Edmonton Water Week starts today!

[Council of Canadians Edmonton]

Happy World Water Week everyone!

 

There is an incredible amount of activity happening this week to mark World Water Week in Edmonton, beginning with a free screening today, hosted by the Council of Canadians and Cinema Politica, of Bottled Life: The Truth About Nestle’s Business With Water to mark Bottled Water Free Day.

The Council of Canadians-Edmonton Chapter is also hosting an event on Thursday (full details below):

Protecting Alberta’s Water Commons: Challenges and Opportunities
Thursday, March 21 (7:00 – 9:00 PM)
Telus Centre Room 134
Corner of 111 Street and 87 Avenue, U of A Campus

Facebook event page.

The full schedule of World Water Week events in Edmonton is below and is also available at edmontonwaterweek.wordpress.com.

 

If you’re looking to take action to mark World Water Week, please consider making your voice heard in the current Water Conversation process being held by the Government of Alberta. The deadline for online comments is March 29, and we have heard that as of the end of February, the government had only received a few hundred submissions, so your engagement is important. Check out http://ourwaterisnotforsale.com/ for information on how to engage and for help in making your voice heard.

Hope to see you out at some of these amazing events this week!

Council of Canadians-Edmonton Chapter

 

MONDAY, MARCH 18

Film Screening of Bottled Life: The Truth About Nestle’s Business with Water
Monday, March 18 (5:30 – 7:00 pm)
University of Alberta, Education South Rm. 107

Facebook event page.

Join the Council of Canadians, Cinema Politica, APIRG, and the Back the Tap Coalition to celebrate Bottled Water Free Day 2013 with a screening of the award-winning documentary, “Bottled Life: The Truth about Nestle’s Business with Water”.

The Nestlé Corporation currently controls more than 70 of the world’s bottled water brands, including Perrier, San Pellegrino, PureLife, and Arrowhead.  Nestle’s annual sales of bottled water alone total some $10 billion.  The bottled water industry sees water as a commodity – privately owned, bought and sold for a profit.

Last year, the University of Alberta awarded Nestle Chair Peter Brabeck-Letmathe an honorary degree and Nestle Corporation continues to influence campuses and communities across Canada.

This event is part of the March 2013 Solidarity Week. For more information on Solidarity Week events, please visit: www.solidarityweek.wordpress.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Save Our Lakes: The Health Impacts of Toxic Blue-Green Algae Blooms in Alberta
Tuesday, March 19 (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm)
Atrium and Lecture Theatre 150, Telus Building
Corner of 87 Avenue and 111 Street, University of Alberta campus

Come join the North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper and ALMS for an evening of discussion and education on the topic of toxic blue-green algae blooms in our lakes.

Toxic blue-green algae blooms are a known threat to swimmable, drinkable, fishable waters because of the human health impacts.

Our objectives for the evening are to provide the participants with the reasons for the concern and provide answers on what we can do and not do. Our promise is an evening that will both educate and entertain all those who attend and discussion that will impact the way we think and act regarding our Alberta lakes.

6:00 pm: Reception and information displays (light snacks and beverages provided)
6:40 pm: Welcome and Introductions
6:45 pm: Interactive Presentation on the Health Impacts of Blue-Green Algae Blooms
Presented by: Ron Zurawell, Ph.D., P.Biol., Limnologist, Water Policy Branch
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
7:30 pm: Introduction and Screening of the CBC Nature of Things Documentary, Save My Lake
8:15 pm: Adjournment or further discussion

Please RSVP to Glenn Isaac at: gl...@saskriverkeeper.ca

For webinar registration of the presentation, visit: http://saveourlakes.eventbrite.com/

About Save My Lake:

“Imagine you’re taking a walk along the beach on a beautiful summer’s day.  If the beach in question is along the shores of Lake Winnipeg, the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world, you could be in for a surprise.  Instead of sandy beaches you find a thick, green sludge reminiscent of pea soup.  Suppose your dog thirstily laps up the water, and winds up dead an hour later (that’s exactly what happened to one beach-goer’s beloved pet in 2009).  What is happening to this once pristine lake?  As biologist Al Kristofferson says: “We all assumed, somewhat naively, that nothing would happen to Lake Winnipeg.  Well, it did.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Drinking Your Dinner: Virtual Water in Food Systems
Wednesday, March 20 (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
Roots on Whyte (8135 102 Street)

Join Waterlution for our first café in Edmonton investigating Virtual Water – from what’s on your plate to national exports.

Gather with inspired people, expand your professional networks and join in a dialogue to explore questions around challenges and opportunities with Alberta’s water and food systems.

Join us as we bring together provocateurs with challenging questions and guests with brilliant minds and inspiring backgrounds, to engage in dialogue around personal and collective responsibility around water from a systems-thinking approach.

Evening provocateurs:

Mark Anielski, Author of Economics of Happiness
Michael Victoria Moore, Genesis Permaculture
Kathyrn Lennon, Spoken Word Artist

Free admission with registration. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Hosted and organized by Azkaa Rahman, Waterlution Associate

For more information, contact az...@waterlution.org

To learn more about Waterlution, visit www.waterlution.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

Protecting Alberta’s Water Commons: Challenges and Opportunities
Thursday, March 21 (7:00 – 9:00 PM)
Telus Centre Room 134
Corner of 111 Street and 87 Avenue, U of A Campus

Facebook event page.

Is Alberta’s water being managed sustainably? Many Albertans are uncertain of how our precious inheritance, the water that collects on and under the land, will be protected for its essential uses by human and non-human life here.

We are hearing that:

* Water reservoir levels are dwindling while levels of pollution and ecological imbalance in these waters are rising at an alarming rate
* While global warming relentlessly reduces supply, demand by industry, agriculture, and urban dwellers is rapidly increasing (e.g. the use of water for underground “fracking” for fossil fuels)
* The pressure on government to make unsustainable water allocations/licenses is growing
* Our water commons are increasingly under threat of commodification by private interests

What legislation, policy, and guidelines are in place to ensure a sustainable supply of fresh water in Alberta? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these? How can we as citizens participate in protecting Alberta’s water now and for future generations?

To find answers to these questions, please join the Council of Canadians Edmonton Chapter and our guest speakers:

* Cindy Chiasson – Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre
* Rachel Notley – Environment Critic, Alberta New Democrats
* Shannon Stunden-Bowers – Research Director, Parkland Institute

Presented by the Council of Canadians Edmonton Chapter, co-sponsored by the Parkland Institute.

International Indigenous Solidarity: Struggles to Defend the Land
Thursday, March 21 (7:30 pm)
Telus Building Room 217/219
Corner of 111 Street and 87 Avenue, U of A Campus

Facebook event page.

Water is the source of all life and essential to the spiritual existence of Indigenous peoples all around the world. However, whether in the willful ignorance of water pollution caused by industry or through the privatisation of water itself, capitalist states and corporations treat water as a lifeless object to be exploited in the pursuit of profit.

The Beaver Lake Cree First Nation, the Mapuche and the Nasa del Cauca Abya Yala have all conflicted with the capitalist states in their territories over the issue of water. Join us in a discussion of the role of Indigenous law and sovereignty in the protection of water and our Mother Earth in the context of state supported capitalist industrial development.

Sponsored by Canadian Council for Refugees, The Condor and The Eagle Committee, and Sierra Club Prairie Chapter

This event is part of the March 2013 Solidarity Week.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

Regulating Alberta’s Water: Indigenous Rights, Roles and Responsibilities
Friday, March 22 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
Corbett Hall Room 239
University of Alberta

A day of information sharing, consultation and planning. Facilitated by Lewis Cardinal.

Sponsored by Treaty 8, Keepers of the Athabasca, and the Indigenous Peoples as Keepers of Mother Earth Project with Dr. Makere Stewart-Harawira

Funded by the KULE Institute, University of Alberta

For more information:

Freida Cardinal
fcar...@treaty8.org
780-444-9366

Danielle Lorenz
dlo...@ualberta.ca

Sunshine Treeshade Humanitarian Charity’s 6^th Annual World Water Day Benefit Concert
Friday, March 22 (6:00 pm – Midnight)
Studio Music Foundation
10940-166A Street (1/2 block north of the Mayfield Inn, West Edmonton)

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/461508480573169/

Free entry (donations accepted)

Sorry, no minors.

6:00 pm: Doors open – Guests can settle in, get hot foods and snacks (supper), meet and greet, view the water info displays and water themed art exhibit.

7:45 pm -7:55 pm: Raging Grannies sing a few of their social justice themed songs.

8:00 pm – 8:20 pm – The evening’s Water for Life theme announcement and clean comedy by our evening’s MC Charles Gahl.

8:25 pm – 12 midnight – Live original music by socially conscious artists

With Video Projections throughout by Satoreye Dreamtime.

“Let’s make every day water for life day”
-Sunshine Treeshade Humanitarian Charity

With your kind support we are devoted to raising awareness and action to help save the estimated daily global average 4000+ children killed by contaminated water related conditions (World Health Organization, UNICEF data), with many further young and older getting sick and greatly suffering but surviving (often after medical intervention) , including at times contaminated-water problems in some Canadian communities.

Part of 6th Annual WATER FOR LIFE FESTIVAL

MULTIPLE DAY CEREMONY (March 21 – 24)

Prayers for Water, Earth and All Creation Ceremony
In Conjunction with ‘Manitou’ Stone Retrieval Ceremony

Facebook event page.

Call out for prayers to the four directions and all people of the Earth for the waters, earth and for all creation – all our relations – please join us for four days of prayer and ceremony. If you cannot attend in person, please pray and create events in your home community.

Thursday, March 21
Day one – Opening pipe and prayer ceremony at 9:00 am followed by feast
Sun & Moon Visionaries Gallery & Studio
10125 97 Avenue

Information session proceeding pipe ceremony
Warrior Women’s Society Declaration and Role

Friday, March 22
Day two – Opening pipe and prayer ceremony at 9:00 am followed by feast
Sun & Moon Visionaries Gallery & Studio
10125 97 Avenue

Information session on Manitou Stone preceding pipe ceremony and feast.
Manitou Stone Ceremony at the Royal Alberta Museum at 6:00 pm followed by feast.

Saturday, March 23
Day three – Opening pipe and prayer ceremony at 9:00 am followed by feast
Sun & Moon Visionaries Gallery & Studio
10125 97 Avenue

Keystone Pipeline Information session at 1:00 pm
Sun & Moon Visionaries Gallery & Studio
10125 97 Avenue

Rally at the Legislative Building at 2:00 pm

Viewing of Documentary ‘Spirit of Sacred Water’ at 4:30 pm
Sun & Moon Visionaries Gallery & Studio
10125 97 Avenue

Sunday, March 24
Day four – Closing pipe and prayer ceremony at 8:00 am
Sun & Moon Visionaries Gallery & Studio
10125 97 Avenue

Donations are welcomed, including offerings for the feast.