Bottled water: The New Vice

Great ideas popping up from Michigan – tax the lazy, and give to the undereducated! Good to see bottled water join its brethren, Gambling, Alcohol and the Adult Industry (the other vices), as a taxable vice that can help under-served (no pun) sectors of society. The Wolverine State says “tax bottled water and put that money toward education” – read about it here.

The interesting twist here is that they propose to put an end to the state's groundwater being extracted (and bottled) without what many see as proper compensation to the state's residents. So perhaps instead of "Tax the Lazy (bottled water users)" and give to the undereducated, we can think of it as a Robin Hood-esque drama: Tax water rustlers and give to the undereducated...and hopefully clip plastic bottle production? Revolutionary…

A similar and hard-hitting position is taken by two recent movies on the subject of groundwater ownership: Flow and Tapped - check them out and make the connection to the basics of the Rise Above Plastics campaign for yourself!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Never too Early...

At the Sanderling Waldorf School in Encinitas, the children learn from an early age the importance of protecting the environment. This inspiring North County community is doing what they can to Rise Above Plastics! Sanderling not only participates in California Costal Cleanup Day, but the school as a whole is a plastic free zone. All of the toys and supplies are made from natural materials and the food that is prepared at the school is organic and served in glass bowls. In addition, the children compost their food waste and use it in the school's vegetable garden. The teachers and parents of this community know that these important lessons that the children learn now will stay with them throughout their lives. Watch this video and find out more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq30DZkjcY0