Water for Life Campaign

The purpose of this project is to bring further awareness regarding the use of bottled water. Specifically, we wish to present to our school and school board the environmental implications of using bottled water, the myths and facts regarding the use of tap water, and the negative effects that water companies are having on our communities and the impoverished populations of the countries of the Global South.

We will be partnering with Development and Peace as their fall action campaign also concerns the use of bottled water.

As a class, our plan is to create a partnership to develop an education campaign to present to our school and school community surrounding the use of bottle water. Included in our activities is a 24 hour fast at our school for our student population that will involve students fasting, reflecting, and praying.

Update (December 8, 2010)

We are currently in the planning stages of our social action project concerning the use of water bottles...here are some of the class ideas that we will be presenting to our administration:

1. Complete a survey with the student population to determine the extent of plastic water botlle use in their household and school
2. Deliver a 15 minute presentation to every fourth period class in our school (45 classes), encouraging students to pledge to use tap water whenever and wherever possible
3. Mail every household in our school community a letter explaining our project, including literature from Development and Peace that explains the facts and truths about bottled water, encouraging families to use tap water
4. Presentation to staff at a monthly staff meeting in the New Year
5. Contact school board office to meet and present to senior administration
6. Meet with cafeteria provider and principal to determine if we can stop selling bottled water in our cafeteria
7. Create posters to post around school
8. Plan Thinkfast event (24 hour fast and sleepover) at our school, inviting students to participate

More updates to come!

Update (December 9, 2010)

Please view the video on youtube by Development and Peace if you get a chance...it runs for about 6 minutes. The link is on the side of this page. Enjoy!

Update (February 9, 2011)

Currently my class has scheduled 45 classroom visits at our high school that will take place over the next four weeks. By the end of our classroom presentations, we will have been heard by all 1200 students at St. James. During our presentations we will be reviewing the various environmental and social problems with purchasing and drinking bottled water, and we will discuss the reasons why tap water is a good alternative, highlighting the use of a reusable container and the recently installed spouts on our water fountains.

Update (April 5, 2011)

At this point in our semester we are very proud to share the following accomplishments:

1. We have sent a letter home along with some information about bottled water created by Development and Peace to 1000 households within our school community.

2. We have visited over 45 classrooms in our school, presenting to over 1200 students, using our 15 minute powerpoint presentation and video. During these presentations, we have asked students to sign a pledge to choose tap water over bottled water. We have posted these pledges throughout our school.

3. We have upgraded three of our water fountains to include a tall spout from which students can fill their reusable water containers. Our school now has six fountains with this feature.

4. Our school website has a link to an article we created that shares many facts about the use of bottled water.

5. Our school newsletter in April will feature an article on the impacts of drinking bottled water.

6. We continue to have morning announcements that share facts and information about choosing tap water over bottled water.

Update (April 20, 2011)

Today (April 20) we begin our THINKfast event. THINKfast brings youth together to explore the causes of poverty and social injustice, and it inspires them to learn how they can make a difference in their community and in their world. THINKfast empowers youth to live out their faith and make socially responsible decisions about how they live their lives while also raising funds for the work of Development and Peace. Thirty students have committed to fasting for 24 hours to gain a better awareness of all that we have, and what millions live without on a daily basis. During the evening we will celebrate mass together, take part in several student lead activities concerning the use of bottled water, and then sleepover at the school in our gymnasium. Tomorrow morning we will 'break' the fast by sharing a breakfast together!

Update (May 5, 2011)

We are happy to report that we raised $750 for Development and Peace through our THINKfast event!