Feature: A Message to Canada’s Political Leaders: Stop Ducking Obama's NAFTA Challenge

Posted September 30, 2008 in [Trade]

As Canadian civil society organizations, we hereby call upon Canada’s political leaders during this general election campaign to respond clearly and unequivocally to US presidential candidate Barack Obama’s challenge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Feature: Bottled Water at Issue in Great Lakes

Posted September 29, 2008 in [Water]

Kari Lydersen, Washington Post, September 29, 2008 - Even as a 10-year campaign to block wholesale export of Great Lakes water came to a successful conclusion in Congress last week, some legislators and environmentalists vowed to continue their fight to close a "bottled-water loophole," a campaign that taps into a national debate over sales of H2O in disposable containers.

Michigan lawmaker opposes Great Lakes compact in US House because he says it's not strong enough

Posted September 23, 2008 in [Water]

Ken Thomas, September 22, 2008, Associated Press Newswires - A key Michigan lawmaker said Monday he will oppose a compact to prevent the diversion of water from the Great Lakes because it allows bottled water to be shipped from the region.

Waterloo Region ditches the bottle: The bottled water industry suffers another defeat

Posted September 18, 2008 in [Water]

Polaris Institute Press Release, September 18, 2008, Ottawa - Even after sending representatives to the Region of Waterloo’s Council meeting last night and to last week’s Planning and Works Committee meeting, representatives from the bottled water industry went home with another black eye.

Sales of bottled water go flat as consumers return to the tap

Posted September 15, 2008 in [Water]

Jenny Wiggins, September 15, 2008, Financial Times - The ubiquitous plastic water bottle, long the bane of environmental campaigners, is being ditched by consumers in Europe and the US as incomes slump and people return to the tap for a free drink.

Has the Bottled Water Well Finally Run Dry?

Posted September 9, 2008 in [Water]

Kenneth Hein, September 8, 2008, Brandweek - The market for bottled water may be drying up. Despite massive discounting, brands like Aquafina and Poland Spring are experiencing a sales drought unlike any the category has ever seen.

Dwindling access to drinking water on Canadian university campuses: Report

Posted September 3, 2008 in [Corporations]

Polaris Institute, Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives, Canadian Union of Public Employees Press Release, September 2, 2008 - Water fountains are becoming an endangered species on university campuses across Canada.

Tap water access on campuses declining: Survey

Posted September 2, 2008 in [Corporations]

Amy Husser, Canwest News Service, September 1, 2008, OTTAWA - As students across the country head back to university and college campuses this week, a national report suggests they could find themselves a little thirsty - at least if their wallets are empty.

Critics dump on water study

Posted August 28, 2008 in [Water]

Robert Gibbens, August 28, 2008, Montreal Gazette - The Montreal Economic Institute's dive into a 40-year controversy over bulk water exports ran into a tide of skepticism yesterday.

Cities ponder restrictions in wake of London [Ontario] bottle ban

Posted August 19, 2008 in [Water]

Carly Weeks, August 19, 2008, The Globe and Mail - The water fountain is about to make a comeback. Plastic water bottles are the focus of a growing national backlash that's turning them from a fashion accessory into the latest environmental taboo.

Nestlé cancels contract with Northern California community of McCloud

Posted August 7, 2008 in [Water]

Protect our Water Coalition press release, McCloud, CA – The Protect Our Waters Coalition (composed of the McCloud Watershed Council, California Trout, and Trout Unlimited) is pleased to learn that Nestlé Waters North America has agreed to cancel its contract with the McCloud Community Services District (District) to build a water bottling facility in the town of McCloud.

Talking Back to Coke!

Posted July 18, 2008 in [Corporations]

Dear water activists,

In a recent interview with the BBC, Coca-Cola Chairman Neville Isdell defended the role the corporation is playing in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a sponsor, even though there have been extensive protests over China’s role in Tibet and Darfur, as well as domestic human rights abuses and suppression of press freedom: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7494149.stm

Who’s Behind the Bottled Water Backlash in Britain? Don’t be Fooled by Strange Bedfellows

Posted July 18, 2008 in [Water]

Richard Girard, Polaris Institute - The United Kingdom has been a central battleground in the bottled water backlash over the past twelve months. We regularly hear news stories in the British press of new anti-bottled water campaigns popping up with catch phrases like Turn on To Tap Water, Tap Into Water and London on Tap.

Civil society organizations sign letter protesting GATS negotiation rules

Posted July 16, 2008 in [Trade]

More than 80 civil society organizations have signed a letter protesting new draft negotiating rules for the GATS. English Spanish

Water Stewardship: Ensuring a Secure Future for California Agriculture

Posted July 11, 2008 in [Water]

California's looming water crisis spurs action. The Polaris Institute along with a number of California based agriculture support groups release a report calling for agricultural water stewardship to protect State’s food production