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Franciscan Federation Supports Resolution to Challenge Corporate Control of Water Congregational leadership commends Mayor of Minneapolis for protecting public water For immediate Release: Contact: Religious sisters, brothers, priests and associates in the Franciscan Federation of the United States will commit to challenging corporate control of water this week as they convene in Minneapolis for their annual conference. Representing over 10,000 members and associates across the country, the Franciscan women and men meet to discuss issues of concern for religious serving in schools, colleges, parishes, hospitals and communities in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The theme, “A Franciscan Dynamic: Right Relationship, Care for Earth, Care for Each Other” focuses heavily on environmental and social justice. Last summer the faith network adopted a resolution to protect the waters entrusted to us, and to act to ensure that governments meet the responsibility of providing access to clean and safe water, something Franciscans view as a free gift from God. “In light of the water crisis facing our world today, the Franciscan Federation is eager to collaborate with agencies and organizations that pursue both increasing access to water, and maintenance and improvement of the public infrastructure that provides this fundamental need,” says Sister Sharon Dillon, Executive Director. “Water is a sacred gift and, as Franciscans, we address Water as our Sister.” On Thursday morning, the Franciscan Federation is set to renew the resolution with a stronger emphasis on challenging corporate control of water. As water scarcity becomes a bigger issue, corporations are increasingly trying to gain control of water resources and systems, which is only making the problem worse. The religious network has partnered with the Think Outside the Bottle campaign of Corporate Accountability International to pursue actions specifically challenging the bottled water industry for turning water into a profit-driven commodity. “Corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Pepsi spend tens of millions of dollars on marketing each year that makes people doubt the quality of their own tap water, undermining people’s confidence in public water systems,” says Corporate Accountability International organizer Zandra Rice. “The Think Outside the Bottle campaign is a direct challenge to the marketing muscle of bottled water corporations and aims to galvanize support for public water systems around the country.” There is growing concern about the impacts of bottled water on the environment and people’s confidence in public water systems. The Think Outside the Bottle campaign is working with mayors to challenge the impacts of bottled water and to raise awareness about the importance of strong public water systems. Last month, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Salt Lake City Mayor Ross “Rocky” Anderson introduced a resolution at the U.S. Conference of Mayors that highlights the importance of municipal water and calls for a study of the impact of bottled water on city waste. “We commend Mayor R.T. Rybak for helping introduce the resolution,” says Franciscan Federation President Brother Joseph Moloney. “Momentum is building in support of our public water systems. We congratulate all of these mayors — and the U.S. Conference of Mayors — on their leadership in passing a resolution that places the political will of mayors behind full support of municipal water. It is a critical step toward keeping our public water supply strong. This week, the Franciscan Federation will formally renew its commitment to educating our communities about the dangerous reality behind the image of bottled water, as part of our work to protect access to safe, clean water as a right for all creation.” # # # Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For over 25 years, we've forced corporations -- like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria -- to stop abusive actions. For more information visit www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
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