7 M4B - Water is Life

Charles Fishman: The Secret Life of Water

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Water runs our world. From creating soup and computer servers, to driving hurricanes and erosion, to maintaining the human body temperature at a precise 37 degrees Celsius. Author Charles Fishman says we take water completely for granted. He joins Steve Paikin to discuss his book, "The Big Thirst", and how we are leaving the "golden age" of thoughtlessly abundant, cheap and safe water behind.

“Corporations Need to Pay More Attention to Water: Charles Fishman

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The Big Thirst author Charles Fishman says smart corporations are paying particular attention to water risk and "remaking their operations to use less water". Fishman says that simply being "water smart" leads to a huge competitive advantage.

The Lavin Agency, “Corporations Need to Pay More Attention to Water: Charles Fishman,” YouTube (video), February 25, 2013. Accessed August 14, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uWzIDMuM_U.

The Future of Water

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From ancient civilizations to current day metropolitan cities, all societies have been shaped by the struggle to control water. The future of humankind will be shaped by the element of water and this struggle for control will establish the balance between peace and war, profoundly influencing relations between countries and continents. Climate change will also greatly affect water resources in the future. In the next decades huge water projects will radically change the face of the Earth.

“Charles Fishman: Why College Students Should Start Paying Attention to Water

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Water speaker and The Big Thirst author Charles Fishman outlines how almost everything that's important in the world relies on water, and water issues will quickly find a place atop the list of priorities for the young people of today.

The Lavin Agency, “Charles Fishman: Why College Students Should Start Paying Attention to Water,” YouTube (video), February 25, 2013. Accessed August 14, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM7S0_Qi3B4.

Why Care about Water?

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National Geographic, “Why Care about Water?” National Geographic (video), n.d. Accessed August 14, 2013.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/freshwater/env-fre....

New York Bottled Water Ban

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CNN Video about tapwater.

CNN, “New York Bottled Water Ban,” Riverkeeper (video), September 2, 2009. Accessed August 14, 2013, http://www.riverkeeper.org/campaigns/tapwater/.

Water Is Life

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Article explores whether we will have enough water to sustain an ever-growing population on earth.

Barbara Kingsolver, “Water Is Life,” in National Geographic (April 2010), http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/04/water-is-life/kingsolver-text.

TED Talks: Charles Moore: Seas of Plastic

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Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he's drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.

FLOW: For Love of Water (2008)

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Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st century - The World Water Crisis. Salina builds a case against the growing privatization fo the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

Grade Level: 
Middle
High
Length: 
01:24
FLOW: For Love of Water

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (2010)

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Wars of the future will be fought over water, as they are today over oil, as the source of all life enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling fresh water supply, prompting protests, lawsuits, and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive.

Grade Level: 
High
Length: 
01:30
Blue Gold: World Water Wars

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