no reason: A World on the Verge of Water Bankruptcy
Reaching the Epiphany Moment, Video Makes Water Crisis Clear
Can irony help explain the global fresh water crisis? no reason, a Circle of Blue video, describes in surprising images and unlikely pacing the roles water and water scarcity play in the global economy. It debuted at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland and was shown as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon introduced the WEF’s water sessions.
“We took a different approach to illuminating the topic,” said Eric Daigh, the film’s producer. “In the video we step sideways and do something that connects with people in new ways. We all know how many people lack access to safe fresh water. We all know how many die each year from dirty water. But we need to have the epiphany moment, to grasp the interaction between water and agriculture, the economy, culture and conflict.”
According to a press release by WEF, “Water security links together food, energy, climate, economic growth and human security challenges, which the world economy will face over the next two decades…. The world is now on the verge of water bankruptcy in many places with no way of paying the debt back.”
The video highlights these challenges for global economic leaders. The message: Do not forget the role water plays in every aspect of the global economy.
Read more about WEF’s Water Initiative here.
no reason was produced with assistance from Eileen and J. Carl Ganter, Circle of Blue’s founders, Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute and Ellen White.
Circle of Blue’s senior editor and chief correspondent based in Traverse City, Michigan. He has reported on the contest for energy, food, and water in the era of climate change from six continents. Contact
Keith Schneider
That was powerful, no doubt about that, although I can’t help but have the feeling that this message will tend to preach to the choir. The question isn’t who will be this video’s audience but who _should_ be the audience. Will this video change minds? Will it influence governments or anti-government radicals who will (or already are) waging war over water or other resources?
Tend to agree that this ‘speaks to the choir’, which is a real problem for all us as we try to communicate on issues of peak oil, climate change, water, … How to have ‘expert’ who successfully speaks to non-expert.
I think that this would work very well with ‘captive’ audience. At a movie theater, as people wait for the film to start. In a lecture hall, amid a lecture (the opening). And, well, online if a ‘known’ blogger recommends it to others.
Now, I’m ready to see if I can prove myself wrong. Honestly, much easier to share videos via Youtube / such. Any reason that this is not up on the Cirucl of Blue “channel” at Youtube? http://www.youtube.com/user/circleofblue
Please send me a note if / when you put it up there.
I think this will be a powerful tool in the classroom. It would be helpful if this was provided as a downloadable file to teachers, professors, and practitioners. The Youtube links are great, but sometimes it is most useful to have as a file on your computer.
Nice production with some pretty east to grasp illustrations of how what we eat impacts water. One quibble, for the solar panels & the wind turbine I did not see any water in the video (unless it was very very tiny). I believe the manufacture of the semiconductors that go into the solar panels require quite a bit of water, though it is possible depending upon the analysis that a “per energy unit” comparison (say per kW) makes the solar panels minuscule compared to fossil-based energy. Also, I find it hard to believe that in the component construction or final construction of a wind turbine no water is used.
Still a nice video.
Great, work and excellent use of 3D and music. Kept me interested. I agree, should make this a download-able Creative Commons video so folks can re-use in front of presentations etc…
I’ve just used this video to introduce the topic of water resources to a GCSE class of 30 pupils. They were completely transfixed, and the classroom discussion that followed was fantastic. One suggestion/requesy is for this video to be available to download so that it can be used as a classroom resource – many schools like ours can’t access YouTube, Twitter etc and so I am reliant on this link being always available.
Thanks for a great teaching resource.
This is a powerful and so well thought, as a wife and mother, I am always screaming to save water, but I never thought the importance of how many other creatures are also in need of the most precious gift. This video should be show in the middle of the down town and stop the stock maker. It is short, precise, powerful and crosses cultures and ages.
I live on the water, the largest fresh water supply in the world!
I promote conservation and education and have established water testing protocols for our water on the Trent Canal System which provides a 1200 mile loop around the Great Lakes and connects us to the Atlantic O.. People sooooo take it for granted in Ontario. Water is remarkable at cleaning itself up, but it can not keep up with what mankind is doing, regularly. The clip reminds us we are in denial, it is excellent. We have many small solutions. The problem is much bigger. We are in global trouble.
Keep spreading the word
Its great and a clear message of WATER utilities behind all our life styles and needs.
The need and role of water binding the strings of our all day to day activities are well understood by this small presentation in a few minutes.
Hope this video will bring lot of awareness on water to all the masses.
With regards
SUBASH REDDY
SMARAN NGO
0091-9440055253