged in "site fights" like this every day. More and more, people and communities are asking us to help win their battles against water privatization. A goal (among many!) in 2009 is to make it easier for the public to find us when they see their own "site fight" coming. We need to be able to provide staff, materials, and online assistance, and we need to get out the word about the work we do.===========http://snipurl.com/867ni  [www_foodandwaterwatch_org] Bottled Water Sales Down (or, Consumers Wising Up?)by a Schuetz — last modified 2008-12-04 17:40In the war against waste, the battle against plastic bottled water is on the frontline. Nothing epitomizes unnecessary waste more than the plastic bottle that brings you the same liquid as your kitchen sink, for 10,000 times the price. However, it is heartening to know that bottled water sales are down in the US, attributable at least in part to increased consumer knowledge of the environmental impacts.Some point to the economic downturn as the sole cause of decreased bottled water sales, but Nestlé—one of the largest bottled water producers—released a statement linking the sales slump to “perceived environmental issues” around bottled water. Additionally, PepsiCo and industry analysts acknowledged “consumers are increasingly choosing tap water over other beverages at restaurants and at home to help save money and the environment. Furthermore, research done by analysts at Stanley found that “23 percent [of consumers] say they are cutting back on bottled beverages in favor of tap water or beverages in containers that create less waste.” In recent years, many consumer advocacy and nonprofit organizations have launched campaigns to educate consumers about the massive waste and environmental damage caused by plastic bottles. Production consumes energy and emits toxic chemicals, transportation requires oil, generating pollution, and finally disposal essentially amounts to littering, with 86% of all bottles put in the garbage instead of the recycling.So it is encouraging to hear global bottled water corporations recognize that consumers are increasingly choosing to drink tap water over bottled. However, too often those realizations are followed by statements like the one made by Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s chief executive, declaring that “revitalizing this [bottled water] business is a huge priority for us.” Considering what is at stake – nothing less than the health of the global environment – it is imperative that we do not allow the bottled water corporations to achieve their goal. =====In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

[Guest guest]

Companion piece:http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/7363/content.jsp?content_KEY=4971Would you sell your public water utility to the highest bidder?Communities across the country are considering deals like this, and Food & Water Watch – with your help – is there to fight back.Earlier this year, we learned the mayor of Akron, OH, in a bid to raise money for the city, cooked up a scheme to sell the public water utility for $200 million. Meanwhile, he sold to the public the notion that the proceeds would fund a scholarship to send Akron students to college for free.Besides the fact that the students would have to stay in Akron for decades after graduation or be forced to pay back to the fund, the scheme was a loser for Akron entirely. The sale and resulting privatization of the public water would mean higher water costs for Akron residents, job losses, worse service, less transparency, and other problems.Recognizing the plight Akron was in, Food & Water Watch lent our expertise to local activists on what we call a "site fight." We provided speakers, published editorials and gave strategic advice and guidance. In addition, Food & Water Watch supported local efforts to place an initiative on the ballot to require that all such privatization proposals be subject to a public vote.But this fight in Akron is just one of many that Food & Water Watch is taking on. With your year-end, tax-deductible donation today, you can help us continue this fight against water privatization.On election day, Akron won its battle to safeguard its water. The city acknowledges Food & Water Watch for giving its effort credibility in the community and helping to educate voters about the harms of water privatization.We are engaged in "site fights" like this every day. More and more, people and communities are asking us to help win their battles against water privatization. A goal (among many!) in 2009 is to make it easier for the public to find us when they see their own "site fight" coming. We need to be able to provide staff, materials, and online assistance, and we need to get out the word about the work we do.===========http://snipurl.com/867ni  [www_foodandwaterwatch_org] Bottled Water Sales Down (or, Consumers Wising Up?)by a Schuetz — last modified 2008-12-04 17:40In the war against waste, the battle against plastic bottled water is on the frontline. Nothing epitomizes unnecessary waste more than the plastic bottle that brings you the same liquid as your kitchen sink, for 10,000 times the price. However, it is heartening to know that bottled water sales are down in the US, attributable at least in part to increased consumer knowledge of the environmental impacts.Some point to the economic downturn as the sole cause of decreased bottled water sales, but Nestlé—one of the largest bottled water producers—released a statement linking the sales slump to “perceived environmental issues” around bottled water. Additionally, PepsiCo and industry analysts acknowledged “consumers are increasingly choosing tap water over other beverages at restaurants and at home to help save money and the environment. Furthermore, research done by analysts at Stanley found that “23 percent [of consumers] say they are cutting back on bottled beverages in favor of tap water or beverages in containers that create less waste.” In recent years, many consumer advocacy and nonprofit organizations have launched campaigns to educate consumers about the massive waste and environmental damage caused by plastic bottles. Production consumes energy and emits toxic chemicals, transportation requires oil, generating pollution, and finally disposal essentially amounts to littering, with 86% of all bottles put in the garbage instead of the recycling.So it is encouraging to hear global bottled water corporations recognize that consumers are increasingly choosing to drink tap water over bottled. However, too often those realizations are followed by statements like the one made by Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s chief executive, declaring that “revitalizing this [bottled water] business is a huge priority for us.” Considering what is at stake – nothing less than the health of the global environment – it is imperative that we do not allow the bottled water corporations to achieve their goal. =====In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.