The story of the coming worldwide water crisis is a tangled web of unfortunate deaths from waterborne disease, corporate interests, drought, the effects of climate change, corrupt government officials, aging infrastructure, dams and environmental damage. Irena Salina tells the story extremely well in her documentary film Flow.
Salina takes the viewer around the world using beautiful imagery, disturbing sequences and interviews with experts and water users. You'll come away with an understanding of the scope of the problem along with the hope that comes from grassroots organizing, action and successful implementation of small water projects that help the poorest peoples gain access to the water they need for life. You may even be moved to action -- which by the way is the purpose of the film -- according to Salina.
The film grew out of her interest in water problems stimulated by the efforts of Robert Kennedy Jr's. work on the restoration of the Hudson River in New York. As she studied the problems her views crystalized into the concept for Flow. The director told us last night at the Denver Film Society's Doc Night that, "We have to see the problem, but we also need to see the solution." Flow points out the growing anxiety in the U.S. and Europe over endocrine disruptors and industrial chemicals in our water supply. The film also takes a shot at the bottled water industry and the multinationals pushing for to privatize water for the benefit of shareholders.
She introduces the audience to several activists around the world. Their optimism comes through and that is perhaps the best take away from the film. Real results are bubbling up from the grassroots. The World Bank and government efforts are not really solving the crisis for people at the bottom of the socio-economic scale. Dams and expensive water distribution projects often fall short of providing the clean water that each person needs each day to survive and prosper.
In the film she highlights an effort in Africa where the water was privatized and the public taps were removed as part of the contract. The end result was cutting off the poorest villagers from their former safer water supply, in effect forcing them to use unsafe surface water, all due to their inability to pay the new water supplier.
The film reminds us that historically government provided water as part of their charter. Flow warns of the recent emphasis by the World Bank and governments to privatize supplies and lean on the "expertise" of large multinationals to build distribution systems and recoup their costs -- along with shareholder profit -- through fees to water users based on consumption.
Flow highlights the disconnect between large water projects and what is really needed in many areas. One activist in the film states that, "The World Bank wants to give a billion dollars in one place when what we really need is a $1,000 in a million places."
The film emphasizes that small scale projects are making a huge difference in the life and health of many of the poorest peoples around the world. For example people-powered pumps are being used to fill water towers in some villages. Many organizations are rising to the challenge. Salina mentioned efforts of the Rotary and their Pure Water for the World project -- an effort to slow the frightening death rates from waterborne diseases -- especially amongst children.
Salina is unapologetic for the most disturbing images in her film. Her intent is to shock viewers and move them to action, she said.
Take time out -- from the scary economic news and the even scarier presidential election campaign -- to visit the Starz film Center and watch the film. You'll leave with a better understanding of the coming world water crisis but you'll also be introduced to inspiring examples of community and bottom-up solutions. This is an important film for all to see and there is much more to it than is mentioned here.
Starz plans discussions with water and environmental experts after 7:00 p.m. showings both tonight and tomorrow.
Here's a link to a review of Flow from The Vineyard Gazette.
Category: Colorado Water
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