Dear editor,
Currently a group of activists came up with a scheme to prevent a family’s intent of distributing sustainable and untreated water to local customers.
Spreading fear and false information with the goal of closing a cottage business that followed all federal and provincial regulations is not the most noble form of activism.
The government’s comprehensive technical investigation does not support the accusations and false narrative that is being propagated.
For example, the water level of this large aquifer 408 is being monitored hourly at the Greenwood Crescent observation well in Comox.
There are no single-use plastic bottles involved and never have been considered. Same applies for perceived industrial bottling or a store front that would increase traffic.
There will be no water wasted, although other well owners are not accountable for the quantities and usages of their water.
While activism can be noble and altruistic by its very nature, it also involves a lot of ego. Some Merville Water Guardians justify their activities by imagining themselves as environmental warriors fighting against all industrial water bottling operations in British Columbia. There is a lot of “I’m right, you’re wrong” thinking.
Peaceful protests are a right in our country, but attempting to damage a legally permitted family business by coming up with implausible comparisons that are misleading people does not fall within the bounds of our protected rights.
Water has been a delicate subject in the Comox Valley. In the era of boil water advisories and restrictions people feel already anxious. The side of fear and doubt gets the most media coverage. Alternative facts now thrive at a faster pace. Once a certain number of people believe it, others will quickly be persuaded.
To get past this fear, people need access to official facts and information perhaps not from social media or prejudiced news articles. As for the proponents’ side of the story, they have encouraged anyone to contact them via email directly. Until this day, they have not received one single inquiry.
S. Mackenzie,
R. Heynck
Merville