How are the waters around you doing these days? Frozen? Flakey? Flowing?
Welcome to 2021 and another update from our CSJ Blue Community project. Below are some news and event items that align with our pledge to protect water as a human right, shared commons, and sacred gift.
EVENTS
January 22 - 29
The ReFrame Film Festival, online across Ontario
We are sponsoring the Water Stories – Shorts program – 7 films, full list here. https://watch.eventive.org/reframe2021/play/5ff7dc33cbd0000e5cf9e539
See the full lineup here – very affordable rates for viewing all these docs:
https://my.reframefilmfestival.ca/films
February 24 & 25
Sustainable Development goals in Peterborough
There is an online Community Forum on Feb 24 and 25. For those in the Peterborough area rsvp here:
ACTION
One Planet, One Right
Sign the petition to make it a UN-recognised human right to live on a healthy planet. It may seem overwhelming, but it’s true: to emerge from these crises, to ensure our future and that of the planet, we need to entirely transform humanity’s relationship with nature. This human right helps make that happen.
READING
Water is Alive: A Conversation - On January 13, there was a conversation between several Indigenous water leaders and their reflections on ways to recognize water as a spirited being with agency. Highlights here: https://www.bluecommunitycsj.org/post/water-is-alive-a-conversation
First Nations communities pursue clean drinking water through the courts.
Court documents state that the lake has been contaminated by feces and toxic blue-green algae blooms have become common. Fishermen regularly catch fish “covered with grotesque lesions” and the community erected signs to deter swimming there. Following a flood in the spring of 2017, residents began falling sick with stomach and skin ailments after consuming the local water, prompting a boil-water advisory that remains in effect.
Government of Canada launches consultations on new Canada Water Agency.
Water challenges such as droughts, floods, and deteriorating water quality are intensifying, due in large part to climate change. Canadians are seeing these costly impacts first-hand in their communities, across the country. That's why the Government of Canada is establishing the Canada Water Agency to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean, and well managed. The Canada Water Agency will be established in close collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners.
You can always check our Blue Community website for more information: https://www.bluecommunitycsj.org/