Do you always agree with what you read in the newspaper,
hear on the radio, or watch on the TV news?

Do you know when you are reading true facts or someone's opinions or a combination of the two?

Do you feel strongly about certain topics?

Can you tell where others stand on certain topics when you listen to speeches or read reports?

What are your feelings about "buying bottled water"?

Read the editorials below and look for facts and opinions. Keep in mind that both articles contain bias. Bias means that the writer has strong feelings about the topic and argues for their viewpoint.

Buying Bottled Water Safer

Only a couple of years ago many people would have never even considered buying bottled water. Water was always considered safe, readily available, and best of all...FREE.

Today many people are purchasing bottled water in record numbers. Many prefer it over juice or pop because it has no caffeine, no sugar, no preservatives, no calories, no discoloration, and no chlorine. It is a healthier alternative to pop or juice. More importantly due to recent tainted water tragedies many are looking for safer water options.

According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), an industry trade group, total U.S. bottled water volume in 2003 approached 6.4 billion gallons. This has made it the fastest growing major beverage segment. That many people must be onto something, they can't all be wrong. Buying bottled water seems to be the safer, healthier choice of the 21st Century.

It is the opinion of this paper that the public needs to continue to be safe and buy bottled water. But we hope that eventually pressure will be placed on municipalities to create local water bottling plants to lower the rates of bottled water. We feel that every person should have safe, inexpensive bottled water.

Bottled Water
Scheme

People are easily fooled when it comes to their health. Rather than drinking perfectly good tap water for a fraction of a penny they go out and buy Spring, Mineral, Purified, Ozonated, Distilled or Filtered Water for outrageous prices. Compared to tap water this bottled water is 1000 times more expensive.

Is the water really safer? How do you know you are not buying regular tap water that has been put through a cheap filter? There is a lot of unscrupulous people who bypass regulations whenever there is a profit to be made. Just because it looks good and tastes good doesn't mean that it doesn't have dangerous contaminants. Many people do not know that tap water is tested daily for safety with high standards and requirements. On the other hand most bottled water is not regulated and a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found cancer causing chemicals such as arsenic and benzene in 1 in 4 brands of bottled water.

Another problem with bottled water is that it doesn't contain fluoride. Most communities have worked hard to integrate fluoride into the water systems to promote stronger teeth and prevent cavities. Many people take this for granted and forget about it when they switch over to bottled water. If parents want to make sure their children get their required fluoride they need to get a prescription from a doctor or a dentist that costs $5 a month, and make sure their children use it daily.

For a typical family of four buying bottled water would cost them approximately $320.00 per month compared to 50¢ for tap water. Who really is benefiting from these huge bottled water sales? Stay informed and investigate the background behind the booming multi-million dollar business of bottled water.

Bottled Water
Safe Facts

Bottled Water
Safe Opinions

Bottled Water
Unsafe Facts

Bottled Water
Unsafe Opinions

Is there truth to both sides?

Which side do you believe has the stronger argument?

What opinions would you add?

What facts would you add?