Dear InsidetheBottle.org Members.
Resounding Victory for Public
Water
Bottled water’s time is up and the
tap is back!
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), representing
more than 1700 municipal members from across the country, passed a resolution
encouraging municipalities to phase out bottled water on municipal
property. Municipalities across the country are expected to shortly take
action on bottled water.
Learn
More:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2009/03/07/8666801.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/03/07/bc-fcm-bottle-water-ban.html
Press
Releases:
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Votes to Kick out Bottled Water
OTTAWA – The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
Board of Directors voted today to encourage their 1,775 members to “phase out
the sale and purchase of bottled water.”
At the board meeting in Victoria, British Columbia the FCM
passed a strongly worded resolution, put forward by the cities of Toronto and
London, “urging” all Canadian municipalities to take action on bottled
water.
“The FCM resolution is a resounding victory and the latest
indication that bottled water’s 15 minutes are up and the tap is back,” says Joe
Cressy, Campaigns Coordinator of the Polaris Institute and the www.insidethebottle.org
campaign. “In the same way that Coca-Cola doesn’t sell Pepsi in its
buildings, we’re very pleased to see the FCM encouraging municipalities not to
provide bottled water on city property.”
Across Canada municipalities and school boards, universities
and colleges, faith-based organizations and restaurants are standing up for
public water by taking out the bottle.
Canadian Statistics:
-28 Municipalities from 6
provinces have voted to restrict bottled water.
-The Association of Municipalities
of Ontario (AMO) recently encouraged their 410 municipal members to take action
on bottled water.
-21 Universities and Colleges have
established bottled water free zones.
About the Polaris
Institute:
The
Polaris Institute is a Canadian public interest research and advocacy group, and
the organizer of the www.insidethebottle.org
campaign.
THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
ENCOURAGES REDUCED BOTTLED WATER USE AT MUNICIPAL
FACILITIES
Resolution urging tap water over bottled water where
appropriate at municipal facilities passed at FCM’s national board meeting
VICTORIA, March 7, 2009 – Canada’s national municipal
organization is encouraging local governments to reduce the use of bottled water
in their own facilities where other options are available.
Meeting today in Victoria, B.C., the National Board of
Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) passed a resolution
encouraging municipalities to “phase out the sale and purchase of bottled
water at their own facilities where appropriate and where potable water is
available.”
“Today’s action is another illustration of how municipalities
are leading by example to encourage environmentally sustainable water choices,”
said FCM president Jean Perrault, mayor of Sherbrooke, Que.
The resolution does not call for a ban on the sale of bottled
water to consumers. “Regulating bottled water for public consumption falls
under provincial and federal jurisdiction,” said Perrault. “All orders of
government must work together to reduce reliance on a product that produces more
waste, costs more and uses more energy than simple, dependable municipal tap
water.”
“This cooperation among governments must extend to
investments in local water systems. The most economical and reliable source of
drinking water is a first-rate municipal water system. Where these systems are
lacking, all orders of government must help fund the necessary
infrastructure.
FCM’s resolution also calls on
municipalities to develop awareness campaigns about the positive benefits and
quality of municipal water supplies. Municipalities will determine their local
course of action.
The resolution was put forward by the cities of Toronto and
London, Ont., over growing concerns for environmental impacts related to the
production of bottled water, the energy requirements for the production and
transport of bottled water, as well as the disposal and/or recycling of water
bottles.
Bottled
water containers may be recyclable but they still have to be manufactured and
transported, which uses significant energy. Between 40 and 80 per cent end up in
the local landfill. That is a burden on the environment and a cost for municipal
taxpayers.
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
WEDNESDAY MARCH 11TH,
2009
Joe Murphy
(352-583-0870/813-468-0870)
Caroline Douglas (828-337-3100)
Eric Zamora (352-281-2809)
“CONSERVATION AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS GATHER TO LAUNCH COORDINATED EFFORT TO PROTECT FLORIDA’S NATURE
COAST”
Organizations
Joining in Shared Mission of Saving One of Florida’s Last Natural
Treasures
Gainesville, Fl. – This week 25 local, regional, and national
conservation and environmental groups gathered in Gainesville, Florida with
representatives of government agencies and foundations for a “Nature Coast
Strategy Gathering” to begin more coordinated efforts to protect and preserve
Florida’s Nature Coast.
Organizations attending the event included Citrus County
Council, Homosassa River Alliance, Save Our Suwannee, Florida Ocean and Coastal
Coalition, Gulf Coast Conservancy, Naturecoast Sierra Club, Alachua Audubon
Society, Putnam Land Conservancy, Nature Coast Conservancy, Withlacoochee Area
Residents, Wild Florida Adventures, The Conservation Fund, Environmental
Alliance of North Florida, Audubon of Florida, Florida Panther Society, The Gulf
of Mexico Foundation, TOO FAR, SouthWings, Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida
Native Plant Society, Suwannee St. Johns Sierra Club, Southeast Environmental
Institute, Florida Defenders of the Environment, and the Gulf Restoration
Network.
The Nature Coast, one of Florida’s longest natural
coastlines, stretches from just north of Tampa Bay to the Florida
Panhandle. It represents one of Florida’s most wild, undeveloped, and
pristine coastlines and is defined by spring fed rivers, coastal marshes and
wetlands, seagrass beds, and coastal hammocks. As more coastal
habitat for marine and coastal species is lost across Florida and the Gulf, the
Nature Coast increasingly becomes more important for recreational and commercial
fish species, marine mammals, sea turtles, and migratory birds.
“Florida’s Nature Coast is one of our best chances in the
Gulf of Mexico region to protect and preserve a mostly intact, wild
coastline. We need to be thinking in terms of future generations and the
environmental legacy we are leaving them.” said Caroline Douglas of SouthWings,
one of the organizations sponsoring the event. “SouthWings works across
the southeastern U.S. to help conservation groups educate the public about our
environment, and this is as good as it gets in terms of opportunities to work
together for a long-term healthy relationship between people and the planet that
sustains us.”
While much of the Nature Coast is either undeveloped or
conserved as public lands, increasing pressure from mining and development
proposals is encouraging conservation groups from across the state to work
together to ensure that this slice of old and wild Florida is not lost to the
dredge or to the bulldozer.
Joe Murphy of the Gulf Restoration Network, another event
sponsor, observed “We are thankful that so much of the Nature Coast is protected
as public lands. Now we must work to connect those places with wildlife
corridors and ensure what is in public ownership is well managed. We have
got to draw a line in the sand and fight poorly planned or destructive projects
that threaten the Nature Coast. The threat is real and growing, and the
bulldozers are at the gates of Eden.”
Residents and advocates from as far away as Tampa and
Tallahassee spent time working together to develop plans for conserving the
Nature Coast, and also listened to presentations from experts at the University
of Florida who discussed water and land issues in the Nature Coast. Prof.
Christine Klein, of the University of Florida College of Law, shared information
with the group about the future of water law and policy in Florida. Dr.
Tom Hoctor, of the University of Florida Center for Landscape and Conservation
Planning, updated those gathered on the latest work to connect large areas of
public lands in the Nature Coast, and on efforts to protect Florida Black Bears
in the region.
One theme that emerged from the conversations throughout the
day was the need for conservation groups to work with diverse stakeholders
including hunters, recreational and commercial fisherman, tour operators, local
business owners, chambers of commerce, and those in the aquaculture or
agriculture fields to link a sustainable economy with sustainable management and
use of natural resources. In the Nature Coast the environment is the
economy, and protecting natural systems ensures future generations have both
clean air and water, and a chance for a sustainable economy.
Wildlife and landscape photographer Eric Zamora, who recently
finished a 100 mile canoe trip to explore and photograph the Nature Coast ,
shared a series of incredible and moving photo images with the group to capture
the magnificence and majesty of the natural areas along the Nature Coast.
Zamora is beginning the planning and groundwork for an ambitious undertaking in
2010, “Life on the Edge” which will include him canoeing and exploring over 250
miles of the greater Nature Coast.
“I am from north central Florida, so the Nature Coast is very
special to me,” Zamora said. “Being able to hike, boat and fly over the Nature
Coast, working to ensure it is protected from unsustainable development, is a
dream come true. But it is vital that the scenes I have photographed and my
experiences are shared with a broader audience for my work to have
meaning. The story of the Nature Coast must be known.”
This gathering was one of the first steps in a growing and
exciting effort to unite communities and organizations along the Nature Coast to
work together to oppose projects that threaten the Nature Coast and proactively
work together to protect the region and expand the eco-tourism and sustainable
natural resource economy in the region. Organizers and attendees plan to
formalize a coalition, develop and launch a website, host a large conference in
the next year to bring statewide attention to the Nature Coast, and to work more
closely together to share resources to protect the region.
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Joe Murphy
Florida Program Director
Gulf Restoration Network
352-583-0870 (office)
813-468-0870 (cell)
Florida Office:
34413 Orchid Parkway
Ridge Manor, Fl. 33523
joe@healthygulf.org
www.healthygulf.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
Bill to Dismantle DCA Passess Out of
Committee
On Wednesday morning, an unnumbered House PCB
to abolish the Florida Department of Community Affairs and transfer its
functions to the Department of State passed out of the House Military and
Local Affairs Policy Committee. Thanks to your calls and emails there was
considerable discussion and some dissenting votes. We appreciate your help
on this crucial issue and, once it has been announced, will let you know
about the next committee reviewing this damaging legislation. Your calls
and emails are essential if we are to save DCA and growth management in
Florida. *************************************** This
message was sent by 1000 Friends of Florida Please report any misuse of
this email alert to friends@1000fof.org~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
