My Point of View: Deforest City should strike while the water’s hot

London, Ontario is on a roll.

The ban on plastic water bottle sales instituted by London City Council was mentioned - more than once! - on CBC Radio’s national news.

While a hapless tourist was screeched in at a pub in St. John’s, Newfoundland and the countdown clock for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia struck ‘536 days to go’ a CBC announcer proclaimed the virtues of our ban at city-owned sites.


While 3 London’s councillors who voted against the ban crossed their hearts and hoped no one would die of thirst (“We’re getting sued again!? Sheeeiiittt!!”) Ottawa councillor Alex Cullen said he hopes his own city will revisit the issue "given London's example” and added:

"Anything we can do to reduce the amount of plastic bottles by having such a policy on city property I think is a good idea.”

Even local school boards will consider a similar ban in the fall. (link to London newspaper article)

Because of the tremendous uphill roll our city is experiencing, I believe now is a good time to tackle even more pressing environmental, social and physical issues.

Stay tuned.

[Read post below - free of charge - for more context]

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Live Small and Prosper: London’s nanny state garnering praise from Ottawa

At the same time as local councillor Paul Van Meerbergen is huffing and puffing that restricting the sales of plastic bottled water (even in a very small way) is “one more brick in the creation of a nanny state” there are reports that other cities and institutions may follow London’s lead.

It just hit me.


“London’s lead. Other cities may follow London’s lead.”

I’ve never used those words together before in a sentence.

And we could be hearing them again soon - even on CBC Radio Canada nonetheless.

This, from CBC.ca online:

“A recent ban on bottled-water sales at municipal premises in London, Ont., is a good idea and one that Ottawa should reconsider,” two city councillors say.

"I'm happy as a clam that they've gone ahead and made such a sensible decision," Capital ward Coun. Clive Doucet said. "But I'm sad that we can't be ahead of the pack."

Hey, you snooze you lose, Clive!

“Happy as a clam. I’m as happy as a clam.”

When’s the last time you heard that?

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My Point of View: To ban (the plastic water bottle) or not to ban

If you want to have a great debate institute a ban on plastic water bottles at a few city-owned sites as did London Ontario.

Fur will fly. Truth will be turned upside down. Over-reactions by deputy mayors and councillors will be the order of the day.

And, if you’re like me, willing to carry your own water in a thermos and squeeze your own oranges if you prefer juice, your blood will boil at some of the things people say.


For example, Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen declared [see entire newspaper article]:

“It’s one more brick in the construction of a nanny state.”

As I said yesterday, the derogatory term generally refers to excessive state controls.

Here’s more:

It can refer to “consumer protectionism that removes or controls otherwise free choices such as helmet laws, anti-smoking laws and other laws regarding personal choices (some of which include a social cost, as in increased health-care costs to society at large)” [Wikipedia online]

In my opinion, many would agree that some restrictions save lives and untold personal and economic costs (seat-belt, helmet, anti-smoking, highway speed laws etc.) and we’re still hundreds of years away from becoming a nanny state.

We’ll need an excessive number of bricks put in place before present and future generations are adequately protected from the social and environmental costs related to excessive lifestyle choices - made possible by an unsustainable economy fueled by petroleum.


Van Meerbergen also predicted Londoners won’t let their kids drink from public fountains that are exposed to things as vile as urine and added, “Most families are not going to encourage their children to lap up water from public fountains.”

His words made me wonder, what’s more excessive?

The controls or the councillor?

In conclusion, though there will be many more statements made in support of bottled water that will make me feel more like a geezer, give me fever or make my blood boil I will hold my tongue (in this space) until we’ve lived with the ban for one year.

Hold my tongue?

You heard it here first.

[Read post below for more context]

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It Strikes Me Funny: Comments about London’s bottle ban give me fever

My temperature rose a notch or two while reading comments from an industry spokesman and local councillors who oppose a limited ban on plastic water bottle sales at some London venues.

[A London newspaper report]

An incomprehensible comment by Dep. Mayor Gosnell (“We are penalizing water”) boosted my geezer temp to 98.9 degrees.


But a lulu of a lament by Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen provoked a fever.

He said:

“It’s one more brick in the construction of a nanny state.”

Is he kidding?

No.

There’s no report Van Meerbergen grinned mischievously, winked at people or poked a fellow councillor in the arm before saying, “Hey, I was just goofin’ around.”

For those not in the loop, ‘nanny state’ is a derogatory term and “in general is used in reference to policies where the state is characterized as being excessive in its desire to protect ("nanny"), govern or control particular aspects of society.” [Wikipedia online]


Is a small restriction on plastic bottle usage equal to a brick?

How does that work?

Hurry - my temp just hit 99.2 degrees

Stay tuned

[Read post below for more context]

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It Strikes Me Funny: Comments about water bottle ban agitate this geezer

I predicted in today’s column that as discussions related to a water bottle ban continue in London people who sell ‘plastic’ water (and others) would say, in effect:

“Are you nuts? There are great reasons to allow plastic bottles.”

And I predicted such comments would make me feel like a geezer.

I was correct on both counts.

After a ban was actually introduced people said the following:

“(The city) ... ignored the facts and decided to target a healthy consumer choice. This is a move that will cost taxpayers more and do less for the environment.” - J. Sherwood, Pres. of Refreshments Canada

[Report in London newspaper]

I put my hand to my forehead.

Ouch. My geezer temp - usually stable - was at 98.7 degrees.

“A ban will push people to drink less healthful alternatives.” - Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell and Controller Bud Polhill

I hit 98.8.

“We are penalizing water.” Dep. Mayor Gosnell


98.9 degrees soon followed and sweat from my nose dripped into my orange juice.

Could civic leaders respond in a more out-dated fashion?

Stay tuned.

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My Point of View: I’m a geezer and have my own juice

Part 2

According to a recent letter to the editor there are six popular excuses related to drinking bottled water.

Well, no matter how many excuses are generated I’ll continue to think bottled water should be banned wherever possible because I think like - therefore I am - a geezer.

For example, excuse or myth 1 is as follows:

Bottled water is healthier [than tap water].


I say, what a bunch of malarkey.

I heard the first batch of bottled water came from a greasy hose out back of a garage.

Two guys started selling town tap water for 10 cents a pop because people were actually willing to buy it rather than walk home for a drink - and the practice continues to this day.


With a bit of effort and ingenuity we could carry cold water with us everyday - even freshly squeezed orange juice - in any number of reusable containers, conveniently, and drink something a lot healthier than bottled water.

Bottled water is healthier?

Not a chance.

Read Part 1 of My Point of View below for context.

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My Point of View: Debate re bottled water proves I’m a geezer

Part 1

I already know I’m a geezer.

While shaving this morning I spotted a wild tuft of hair on the side of my neck that hadn’t been there last week.

My hair realizes it misses the sixties and is doing whatever the heck it pleases. And I can’t blame it.

A recent letter to the editor of The Londoner confirmed I’m a geezer too, as excuse after excuse - six in all - for using plastic bottled waters made me realize I come from another generation, maybe even from a land far away where we learned to do many things for ourselves and when we whined that we were hungry our mothers told us to have a drink of water, then go outside and play - but not with scissors.


I’ll start teasing a few posts out of the letter after I make my morning orange juice.

Tune in for Part 2

Click here for the first in a recent series about The Blackout

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