There can’t be many KBzine readers still unfamiliar with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge but if you’ve missed it, look out for the coverage in this week’s news. Now I may be about to make myself really unpopular but while I know this challenge has created a lot of fun (mainly for those doing the throwing!) and has also raised money for charity, I’m wondering how many others in the industry have, like me, wrestled with their consciences when facing the challenge, because of the huge volumes of water and amount of electricity being wasted.

I’m normally one that will muck in to promote any good cause (indeed I threw myself out of a small plane some years back to help raise funds for an industry association/charity affiliated to a magazine I was working on) but this current challenge just doesn’t rest easy on my shoulders I’m afraid.

After all, how can I keep writing about our need to conserve water and how can I support WaterAid and champion the great work the Bathroom Manufacturers Association is doing to promote water conservation, then go against all that by perpetuating this widening cycle of wasting water?

For it’s not just about a small bucket of ice anymore; the buckets have got bigger and bigger… My brave friend Marco, was actually washed away along with his pallet by the force and volume of the huge vat of iced water thrown over him this week. It made me wonder just how much water has been wasted in total during this challenge.

Anyway, I will be donating, I will join in the fun by finding a way to make myself suffer (perhaps I’ll give up chocolate for a month and add the money saved to my donation), but I not going to be wasting any water.

Do you see where I’m coming from or am I being a grumpy grouse? Adverse comments will be taken firmly on the chin!

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs