The Green Machine, a group of students and staff committed to promoting sustainability and exemplary environmental stewardship through education, conservation and community engagement, launches its WaterWorks campaign this Friday with a lunch and learn session at noon in Room 21C of the Charlottetown Centre on the Prince of Wales Campus in Charlottetown.

The Green Machine received funding from the City of Charlottetown through its Inspired City Micro Grant Project to develop the WaterWorks campaign. The campaign is intended to raise awareness about two critical issues: the proliferation of plastic water bottle use and the effects of the increasing shortage of water in the Winter River Watershed. During the campaign, which runs from December to April, the Green Machine will suggest ways to reduce water consumption both on campus and at home. The campaign will run from December until April 22nd, World Water Day.

The first session, which is hosted by Leo Cheverie, includes a viewing of The Story of Bottled Water. This powerful video explains how bottled water has become so pervasive, and investigates the negative effects of its use. A discussion about how to raise awareness about sustainable water consumption on campus and in the community will follow.

Joan Diamond, a spokesperson for the Green Machine, said the campaign is designed to encourage responsible water consumption in an empowering, informative way.

“The Holland College Green Machine is proud to partner with the City of Charlottetown on this important campaign to raise awareness about water issues and encourage students, staff and the community to change behaviours around water consumption. Members of the public are welcome to all of the upcoming lunch and learn sessions, where we’ll be providing a free lunch, delicious and healthy unbottled water, and the chance to win a refillable Green Machine mug,” she said.

Since its inception in February of this year, the Green Machine has initiated a Random Acts of Greenness campaign, hosted an Electronics Round-up/Solar Barbeque, catered an organic, environmentally friendly lunch for Student Orientation Day, and worked with several departments within the college to improve environmental practices.