Thursday, November 5

"H2O: Go Blue" Initiative and the screening of FLOW

On Thursday, November 5, 2009, LGS sophomore John Campana hosted a movie screening of FLOW (For the Love Of Water) as part of his initiative to raise awareness about water scarcity.  The documentary featured interviews and an in-depth look at water consumption and its availability all over the world.  In many cases, it is not so much an issue of whether there is water to use, but whether the water is usable.

With pollutants such as jet fuel, pesticides, and more pharmaceuticals than can be named entering ground water, it is difficult for most to find water that is suitable for bathing, let alone drinking.  And in most cases, the only potable water to be found is that which must be paid for due to privatization. In our society, paying for water is nothing new.  Indeed, we spend billions of dollars annually on bottled water.  But for villagers who are used to getting water from a natural stream, it is incomprehensible that anyone could buy, much less sell something that for eons has been provided free of charge from the Earth.  But thanks to industrialization, natural streams have been corrupted, and filtering water on a large scale is an expensive process.  People are now forced to choose between water-born disease and carcinogens, or putting what little money they have toward clean, privatized water.  No matter which choice is made, these residents must pay a hefty price.  For those who financially cannot afford the latter, dysentery and cholera are but a few of the possibilities to be faced later on.

The movie FLOW really opens the eyes to the problem of water consumption, and how vital it is that we reform the current process.  Aside from what's happening a world away, even in our own country we are beginning to feel the effects of a water crisis.  Growing populations, coupled with our desire for those sprawling lawns and lavish golf courses are putting the United States, and the world, into a dangerous situation that needs to be resolved within the next decade. People should have access to clean water that won't bankrupt them.  It is a basic need, and a basic right.


Written by Rebecca Benison, LGS junior