London taps into water debate
Londoners had a chance to tap into their water recently.
In a push to educate the public about the many issues surrounding the present use of our most important resource, water, the London chapter of the Council of Canadians organized a free community water forum at London's City Hall.
Speakers included Zoe Maggio of the Polaris Institute, The City of London's water quality manager; Dan Huggins, Chris Tasker, of Thames-Sydenham & Region Source Protection, and Ted Martin, a trustee of the Waterloo Region District School Board.
Richard Bird, a member of the Council of Canadians Water Protection Committee, said the water forum was organized to “provide citizens with an opportunity to learn firsthand, from those working with water every day, what the concerns are with bottled water, what is done to protect our drinking water at source, what the benefits are of our municipal water system, and what to do if there are water advisories.”
Much of the discussion focused on the commoditization of water, and was highly critical of bottled water.
Huggins focused on the value of municipal water, while Martin spoke of his school board's decision to ban bottled water from being sold in Waterloo's schools. A ban that was likely influenced by the Polaris Institute, which has been an effective organization at exposing and criticizing bottled water's negative environmental and social impacts.
The Tea Haus, one of many sponsors of the water forum, is adamantly opposed to selling water, even though it's highly profitable.
“When we are asked for water at The Tea Haus, our customers can receive a glass of filtered water free of charge, said Stefanie Stoelzel, of the Tea Haus. “Water is a necessity of life and we don't believe in charging for it. Most people complain about the cost of gas these days but are more than willing to pay $2 for 591 mililitres of water...just a thought…”
This community forum was made possible by the dedicated efforts of a few Council of Canadians and wastefreeworld.org volunteers and was sponsored by the City of London, the London District Labour Council, the Upper Thames Region Conservation Authority, Great Lakes United, Novacks, Trojan Technologies, The Tea Haus, Ten Thousand Villages and locals of Canadian Auto Workers and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
For more information and to get involved check out wastefreeworld.org or londoncoc.blogspot.com or email the Council of Canadians Water Protection Committee at londoncoc.wpc@gmail.com
In a push to educate the public about the many issues surrounding the present use of our most important resource, water, the London chapter of the Council of Canadians organized a free community water forum at London's City Hall.
Speakers included Zoe Maggio of the Polaris Institute, The City of London's water quality manager; Dan Huggins, Chris Tasker, of Thames-Sydenham & Region Source Protection, and Ted Martin, a trustee of the Waterloo Region District School Board.
Richard Bird, a member of the Council of Canadians Water Protection Committee, said the water forum was organized to “provide citizens with an opportunity to learn firsthand, from those working with water every day, what the concerns are with bottled water, what is done to protect our drinking water at source, what the benefits are of our municipal water system, and what to do if there are water advisories.”
Much of the discussion focused on the commoditization of water, and was highly critical of bottled water.
Huggins focused on the value of municipal water, while Martin spoke of his school board's decision to ban bottled water from being sold in Waterloo's schools. A ban that was likely influenced by the Polaris Institute, which has been an effective organization at exposing and criticizing bottled water's negative environmental and social impacts.
The Tea Haus, one of many sponsors of the water forum, is adamantly opposed to selling water, even though it's highly profitable.
“When we are asked for water at The Tea Haus, our customers can receive a glass of filtered water free of charge, said Stefanie Stoelzel, of the Tea Haus. “Water is a necessity of life and we don't believe in charging for it. Most people complain about the cost of gas these days but are more than willing to pay $2 for 591 mililitres of water...just a thought…”
This community forum was made possible by the dedicated efforts of a few Council of Canadians and wastefreeworld.org volunteers and was sponsored by the City of London, the London District Labour Council, the Upper Thames Region Conservation Authority, Great Lakes United, Novacks, Trojan Technologies, The Tea Haus, Ten Thousand Villages and locals of Canadian Auto Workers and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
For more information and to get involved check out wastefreeworld.org or londoncoc.blogspot.com or email the Council of Canadians Water Protection Committee at londoncoc.wpc@gmail.com
