  I bought a bottle of Evian today, not because I wanted to drink it, but because it intrigued me that this water had seeped through the ground in France, been bottled, then brought over to the United States on a boat. These 500 ml (about 16.9 oz) had made quite a trip, and now I held them bottled in my hand. The very idea is interesting to think about. The other interesting thing is the fact that anyone would pay $.07 (where is the cents symbol, anyway? it used to be above the 2) an ounce for water on a regular basis. I know this has been discussed before, but it really is an indication when we in the midwest --and area rich in fresh water- will pay more money for bottled water that we can get at the tap, then we will for bottled pop (about $.05 an ounce, if bought in 20 ounce bottles at the same gas station).
Bottled water has become a status symbol, and prematurely at that. In a few decades, when we have polluted and used a huge percentage of the fresh water available on earth, when millions are dying of drought, and when water is difficult to obtain, then its perfectly logical for water to be a status symbol. Now, though, when you can still get free water at the fountain next to the bathroom, people buy a bottle and set it on their desk or carry it around to give the contemporary, health concious look, as well as to say, "Look at me. My disposeable income is such that I am willing to pay a large overhead for foreign water. " This while people are dying accross the world from a lack of water caused by the very corporation that provides it to US first-worlders. There is currently an effort around the U.S. to boycott Coca-Cola products. This is because (for the most part) of Coke's connection with the deaths of trade unionists in Columbia.
I, however, have another good reason to say, "Screw you, Coke! " My reason is that Coke sets up camp outside villages in third world countries (though the terms first- and third-world are rather archaic) and drains the water table to make their product and cool their machinery. This, of course, causes a lack of water for the people that wish to drink it and water their crops.
I say, "Screw you, Coke! " because they aren't just killing tade unionists. Finally, bringing together the theme of Coca-Cola and bottled water is Coke's Dasani brand water. Dasani never actually says its spring water, nor is it. Dasani is simply filtered tap water (of which we have some of the cleanest in the country, here in Bloomington) with added salt to get you hooked. Sounds a little like less deadly cancer sticks, to me. Fight globalization, Nick 
