Think Outside the Bottle Hosts Events Across the Country

Launch Day events across the U.S.:

Austin, TX
When: October 10th , 2007, 10:30 am

Where: City Hall Plaza, Austin, TX.

Who: David Foster, environmental expert from Austin's Clean Water Action
Rev. Paul Collinson-Streng, the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Lutheran Campus Ministry

What: Religious groups, environmental and corporate accountability organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to "think outside the bottle." At the event, community leaders will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source. Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water. By ending city bottled water purchases, Austin can solidify its place as the emerging Greenest City in the US.

Contact: Daniel Gradess, Corporate Accountability International - Office: (512) 236-0774, Cell: (347) 721-726
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Click here for the Austin Press Release

Baltimore, MD
When: 11am, October 10th

Where: Lake Montebello, intersection of Lake Drive and Erdman Ave

Who: Keith Losoya, Exec Director of Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance
Aaron Mintzes, Clean Water Action
Jenna Garland, Corporate Accountability International

Contact: Jenna Garland, Corporate Accountability International - (410) 467-2528

Boston,MA
When: Wednesday, October 10th, 11:00am

Where: Boston City Hall Plaza

Who: James W. Hunt, Environment and Energy Services, Office of the Mayor
Katherine Manzier, CEO, Bella Luna Restaurant
Lisa Fuller, CISPES-Boston (Campaign In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador)
Deborah Lapidus, National Organizer, Corporate Accountability International

What: Religious groups, environmental and social change organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, community leaders will take the Think Outside the Bottle Pledge, opting for tap water over bottled water, and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Liz Gary, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 747-4382
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Chicago, IL
When: 10:00 AM, October 10

Where: Navy Pier Filtration Plant, 500 East Grand

Who: Member of Eigth Day Center for Justice
Alderman George Cardenas, 12th Ward
Rose Lattyak, Corporate Accountability Member

What: Religious groups, environmental and corporate accountability organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, community leaders will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Elizabeth Martin-Craig,Corporate Accountability International - (312) 291-0696 ext. 214
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Click here for the Chicago Press Release

Minneapolis, MN
When: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 10:00am

Where: Steps of City Hall, Minneapolis

Who: Jeremy Hanson, Communications Director, Mayor Rybak’s office
Liz Larson, Macalester College
Pete Williams, St. Olaf College
Amber Collett, Corporate Accountability International

What: Corporate Accountability and Minnesota student groups are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, we will be announcing high profile pledge signers and inviting citizens to participate in a Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water. Minneapolis is a leader in the Midwest on environmental initiatives and the collapse of the 35 W bridge further highlights the importance of investing in public infrastructure and as the City of Lakes, water is a vitally important resource for the city to protect.

Contact: Amber Collett, Corporate Accountability International- (612) 379-5745
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Oakland, CA
When: 11am, October 10

Where: Outside city hall, downtown Oakland

Who: Andy Katz, Board of Directors, East Bay Municipal Utilities District
Nancy Skinner, Board of Directors, East Bay Regional Park District
Kent Lewandowski, Executive Committee Chair, Sierra Club, Northern Alameda Chapter
Adam Scow, Activist, Food and Water Watch
Rachael Goodyer, Corporate Accountability International

What: Environmental and corporate accountability organizations, religious groups and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, local officials and community leaders will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments. This is ahead of the state deadline for the “The Bottled and Vended Water Accountability Act”, SB220 introduced by California State Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) this Sunday.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Rachael Goodyer, Corporate Accountability International - (510) 809-7353
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Click here for the Oakland Press Release

Portland, OR
When: 12:00 pm, October 10

Where: Central Library, US Bank Meeting Room 801 S.W. 10th Ave

When: Tom Long, President, Citizens For Safe Drinking Water
Student Activists and Leaders
Nicholas Carby-Denning, Corporate Accountability International Spokesperson

What: Water, environmental and corporate accountability organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” The event will launch a mass national consumer action of thousands pledging to drink tap over bottled water. Here in Portland the Think Outside the Bottle campaign is calling on the mayor Tom Potter and commissioner Randy Leonard to stand behind Portland’s tap water over bottled water. At the event, students and community members will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands), discuss local concerns and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Nicholas Carby-Denning, Corporate Accountability International - (203) 645-7536
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503