Play Pumps: Brilliant Idea, But Don't Buy Bottled Water

Today we went to the Cooperative Members Carol Sing. Cllr Jim King was Santa. But we learnt that buying fair trade (?) water in our Cooperative shops would help buy 100 play pumps for sub Saharan Africa.

A brilliant idea. The kids get a merry-go-round and pump water for their village as they play. Advertising pays for maintenance and the pumps are made in South Africa and installed by trained up local Labour in each country with ten years' guaranteed employment.

But why would anyone buy water to raise pennies for Play Pumps when they could use tap water and donate pounds? Bottled water is one of the most environmentally ridiculous and chronically sustained fads ever. Cease and desist.