Photo by: Megan Westervelt
More than 500 signatures were collected last week for a petition created by the Sustainability Committee to eliminate the sale of bottled water on campus.
“The official purpose of the petition is to show the administration that students find the amount of bottled water we give out and consume obscene, especially coming from an administration with a commitment to sustainability and a carbon neutral plan,” said Dillon Doyle, USG senator and Sustainability Council member.
There are four main components to the petition. These include not selling bottled water on campus except during sporting events, not giving out bottled water as a marketing device, a promise to improve public drinking facilities such as drinking fountains and a commitment to educate the campus on the dangers of bottled water.
The Sustainability Council also offered attendees the chance to tape video messages to send to Chancellor Robert Coombe after the showing of the documentary ‘Tapped’ which premiered at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival on Friday.
Some, like Stephanie Soechtig, creator of the film, recorded messages that were serious in nature while also playfully tongue-in-cheek.
“I’d like you to join the movement,” said Soechtig. “Don’t make me come after you like I’ve come after Coke and Pepsi.”
The Sustainability Committee will present both the video messages and petition to Chancellor Coombe by the end of the quarter, if not sooner, Doyle said.
The film unearths the dangers of the process of bottling water, questioning: “Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought?”
Soechtig explores the unregulated bottled water industry and its ruthless effects on our planet in a way that is part “I.O.U.S.A.,” part “Who Killed the Electric Car?” in its attack on big business and environmental awareness simultaneously.
As the bottled water industry begins to become the next sought-after empire, like oil, corporate behemoths Nestlé, Coca Cola and Pepsi turning a multi-billion-dollar profit from the convenience of bottled water.
After the screening, five members of the “Tapped” team – Soechtig, executive producers Michael and Michelle Walrath, producer Sarah Gibson and interviewee Jim Wilfong – sat down for a question-and-answer session.
They drank from the silver canteens distributed by USG and the Sustainability Committee which promote the consumption of tap water over bottled.
“We have to take responsibility for everyone around the world,” said Wilfong, between sips from his canteen. “I hope people will get involved with this.”
“We want you guys to start a revolution. Tell everyone you know about [‘Tapped’],” said Soechtig. “Give the finger to these big corporations, and make sure you can’t be bought!”
