Branding a new generation of consumers?

What sounds more sweet and innocent than teaching children about the importance of fresh water? That's the public relations message Nestlé is putting out in its press releases. But what message is getting conveyed to the world's children when they learn about fresh water from a corporation which wants to sell them drinking water out of a bottle and charge them the market price? Nestlé water is for drinking and tap water is for washing, that's the message. This is the same corporation which sold infant formula as a substitute for breast milk to poor mothers in developing countries where clean tap water was not available. Here's Nestlé's story. You can decide for yourself.

Nestlé celebrates World Water Day with children from 25 different countries
March 22, 2011--Around 10,000 children in 25 countries will be offered the chance to learn about the importance of fresh water at educational festivals led by Nestlé Waters in partnership with Project WET this week.... To support the initiative, Nestlé Waters has invited local school children and their teachers to attend 'Together for Water' festivals at its sites, or nearby locations, in countries ranging from the United States to France, Lebanon, Brazil, Pakistan and China.... While at Nestlé's Henniez factory in Switzerland, staff will spend the day with groups of local school children, running Project WET exercises and explaining the company's efforts to protect the mineral water's natural source. Full story is here.