Student Action

Successful launch of the campus bottled water free zones campaign

The Polaris Institute united with the Canadian Federation of Students and the Sierra Youth Coalition in launching the campus bottled water free zones campaign for World Water Day (WWD) March 22nd, 2008.

WWD was chosen as a key public event for the campaign launch because the day has become increasingly commercialized. Faced with rising opposition, the bottled water industry has attempted to use WWD to promote their social responsibility campaigns and wash away their image as major private water-takers promoting environmentally destructive products. By participating in the official launch of this campaign, Canadian students helped to bring WWD back to its roots. Students are rejecting the privatization of one of our most precious resources by turning back to the tap.

The ultimate goal of the campaign is to challenge the corporate control of water, as embodied by bottled water, one space at a time. In the case of campuses, this can start with a students’ union or group deciding not to sell or distribute bottled water in their office or at events and encouraging others to follow suit. Ultimately, students will approach college and university administrators to end the sale of bottled water on campuses.

The campus zones created since the campaign began in February range from sustainability groups, PIRG offices, student union offices and meetings, departments and institutes, and student pubs and cafés. In all of these cases, steps were taken (such as passing resolutions) to reduce and eliminate the sale and distribution of bottled water in the zone, people are encouraged to drink tap water and materials on the tap vs. bottled water debate are being shared.

Click here to view the campaign poster and leaflet on how to create 'zones'

Click here to view a copy of the press release used for the campaign launch

Click here to link to a Flickr account with pictures of some of the ‘zones’ across Canada
If you would like to have your ‘zone’ included, email a picture to: andi@polarisinstitute.org

Campus bottled water free zones campaign, 2008-2009:
- Expanding the list of zones by adding Canadian campuses not yet active on the campaign as well as spreading zones on campuses where the campaign is currently active
- Check www.insidethebottle.org for campaign updates. Expect exciting outcomes such as an entire bottled water free building on campus, successful lobbying of the university administration for better access to public water fountains and cold water spigots and more student groups, organizations and unions and departments becoming zones
- Also keep an eye on our student action page www.insidethebottle.org/student-action for updated tools and materials for the campaign

BOTTLED WATER FREE ZONES:

University of Ottawa, Ontario
Department of Geography
Women’s Resource Centre
Student Federation of the University of Ottawa’s office and meetings
Institute of the Environment
Department of Biology
Physical Resource Services
1848, undergraduate campus pub
Café Nostalgica, graduate pub
Oxfam University of Ottawa
Green Campus

University of PEI
Environmental and Sustainability Society
Institute of Island Studies

Concordia, Quebec
TAPthirst
QPIRG Concordia
Sustainable Concordia

Memorial University, Newfoundland
MUN Students for Sustainability Coalition

Brock University, Ontario
OPIRG-Brock

Guelph University, Ontario
College of Biological Science-Student Council
Graduate Engineering Society
NDP Youth, Guelph
Engineers Without Borders, (EWB)
Ontario Public Interest Research Group, (OPIRG- Guelph)
The Peak, magazine on campus
Guelph student for the ethical treatment of animals (GSETA)
Guelph Engineering Society (undergraduate student club)
Ecohouse (Campus residence)
Environmental Sciences Student Executive
CFRU 93.3 FM, campus radio station
Muslim Students Association

Sir Sandford Fleming College, Ontario
Sustainability Office, Frost campus

Waterloo University, Ontario
University of Waterloo Sustainability Project
Waterloo Public Interest Group

Trent University, Ontario
Trent Central Students’ Association office

Ryerson University, Ontario
Working Students’ Centre, Ryerson Students’ union
Women's Centre
Community Food Room
RyePRIDE
RyeACCESS

University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg Students' Association's Soma Café
Ecological Males and Females In Action (EcoMAFIA)

University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba Students’ Union office

Langara College, BC
Langara College Students’ Association office

Queen’s University, Ontario
Tea Room

Thompson Rivers University, BC
Tru Eco Committee

George Brown College, Ontario
Student association and faculty environmental group are considering a resolution to become zones later this month

PRESS COVERAGE RELATED TO THE BOTTLED WATER FREE ZONES CAMPAIGN

1. Sunmedia including the Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto Sun and the London Free Press: “Turning off the tap for bottled water: Cost to the environment, safety of plastic bottles among the issues raised.” Article on the debate over bottled water including comments from Elizabeth Griswold, Executive Director of the Canadian Bottled Water Industry Association and Andrea Harden, Bottled Water Campaigner with Polaris Institute, featuring the list of bottled water free zones.
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-turning-tap-bottled-water
2 L’Ontario Aujourdhui , CBC radio: Interview with Monique Woolnough. Ontario Sustainable Campuses Coordinator, on the campaign
3. Green Living Online, www.greenlivingonline.com “All of the water, none of the plastic” interview with Andrea Harden, Bottled Water Campaigner with Polaris Institute and Sylvie Fojtik with the ‘Tap-In’ campaign at Guelph University about the bottled water free zones campaign.
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-all-water-none-plastic
4. News Talk 980, Saskatchewan, CBC Radio. Interview with Andrea Harden, Bottled Water Campaign with Polaris Institute on bottled water and the campaign.
5. The Guelph Mercury. “Stemming the flow of plastic; University of Guelph students marks World Water Week by exploring bottle ban.” Article about the campaign at the University of Guelph.
• http://insidethebottle.org/canada-stemming-flow-plastic-university-guelp...
6. The Peterborough Examiner. “Free water helps students stop using disposable water bottles.” Article on the success of Fleming College students in achieving more water fountains on campus; a sustainability group at Fleming College is participating in the campaign.
• http://insidethebottle.org/canada-free-water-helps-students-stop-using-d...
7. My Kawartha. “Creating a ripple at Fleming College.”
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-creating-ripple-fleming-college
8. St Catherine Standard. “Putting a stop to thirst for bottled water.” Article featuring OPIRG-Brock’s bottled water campaign; OPIRG-Brock is a bottled water free zone.
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-putting-stop-thirst-bottled-water
9. The Muse. “Students play ‘critical role’ in sustainability.” This article discusses the initiatives of the MUN Sustainability Coalition which is a bottled water free zone aiming (along with other sustainability initiatives) to spread zones at Memorial University.
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-students-play-critical-role-sustai...
10. Ryersonian. "Avoid bottled water, group urges." This article features the bottled water free zones campaign and the comments of Rob with the Ryerson Students' Union's Working Students' Centre and Monique Woolnough, Ontario Sustainable Campuses Coordinator.
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-avoid-bottled-water-group-urges
11. Orangeville Banner. “ Buying, Selling Water.“ An article discussing water takings more generally that includes reference to the campaign.
• http://www.insidethebottle.org/canada-buying-selling-water
12. Press Release posted on newswire: Canadian Students Mark World Water Day by Turning Back to the Tap
• http://insidethebottle.org/canada-canadian-students-mark-world-water-day...

For more information, contact:
Andrea Harden
Polaris Institute
Bottled Water Campaigner
Tel: (613) 237-1717 x.102
www.insidethebottle.org