FLOW

I couldn't imagine DePauw University's first Water Week and H2O Conference having gone any better. 

The concept of this week was to introduce the campus and the surrounding Greencastle community to the world's water crisis, show how this issue relates to other issues that people are concerned about, and offer opportunities for individuals to take action.  DePauw Environmental Club took this to new heights when they arranged to have a ban placed on the sale of bottled water during Water Week! The ban elicited great debate around campus and sparked many questions from students who only thought of water from a consumer point of view.  

The set-up of the week was simple: each day, a different organization or group of people would set themselves up in the Student Union Building and promote awareness about a particular water-related issue.  For example, one team of students presented on water contamination and purification in Costa Rica, while another team pushed the Take Back the Tap campaign.  In addition to the daily tabling efforts, two films were shown during the week, Thirst and FLOW: For Love Of Water.  Both movies look at the dangers of privatizing water.  Several trivia questions could also be found chalked on the sidewalks across campus to get people thinking about their water: "Where does bottled water come from?" "Name 3 waterborne illnesses." "How much money does Coca Cola spend to pump water for its Dasani brand?"  By the second day of water week, the dialogue about water had spilled over from comment sheets left where the bottled water used to be and into the classrooms.

All of these efforts built up to the H2O Conference, which took place on the final day.  All of those who had participated in tabling during the week set up in a conference room with booths and activities.  In addition, two out-of-state speakers, Jorge Aguilar of Food & Water Watch and Kurtis Daniels of EDGE Outreach, offered insight to the water crisis at the national and international level.  Needless to say, we were prepared to inform.

And inform we did!  All who were present were impacted by their newly acquired knowledge.  Some made the personal commitment to discontinue the purchase of bottled water.  Others were excited about the possibility of installing water purifiers.  One young woman in particular was so excited about the Take Back the Tap campaign that she took plenty of information packets and began hassling her family and friends about the links between bottled water and our water availability.

Overall, the week was a success. How do I know?  Because at the end of the week, people felt inspired and empowered to take action.  And it is when people are empowered that some of the greatest changes occur.  I'm excited to see what changes these new participants in the global water movement will bring.

Cora Lyn Newman Lowe is a Field Coordinator for the Take Back the Tap Campaign at Depauw University in Greencastle, IN.  She is a senior who is working on reducing the sale of bottled water on her campus.

Check the map to see if FLOW is screening near you

Around the country and around the world communities are fighting for control of and access to safe, affordable public water. Film Director Irena Salina's film FLOW is a passionate, fact-filled world-tour of the issues facing the planet’s water today. Focusing on human rights, environmental destruction and corporate greed, FLOW shows the public challenges and the public fights for control over their most essential resource. Set in countries across the globe, Flow will inspire you and call you to action.

Join Food & Water Watch in this historic time as our movement for social justice and community control of water comes to local theaters. We'll be attending screenings around the country to bring this important film and movement into your community.

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