Kyoto Third World Water Forum Aquarius 21
David Simpson
Planet in Focus, the Toronto International Environmental Film & Video Festival Present Water Works- an eco doc video fest Saturday Time : 11:30 to 12 :30 KICH Event Hall Theater
“Water War” (India) Director Nutan Manmohan, Research/Reporting Aarti Kapoor (11.07mins) The Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan that helps the two countries to share the waters of five rivers that flow from Kashmir, has become a point of major confrontation. Analysts warn that if water is used as a weapon in current tension between India and Pakistan, it could escalate into warfare. An estimated four million people in India and one million in Pakistan are directly affected by this water treaty “WWF Yangtzee River programme” (China).
Profile of the work of Dr Lei Guangchu (8 mins)
This short info doc reports on the work in progress persuading and assisting people living
along the banks of the Yangtzee River to live with, and adapt, the annual floods instead
of trying to fight them. A pilot village has been established on the river where residents
have moved to higher ground and started different industries and agriculture.
They are safe from annual flooding and economically the move has been a success.
On the opposite bank, another village that decided to stay put but has been following
the progress across stream and recently decided to follow suit.
WWF is helping finance alternative industries for these villages and hopes to spread the scheme up and down the river.“WWF Niger River programme” (Nigeria).
Profile of the work
of Bawa Ousmane Goah (12 mins)
The Floodplains of the Niger River are the lifeline of the Sahelpeople of West Africa. Millions
depend on the region’s natural resources for fishing, grazing land, crops and building materials.
Bawa Ousmane Goah is the local co-ordinator of the project PADEL
(programme d’appui au delevelopment local) in Gaya, Niger.
His mission, illustrated in this footage, is to help local communities manage these precious
resources in the face of increasing human and environmental pressures.
“Pani” (Nepal. Director Sushma Joshi (28mins. English subtitles) Set in the village of Lele, near Katmandu, this camera verite video follows the growing conflict in the community after a water pipe and tap system was installed. Gender and caste differences play a vital part in the disputes as women and lower caste members are excluded from decision making even though they are the principal users.
Guest speaker: Dave Simpson ? AQ21 Director
JAPANESE STORY TELLING Time: 12 :30 to 13: 00
In Japanese and English language
Story Teller : KAZUKO FURUYA Music by : KEI WADA
Title : ‘ LAKE YASHA‘ (YASHAGAIKE ) by Kyota Izumi
3rd World Water Forum - March 16 - 23, 2003
Kyoto, Japan
Aquarius 21, David Simpson & Martin Robertson (Ideas in Motion) Planet in Focus: Toronto International Environmental Film & Video Festival
Planet in Focus was represented in Kyoto at the World Water Forum this March with screenings and cultural programming by Dave Simpson /AQ 21 ..“Water Works” a mini event put together by Martin Robertson ,featured on three days with short video’s presented by Dave Simpson of AQ21.
AQ21 also presented storytelling and musical performances.
With the war in Iraq superimposed over the whole event, more delegates were watching international news coverage than attending the morning screenings. But by Saturday, some of the shorter docs received considerable feedback, especially “Pani” (directed by Sushma Joshi) with its clear reporting about local community good will projects floundering because of lack of preparedness in communicating to everyone involved about the reasons for decisions, gender and caste bias in the construction of committees, and secrecy about costs and funding.
Guest speaker: Mr. Eric Bisque ( AQ 21 )Many West Africa delegates were delighted with the French language content of “La Loi de l’eau” by Robert Monderie, and several educators, including one from Quebec, requested more information about copies for their classes, proving conclusively the benefit of festivals and screenings as alternate sources of information and inspirational footage.
Both the Executive Director of World Wildlife’s “Living Waters” Program and the International Communications Director attended the Saturday sessions to support their contributions, and news of other successful projects, not represented on tape, was received - notably from contacts in India, Egypt, Iceland, Vietnam, Netherlands and China. Everyone involved in the ongoing dialogue expressed the need for more documentaries to be made and distributed in their regions. The Japanese story was very well received by all especially by the Japanese and folks from Bangladesh.
