Special J: A Window into the Darker Side

When you are trying to do good things, it can be pretty easy to focus on positive stuff. That is awesome and I like to keep things optimistic up here as much possible. But I want to also be in touch with the dark side so that I can be a smarter defender - not just an activist but a FACTivist. There are people out there who don't believe in re-usable water bottles. It's likely that they are good people who have been culturally conditioned to focus only on economics and job creation rather than imagining creative, sustainable ways to create more jobs and save the planet at the same time.

A few organizations work diligently to perpetuate that thinking, while others simply pull the wool over people's eyes by flashing their green-washed sustainability reports and "Earth Events" front and center. They stand in the way of people trying to create real change. The pro-plastic bag coalitions file lawsuits against cities and towns in order to keep plastic bags tax-free and acceptable. The bottling industry bullies down Bottle Bills and Bottle Bill Expansion efforts in order to keep things business-as-usual.

Listed below are companies opposed to Bag Bans and Bottle Bills. I wanted to create a window into that world - even if it is just for keeping tabs. It is scary (especially Save the Plastic Bag and Real Recycling in MA). Some of these coalitions have propaganda denying the evils of plastic, the existence of the plastic in the gyres and that it is killing marine life. There are links to each of the companies and twitter feeds for each. Obviously the customer-facing companies like Ocean Spray, Coca-cola, etc are just shiny happy marketing feeds but they are there anyways.

Bag Ban Opposition

Save the Plastic Bag | Twitter Feed
Bag the Ban | Twitter Feed
a group organized by Hilex Poly (a plastic bag manufacturer)

Bottle Bill Opposition

International Bottled Water Association | Twitter Feed
Their twitter feed is an "upbeat" mix of creative recycling ideas for single-use plastic water bottles infused with negative twists on communities who have become enlightened and want to ban single-use plastic water bottles.
Real Recycling for Massachusetts | Twitter Feed
Their mantra is: "Help to promote REAL Recycling in Massachusetts - not an expanded bottle bill". If they really cared about the environment they would put their efforts into doing something positive but that is not what they really care about. Their tagline makes it quite clear.
Poland Spring Bottling Company
The Massachusetts Food Association
Keep America Beautiful
The same group that drew people in with the image of the "crying Indian" was founded by businessmen in the bottling industry. Check out the story here on the Bottle Bill Toolkit.
Ocean Spray | Twitter Feed
The Coca Cola Company | Twitter Feed
Pepsi-Cola Company | Twitter Feed
Can Manufacturers Institute | Twitter Feed
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Food Marketing Institute | Twitter Feed
National Beer Wholesalers Association | Twitter Feed
Grocery Manufacturers/National Food Processors Association | Twitter Feed
National Grocers Association | Twitter Feed
American Beverage Association | Twitter Feed
Anheuser Busch

More information about the opposition:

If what you are reading on this page leaves you troubled...

You can DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Join Surfrider, attend a chapter meeting, tell your friends, remember your reusable bags when shopping, drink water out of reusable bottles, encourage your loved ones to do the same, recycle any plastics that you come in contact with. Become a guardian of the earth - if others doubt your behavior just be patient and lead by example!

Learn more about the MA Bottle Bill and why it needs updating!

And now for some GOOD NEWS

Because even though there is a lot of bad, there are still good people working hard to do good things. And change is happening despite the opposition. And it will continue to happen. Here are a couple.