MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Ed Said - Its water, Jim, but not as we know itThe debate about the quality, availability and supply of our water – lakes, rivers, sea, household, city supply and drinking – is now half a century old and in no danger of abating. In fact the increasing ‘manufacturing’ of drinking water will insure it continues for some considerable time yet.
‘Hydration’ has become a buzzword to the extent that large tracts of the world population of all ages cannot move outside their homes without carrying a bottle of their own special brand of water. I’m amazed that water can be branded anything except ‘water’. However, in this day and age of heightened environmental awareness, I was recently a little perturbed to read that the Bay of Plenty is about to become famous for all the wrong reasons. The BoP Regional Council had given resource consents to two Chinese owned companies that between them could generate around 15 billion bottles per year – double the number used by the whole of England each year – at the same time that 127 countries world-wide are currently drafting legislation to ban single use plastic. The carbon footprint of producing plastic bottles, shipping empties to the site, extracting the water and shipping full bottles around the world is massive, though ironically still way short of that for electric cars. A plant is also planned for Canterbury. If we are among those who accept that climate change is our nuclear free moment, new legislation should be rapidly brought in to stop this industry being allowed to use New Zealand as its new gold rush. Despite the claims of 500 jobs being created (and what area wouldn’t welcome such a windfall) it was revealed the operation will require 500 trucks traversing to the port of Tauranga per day or up to 20 trains, at a time when our transport network has reached capacity. There are a number of groups fighting the ruling so it is not yet a fait accompli but lets look further. Most water-drinkers will have heard of the world-renowned Evian brand marketed as natural spring water from the French Alps that travels to the shores of Lake Geneva on, we are told, a 15 year journey through layers of glacial rocks and becomes enriched with a unique blend of minerals and electrolytes giving Evian its distinctive, cool, crisp taste for over 200 years since Marquis first discovered it! It carries no additives and no taste enhancements and neither should it, although it carries a label listing ingredients. Really? Evian has a convenient offer that’s right for any occasion. Again, (plastic) bottles come in five different sizes to suit consumer needs and also in the shapes of Disney characters well known and loved by kids everywhere and thus a great selling tool for the younger generation. Nothing wrong with that per se. It’s good marketing to cover all eventualities in all age groups that are now carrying bottles with them everywhere they go. It is, compared to other brands, very expensive. I don’t drink it so I can’t endorse the product but I do applaud the strategy of the company and say to those who have been sucked in by the marketing ploy, read the name, Evian. What do you see? Study it a little longer, then read it backwards. It spells NAÏVE. Just saying. Rob |