Water.

Water has been declared a human right by the United Nations. People should be able to have access to the clean water we all need for survival, and yet predictions are that nearly 3 billion people will be severely short of water within 50 years. Water is one of the biggest issues we will have to face in our lifetime. The question becomes who should own the rights to this precious natural resource and who should profit?

Nestlé is infamous for moving into down-on-their-luck communities with promises of jobs in exchange for:

• those jobs typically going to people from outside the community,
• a typical 99-year lease to bottle water and with it a loss of water rights,
• negative impacts to the local watershed and its inhabitants,
• payment of approximately $.00225 per gallon only to then sell it for $5.30 a gallon,
• a bottling facility that produces massive amounts of pollution, noise, and truck traffic,
• the proliferation of bottled water…

Bottled water is one of the greatest marketing scams of all time. Its effect on personal bank accounts and the environment is horrifying. The production of bottled water uses 7 times more water than the amount available to consume. The plastic is not often recycled. Bottled water is no safer, cleaner, or more pure than the tap water it is. In fact, we have seen many recalls of bottled water because of the contaminants that enter in the manufacturing process. And please don’t believe Nestlé in their claim that if their bottled water was not available, Americans would only consume soda and other sugary beverages. Do they really think that we’re that stupid?

What is really in bottled water?

Nestlé’s proposed to bring a water bottling plant to a community very close to me in the Columbia River Gorge. The community of Cascade Locks has fallen on hard times and the prospect of jobs is more than appealing. However, history shows just how far Nestlé will take advantage of this community.

Nestlé has already demonstrated a lack of respect for this area’s native fish which sustains a large percentage of the population. On the first day of testing to ensure their plan for the fish would be safe, they killed all the fish. This relationship won’t be good for anyone, except Nestlé.

The Fish Ladder near Cascade Locks

Just look at what an independent economic analysis found in the town of McCloud (a town that has experienced firsthand the deceit and harm that a Nestlé water bottling plant can bring):

The 63-page report found Nestlé would pay a fraction as much for McCloud’s water as elsewhere; that the jobs and revenues promised by Nestlé in other communities never materialized; and that McCloud’s board failed to factor in the costs the plant would exact in terms of wastewater, truck traffic, and air pollution. “There is a great risk that McCloud will be giving away too much for too little in return,” the report stated. “We find that rather than provide an engine for economic growth, Nestlé’s proposed facility would impose costs and obligations on the community that would outweigh the benefits.” -www.businessweek.com

Please stop buying bottled water. Stop buying Nestlé products.

Learn more:

Stop Nestlé Waters
Food & Water Watch
World Water Wars
Flow The Film

But it is Halloween and to end on a light note, I hope you can all enjoy a Nestlé-free holiday!