Next time you're drinking Fiji water...

A Fijian child isn’t.

A recent investigation by the BBC states that one third of Fiji’s population doesn’t have access to clean drinking water. Fiji, it says, has problems with typhoid and other diseases caused by a lack of clean drinking water.

According to the BBC, “Fiji Water would make the case that if you really care about the plight of Fijians you should buy Fiji water as it provides jobs and income for the islands.” The company donates money to fund clean water projects on the island. But it seems we are talking water indulgences here: a little cash to ease the conscience, perhaps? Because, according to another article, Fiji is still in shortage. And when the Fijian government tried to institute a tax on bottled water earlier this summer, they were quickly defeated by a powerful bottled water lobby. Meaning water companies want to give back to the country for its most precious resource, but only on their own terms. This doesn’t exactly ring of charity. 

So one way to avoid exploiting environments and people is to take a pass on Fiji water and other bottled brands. Local tap water may not be as exotic, but at least it’s free of such moral quandaries.

-Erica Schuetz
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