Tap Water Gets New Converts

The bottled water fight is getting some new supporters. 12 Episcopal bishops from six Western states have recently joined together to fight bottled water and other environmental ills. Specifically, they signed a letter encouraging delegates coming to the Church‚ upcoming General Convention to not buy bottled water and choose tap instead. They also asked their Church‚ followers to vote for political candidates that support environmentally sound policies.

The Episcopal Church is not the only religious group appealing to its followers , this past Lent, some Italian dioceses of the Catholic Church also urged people to give up bottled water during the 40-day period. The initiative of these Churches is admirable and should be taken on by other communities to correct the various misconceptions associated with bottled water.

Why are religious groups taking a stand? For the same reasons all other activists are , to protect the environment around them, and for the sake of worker and consumer safety , reasons that are justified by more than just one‚ faith. We can only hope that more will follow.

- Sofía Baliño