Hi, AfDers and friends,
More good news on the water front.
Here are some of the recent developments:
*At the recent meeting of the US Council of Mayors, they approved a resolution to ban the use of bottled water in city meetings and offices except during emergencies. The Council of Mayors represents over 1100 American cities.
*The City of Paris is going to convert their private water system to a public system (it has been private for over 100 years)
*Nestle is backing off their plans for a water plant at Mt Shasta
Now we learn that Pepsi will add a label to their water bottles that the water comes from public sources, not from some high mountain pure source. Another small victory.
David e. Delk, Alliance for Democracy - Portland Chapter 503 232 5495 www.afd-pdx.org
Pepsi Agrees to Reveal Source of Aquafina Bottled Water
In response to Think Outside the Bottle campaign, Pepsi agrees to print "public water source" on labels
(Corporate Accountability International, July 26, 2007) -- After months of intensive campaign activity, Pepsi has agreed to provide consumers with more information about the source of the water used for Aquafina. In direct response to a national day of action yesterday, Pepsi agreed to spell out "Public Water Source" on the Aquafina label.
As part of the 'Think Outside the Bottle' campaign, thousands of people across the U.S. have been urging Pepsi to make changes in the Aquafina label, which includes an image of snow-capped mountains and states "pure water, perfect taste".
Though the image implies that the source of Aquafina is mountain spring water, it actually uses tap water as its source. In fact, up to 40% of all bottled water brands use tap water as their source.
"Pepsi's response to the Think Outside the Bottle campaign is an important first step," says Gigi Kellett, director of the Think Outside the Bottle campaign. "Concerns about the bottled water industry, and increasing corporate control of water, are growing across the country. It is significant that Pepsi is taking some action, especially since Aquafina is the leading bottled water brand in the U.S."
Pepsi's decision to change the Aquafina label comes in the midst of growing national attention to the bottled water industry. Last month San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom banned city spending on bottled water, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution highlighting the importance of public water systems and the negative impact of bottled water.
The Think Outside the Bottle campaign reached millions of people through dozens of media outlets, including the New York Times, National Public Radio, and the Boston Globe. Most people in the world won't have access to enough water within 20 years, according to the United Nations, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency projects 36 states in the U.S. will experience water shortages even sooner.
Corporate Accountability International members are concerned that marketing of Aquafina and other brand names leads consumers to choose bottled over tap water. People in the U.S. spent $11 billion on bottled water last year, and Pepsi's Aquafina generated $1.3 billion in revenues in 2005.
In addition to revealing the sites and sources of water used for bottling, the Think Outside the Bottle campaign calls on Pepsi, Coke, and Nestle to publicly report breaches in water quality, comparable to reports by public water systems, and to stop threatening local control of water when siting and operating bottling plants.
Students, community activists, and faith leaders have joined the Think Outside the Bottle campaign to challenge bottled water corporations and galvanize support for public water systems.
Corporate Accountability International is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 30 years, it has forced corporations such as General Electric, Nestle, and Philip Morris (now Altria) to stop abusive actions.
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