January 19th 2008: Peel region community forum update

Peel region community forum: Is bottled water safe?
January 19th, 2008

The Polaris Institute collaborated with the Brampton and Mississauga District Labour Council, CUPE local 966, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation District 19, Ecosource/Peel Environmental Youth Alliance and the Council of Canadians Peel Chapter in organizing this forum.

Panelists:
Andrea Harden, Bottled Water Campaigner, Polaris Institute
Martina Rowley, Environmental Communicator

The Peel forum was an absolute success thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of the co-sponsors and participants. Thirty to forty residents came out to hear the panelists and contribute to the community action building workshops. Particular areas of concern identified with the bottled water industry and consumption of bottled water in Peel include; location of plants producing Dasani (Coca Cola’s bottled water brand) and Aquafina (PepsiCo’s brand) in the region using municipal tap water as a source, the ecological foot print left by the industry and trend, the effective marketing of bottled water as pure, healthy and safe and the cost of bottled water when compared to tap water.

Two workshops were held, one focused on environmental and health concerns, the other on social and economic concerns related to the industry and consumption of bottled water. Overall, participants agreed that raising public awareness in the region is an important first step in developing a Peel region campaign on bottled water. Ideas for raising awareness discussed include producing community specific information on the cost of bottled water versus tap water, information about the bottling facilities in the region and the environmental impacts of consuming it. Developing ‘bottled water free zones’ (including promoting alternatives and stopping the sale and distribution of bottled water) in classrooms, schools boards, community centres, union locals and City facilities was also identified as a future area of action.

In order to transform awareness into action, a first meeting for a coalition based Peel region working group on bottled water will be organized for February. Items to be addressed include agreeing on some key concerns, developing a clear message(s), deciding on a name, meeting schedule and strategy for further raising awareness in the region (such as creating some materials with the messages identified and sharing this with respective organizations, groups, friends and family).

To join the email list to for organizing this working group and attending meetings, please contact andi@polarisinstitute.org

Find a Mississauga News article on the forum at: http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-tap-tops-water-experts-say

Mississauga News also had video coverage of the event.

Rogers cable Mississauga also covered the event.