The Ethics of Water
A number of United Churches in Canada have started to make themselves bottled water-free. In addition, these churches are asking their members to avoid purchasing bottle water. Although many individual church-goers cite environmental concerns as a reason for their choice, most of the churches' official statements argue that it is unethical to sell water for a profit.
Bottled water is one of the biggest scams of our generation. Not only is it damaging to the environment, creating huge amounts of waste and draining natural springs, bottled water is actually not as good for you as tap water. Tap water contains fluoride, a substance that helps strengthen teeth (however, many have also suggested fluoride is a possible carcinogenic). Furthermore, in many regions of North America, bottled water is subjected to far less rigorous safety and purity tests than tap water. For these reasons, the churches' decisions are highly commendable.
More interesting, though, is the idea that making money off water is unethical. The United Nations and the World Health Organization have declared that water is a basic human right, and no one should be restricted access to it. The move towards bottled water reflects the increasing privatization of water supplies, a process that threatens this basic human right.
Canadians, of course, are still secure in their access to free, or at least not-for-profit, drinking water. The churches' stand is more symbolic than anything, but it still has meaning.
In a time when religious communities in the West are becoming increasingly reactionary, the United Church is a rare vehicle of progressivism in the Christian world. It is comforting to know that there are people of faith who think of the future instead of trying to lock us in our past.
Meanwhile, will we allow Pepsi to charge us more for water than Esso does for gas?
Bottled water is one of the biggest scams of our generation. Not only is it damaging to the environment, creating huge amounts of waste and draining natural springs, bottled water is actually not as good for you as tap water. Tap water contains fluoride, a substance that helps strengthen teeth (however, many have also suggested fluoride is a possible carcinogenic). Furthermore, in many regions of North America, bottled water is subjected to far less rigorous safety and purity tests than tap water. For these reasons, the churches' decisions are highly commendable.
More interesting, though, is the idea that making money off water is unethical. The United Nations and the World Health Organization have declared that water is a basic human right, and no one should be restricted access to it. The move towards bottled water reflects the increasing privatization of water supplies, a process that threatens this basic human right.
Canadians, of course, are still secure in their access to free, or at least not-for-profit, drinking water. The churches' stand is more symbolic than anything, but it still has meaning.
In a time when religious communities in the West are becoming increasingly reactionary, the United Church is a rare vehicle of progressivism in the Christian world. It is comforting to know that there are people of faith who think of the future instead of trying to lock us in our past.
Meanwhile, will we allow Pepsi to charge us more for water than Esso does for gas?