The 鶹ƵUniversity campus group, Students of Sustainability (SOS), will host a screening of the documentary, “Tapped,” in support of the Take Back the Tap initiative. The 2009 documentary by directors Stephanie Soechtig and Jason Lindsey examines the environmental, economic and social effects of the bottled water industry. The event will be held from 4-6 p.m. on March 5 in Room 132, Lyman Hall. SOS co-president Maizy Ludden says, “We hope this documentary will open students’ eyes to the reality of the environmental, social and economic impacts of the bottled water industry, and inspire students to change their consumption habits to resist the commodification of this life-giving resource.”
At 4 p.m., the event kicks off with a blind water taste-test comparing tap, filtered and bottled water, with the intention of reducing the stigma surrounding tap water. The screening itself will begin around 4:30 p.m. and last 75 minutes. There will be a brief discussion immediately following the film, focusing on takeaways and the results of the water taste-test.
The event is meant to discourage bottled water consumption on campus and to educate students about the negative effects of the industry. The bottled water industry often sells water taken from the municipal supplies of disadvantaged communities at a significant markup in plastic bottles, resulting in the depletion of natural resources and the addition of millions of tons of plastic to the environment each year. The screening also strengthens the partnership between Students of Sustainability and the Take Back the Tap campaign.
In the past, SOS succeeded in making tap water more accessible to students at the University through advocacy that led to the installation of water filling stations on campus.
Contact: Maizy Ludden
Students of Sustainability
315.345.2423
mtludden@syr.edu
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