while on vacation in Angel Fire, NM this week, i was able to catch up on some reading, including this month's Fast Company. in addition to an engaging feature on
Al Gore (and his many pursuits), the magazine has a
great article on the bottled water industry. you can access it in its entirety, as well as a few great blog posts/conversation threads associated. it's worth a read for anyone concerned about the origin of their beverages, environmental impact and social inequities related to such a simple product.
and while water is essential to life, and considered by most to be a right not deserving a second though, water - and bottled water in particular - is at the center of some of our world's biggest problems. the good news is, some simple life-change steps can make a big impact not just in your corner of the world, but our larger planet. so what's so bad about water?
1) increased consumption of bottled water has increased the threat of waste and pollution within the environment.
2) water continues to be one of the most poignant social inequities. while many of us waste water like it's our job, much of the world goes without clean (or available) water on a daily basis (one in six, actually).
Fiji water's own backyard contains more than half a million Fijians who do not have clean water to drink.
what can you do? here are some very simple steps toward a better beverage:
1)
carry a reusable bottle. i prefer my creatively-stickered
Nalgene bottle and my dented
Sigg bottle I've had for years. carrying a reusable bottle not only helps you avoid purchasing single bottles (and possibly discarding them in the trash), but it encourages increased water consumption - your body will love you!
2)
drink tap water. i'm at fault for this one..but i'm coming around. across the US and most major international cities, tap water is highly tested (oftentimes more so than bottled) and even contains minerals that some filtered water strips away. one of the best ways to get into this habit is to fill a reusable jug or pitcher with tap water and throw it into the fridge for future use. it's refreshingly cold, and tricks your mind a bit.
3)
recycle. if you're going to use PET bottles, just toss them into the recycling bin, instead of the trash. almost 80 percent of plastic bottles end up in the landfill. that's a scary-high number, and one that takes little effort to reduce through simple responsibility.
4)
avoid buying major-brand water. your local grocery store has refillable water kiosks, brimming with local filtered water. buying bulk can save the amount of waste, but it also helps you avoid being part of corporations that conduct business with little to no responsibility.
i'm the first to admit i have a long way to go in being more responsible with my water consumption, but i'm taking steps. Nalgene's "
Refill Not Ladfill" campaign has some great ways to take that first step and good links for finding out more about this issue.
back to my vacation (because i just can't seem to re-acclimate myself yet)...water was a major part of our week. from providing refreshment to our almost continous outdoor activities to being the centerpiece of beauty during hikes and sightseeing, i left New Mexico wanting to do a better job of conserving consumable and natural water. here are a few pictures from our hike up Wheeler Peak, NM's tallest mountain. if these don't make you want to advocate for our environment...
as we took a lakeside break before the final approach to the summit, i sat next to the clear water and remembered a statement from
Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard, in which he told of always drinking straight from the streams and lakes he fished/hiked/played around and thought about how sad it is that we're so far from that opportunity now. and i was thankful that my CamelBak and multiple bottles were filled with the water i required to get through the hike.
happy Friday, all. raise your reusable bottles in a toast to the weekend.
cheers.
Labels: causes, Green, New Mexico, recycling, sustainability
