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A crash course in changing the world.
Reverse water snobbery effect
In 2007 in the US UNICEF launched a Tap project campaign with a simple concept:
than 1000 restaurants and their clients support the cause.
Although I'm not a fan of big (or in this case gigantic) nonprofits
(simply because of their high administrative costs), I must admit that this project is superbly designed.
I like this campaign because of its constant focus on the key source: you pay for your water, that somebody else will get it too.
Besides they remember people that tap water is precious and not something you take for granted.
Reverse water snobbery effect is on the rise in the US and also elsewhere.
People stop being embarrassed to ask for tap water in the restaurants and bars.
Fancy San Francisco restaurants are serving just tap water. Why?
Because it's more eco friendly and their stylish eco aware customers support it.
Bottled water industry replied on this trend by introducing
biodegradable plastic bottles or economical plastic bottles who use
less plastic. Still the sales of bottled water first time ever in 2008 declined in the US.
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Tap water is back.
I can't stop thinking how can we use this trend to solve a water crisis problem around the world?
- restaurants would ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free
- money will be used to bring clean water to millions of children around the world
than 1000 restaurants and their clients support the cause.
Although I'm not a fan of big (or in this case gigantic) nonprofits
(simply because of their high administrative costs), I must admit that this project is superbly designed.
I like this campaign because of its constant focus on the key source: you pay for your water, that somebody else will get it too.
Besides they remember people that tap water is precious and not something you take for granted.
Reverse water snobbery effect is on the rise in the US and also elsewhere.
People stop being embarrassed to ask for tap water in the restaurants and bars.
Fancy San Francisco restaurants are serving just tap water. Why?
Because it's more eco friendly and their stylish eco aware customers support it.
Bottled water industry replied on this trend by introducing
biodegradable plastic bottles or economical plastic bottles who use
less plastic. Still the sales of bottled water first time ever in 2008 declined in the US.
---
Tap water is back.
I can't stop thinking how can we use this trend to solve a water crisis problem around the world?
Views: 53
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Comment by ben on March 26, 2010 at 9:46pm
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Great point well made Elastika. Here in the UK more and more restaurants provide tap water and snobbery is in decline. BUT I don't think the UNICEF project has made much of an impact here and I suspect other areas of Europe will have a similar story to tell.
From my reading the emphasis of the Tap project was US-centric. A great way to increase awareness and break the strangle hold of the bottled water companies would be to expand the project to other countries around the world that fit a similar profile to the US...the UK would be a good start.
Good KS post - +1 from me!
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Comment by Elastika on March 27, 2010 at 8:32am
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@Ben: Yes this UNICEF project is US-centric, I haven't noticed it in Europe. I'm not saying that they are responsible for reverse water snobbery effect, I just think they identify the phenomenon quickly and profit from it.
Otherwise in England you also have some projects to promote tap water like London on Tap.
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Comment by Amber Sofia on March 27, 2010 at 8:52am
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That's a great concept. Here in Australia this concept has yet to be employed on a grand scale. Especially here, this project would work great; Australians are readily given free tap water almost everywhere. In cafes and bars gla**** are stacked up next to water dispensers. I for one know that Australians like to think of themselves as playing an important role in shaping the world of today. Apart from the monthly funraisers (although the donations add up massively) this should be a more employed campaign because it would be more effective than the one-off-donation we donate to.
I hope that all made sense ^^
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@amber: wonder why UNICEF didn't spread this campaign from the US to other continents ...
@MAK: hey Michelle, I didn't forget about you, I lost my EVOKE password and I was off EVOKE for the last 3 day (that was a strange feeling :)
So I really studied water crisis and as I see, the most urgent problem for petitioning is definitely a pledge to governments to stop privatization of water sources. This is the central problem I think. If this problem won't solve then in the future just more and more people will suffer from water shortage.
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Comment by MoE on March 29, 2010 at 10:23pm
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Great post, Elastika, as most of yours. I drink (almost) only tap water and never shamed on asking for it instead of bottled one, even where water snobbery's still dominating.
But this is a great achievement, indeed. This is what I consider (and admire as) a shift from personal responsibility, to common and shared awareness.
UNICEF did something awesome with that, and I think US was the best place to start it. Now it would be nice to push for having this initiative spreaded all around.
What about asking for that, also, within MAK's petition? Would it be too much? Would it be distracting from bigger, theoretical issues? Well take it just as a proposal, a pretext to think and discuss furthermore about it...
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Michelle, I'm looking forward to see the revised version. I've sketched a mind map about water crisis problems and possible solutions - maybe you'll get some more ideas ...
@Stefano: I sent a mail to UNICEF Slovenia asking if there is maybe possibility that they start a tap campaign here.
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I got a mail from UNICEF Slovenia - they like this campaign and they'll try to implement it also in our country :)
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Comment by Ethan Walden on April 11, 2010 at 12:13am
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Hasta la Victoria Siempre Compañera Eva!!!
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Comment by PJE on April 28, 2010 at 7:01pm
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This is a great post. Where are you? Come back!
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