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Earth News Today
News from reporters worldwide


Australian town bans sales of drinking water in plastic bottles
2009/10/01 06:03 25 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto@Gunma, Japan


Nature from the Ant's Perspective Wins the Environmental Photography Prize
2009/09/15 10:51 09 (GMT)
Nakagawa Makoto@Manila, Philippines


Three sites in Japan have global geological value - they are to be listed for the first time as glob
2009/08/31 22:35 42 (GMT)
Yumi Yamada@Kanagawa, Japan


Mobile tags reveal the journey our trash takes
2009/07/18 11:19 35 (GMT)
Nakagawa Makoto@Manila, Philippines


The population of wild animals in the Masai Mara National Reserve has dramatically decreased
2009/07/08 23:29 37 (GMT)
Miracle Lilio@Kigali, Rwanda


Cleaning rivers by using carbon fiber woven using nishijin brocade technology
2009/07/06 04:29 36 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto@Gunma, Japan


"bicing" - Drop-off public bicycle system
2009/06/08 13:12 00 (GMT)
Toru Morimoto@Barcelona, Spain


Donsol, a town brought to life by whale sharks
2009/05/23 05:06 53 (GMT)
Nakagawa Makoto@Manila, Philippines


The "movement to donate food" spreads across Berlin
2009/05/20 00:20 39 (GMT)
Hideko Kawachi@Berlin, Germany


Japan's energy independence to come from "small-scale hydroelectric power generation"
2009/05/11 21:45 18 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto@Gunma, Japan


Nike, Gap, and other U.S businesses establish partnership of CO2 emission cut initiative
2009/04/14 04:51 58 (GMT)
Angie Amasawa@Seattle, USA


Let's ask cherry trees about climate change
2009/03/31 09:40 25 (GMT)
Yumi Yamada@Kanagawa, Japan


Jakarta - in danger of sinking under water in 3 years from excessive groundwater use?!
2009/03/25 09:22 16 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto@Gunma, Japan


Celebrate Easter with colorful organic eggs!
2009/03/12 08:55 37 (GMT)
Hideko Kawachi@Berlin, Germany


GM crops - expected to double by 2015
2009/03/07 11:43 36 (GMT)
Think the Earth Project Staff@Tokyo, Japan


The Koshien Stadium has become an eco stadium
2009/03/03 23:47 05 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto@Gunma, Japan


In Korea 30% of tap water is going to waste as a result of leaky pipes
2009/02/14 07:07 10 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto@Gunma, Japan


Transferring money from your cell phone; a new service spreads across Kenya
2009/02/12 23:50 33 (GMT)
africanwhale@Tokyo,Japan


Small wind turbine challenge Google contest
2009/02/10 03:49 41 (GMT)
Angie Amasawa@Seattle, USA


"IBUKI", a satellite that will observe the Earth's breathing, reaches space safely
2009/01/30 19:58 24 (GMT)
Yumi Yamada@Kanagawa, Japan


Organic farmland on the outskirts of Berlin are now the largest in Germany!
2009/01/14 23:47 27 (GMT)
Hideko Kawachi@Berlin, Germany


Very influential German Magazine "Test" uncovers pitfalls of organic products
2008/12/27 11:42 46 (GMT)
Hideko Kawachi@Berlin, Germany


Marine organisms - You can learn all about them in the "Census of Marine Life"
2008/11/23 08:44 54 (GMT)
Hisayo Takada@Auckland, New Zealand


Digital TV in Hawaii :starting early for conservation of birds
2008/11/19 12:39 16 (GMT)
Angie Amasawa@Seattle, USA


Learning about what's going on inside the star from its "music"
2008/11/01 11:04 29 (GMT)
Hisayo Takada@Auckland, New Zealand


Korea and Japan make joint proposal for protecting paddy fields at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
2008/10/30 12:10 47 (GMT)
Yumi Yamada@Kanagawa, Japan


Nurturing healthy forests with ideas for wood use
2008/10/08 10:05 46 (GMT)
Think the Earth Project Staff@Tokyo, Japan


The Red Cross aims to augment public awareness for victims of war through a clue-hunting game!
2008/10/02 18:42 02 (GMT)
africanwhale@Tokyo,Japan


Airships take you to a low-carbon future
2008/09/17 05:14 53 (GMT)
Nakagawa Makoto@Manila, Philippines


No borders for natural disasters
2008/08/31 10:10 25 (GMT)
Think the Earth Project Staff@Tokyo, Japan






news

Australian town bans sales of drinking water in plastic bottles
2009/10/01 06:03 25 (GMT)
Junji Hashimoto??Gunma, Japan

On September 26, Bundanoon, a town of approximately 2,000 people located southwest of Sydney, began its ban on sale of mineral water in plastic bottles. While opposing the bottled water manufacturers move to develop the layer of groundwater in the area, the residents learned about the environmental impact of plastic bottles. That is what led the town to make a decision against the sale of bottled water. Bottled water was pulled from retailers' shelves and was replaced by reusable water bottles that can be refilled at water fountains or water stations.

In recent years, there has been a move towards reexamining the use of bottled water mainly in Europe and the US. The US-based Worldwatch Institute emphasizes the following 3 points in its section in the Vital Signs Update, whose author described bottled water as "an industry winner, but it's an environmental loser." 1) Excessive withdrawal of natural mineral water or spring water threatens local streams and groundwater. 2) Significant amount of energy is used in production and shipping. 3) Oil-derived plastics are used to make the bottles which are mostly unrecycled.

In response to this, many have begun to review the sale of bottled water and some local governments have banned spending public funds on bottled water, but Bundanoon is said to be the world's first town that has banned bottled water in the entire town. The town has received positive feedback and praise as well as inquiries from other local governments. Those involved in this movement in the town proudly say that even a small rural town can "bring about real and measurable change that has a benefit for the environment."


Related URL/media
http://www.bundyontap.com.au/





Earth News Correspondent

Junji Hashimoto
Gunma, Japan
Writer. Aqua-sphere Offce representativeA. Japan water forum Water saving leaderihttp://www.sessui.info/j. I wish for a fair and continued water supply. I cover the water problems of various places, and am doing writing with water as the theme. And I do "Class of water" that tells the importance of water and the water circumstances of all parts of the world for the child and general. The book includes 'Let's peep into the mysterious world of water to research greatly', 'Japanese who doesn't notice the importance of the water problem' , and 'Water of delicious beautiful water', etc. It is said that the 21st century is a century of water, and the competition of valuable water happens. I want to deliver information by the aspect how it is necessary to do to avoid such a situation.