Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Think about what you drink.

Spoken word by Evalyn Parry.

Bottle This!
Let’s just hold on before we go any farther
I want to take a little moment to talk about water
that liquid that you’re holding, that bottle in your hand
you though it was water you were drinking, not a corporate brand
you were thinking it was safer, cleaner, and better for your health.
but were you thinking about who profits from the wealth
of the public water that’s been taken for free
and sold back to you for an exorbitant fee
listen my friends, listen up folks
Aquafina is Pepsi; Dansani is Coke
they’re selling filtered tap water, and this is not a joke
these corporate giants buy water at a tax-free super-discount
then filter it five times and sell it back to you
for five thousand times the amount
that you pay for running water from your tap
and when I start thinking about that
my blood starts to boil, my head starts to spin
as I try to understand where to begin
that H20: that bottle you just tossed
it represents garbage, safety and cost
water table depletion, which is all our of loss
let’s talk about land-fill: plastic bottles piled high
slowly decomposing, leaching toxins back into our water supply
furthermore, the more water bottles we buy
the more we send a signal to the powers that be
that we believe the fear that they’re selling us about water safety.
we’re swallowing the idea that good water isn’t free
that of course one must pay for water of quality
meanwhile, beyond the periphery of our rich country
--where, incidentally, tap water is actually tested far more stringently
and more regularly than bottled water --
elsewhere, women walk farther and farther every day to find water for their families
a desert spreading rapidly
while we sit sipping on a billion dollar industry
they say water is the new oil, water is the new oil!
and Canada’s got it, so this war will come to our soil
but oil is a luxury: water a necessity
we’re fighting over oil because we like to drive cars
because trucks must deliver, because we want to fly to mars
but a body can only live with out water for so long
water should not belong to anyone: it belongs to everyone
water must be public, water must be free
clean water should not be a commodity
to be bought and sold on the open market
which pits those who can afford it against those in need
water is a human right, not a luxury
water is a human right, not a luxury
let’s talk about India, let’s talk about Africa
let’s talk about China, and right here, at home in North America
let’s talk about the watershed, and the aquafirs
let’s talk about Walkerton and Native reserves
this matter is urgent, it requires our attention
it demands immediate public intervention.
if we’re going to be paying, it should be for water from our tap
ensuring it remains reliable, clean and safe, so that
we can take a container, fill it again and again
fill our bodies with the water we need and then
leave enough for our neighbours, enough for the farmers
enough for the future, our sons and our daughters
that’s the blood of the earth in that bottle right there
a resource we have no choice but to share
before you buy another bottle and down what’s in there
you’ve gotta think about what you drink
think (think!) about what you drink
maybe I’m preaching to the choir, to the converted masses
the concerned and conscience, the educated classes
but even you, out there, who already know everything I’ve said
how many times does convenience win out instead
of what you know is right, and what you know what you should do
you know ignoring the facts doesn’t make them less true
you’ve gotta think (think!) about what you drink
you’ve gotta think (think!) about what you drink
tell your friend, tell your neighbour, write a letter to your leader
it is never true that there is nothing you can do
water is must be public, water must be free
water is a human right, not a luxury!
think about what you drink
think (think!) about what you drink
think (think!) about what you drink

Bottle This! is spoken word from Evalyn's double disc Small Theatres If you were so inclined, it would make an excellent Christmas gift, for me, or someone else.

I heard it on CKUA: Listener supported radio.

James

Labels: I think too much

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Think about what you drink.

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