Let me indulge in some timely self promotion for my colleagues at Circle of Blue, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars China Environment Forum and the Pacific Institute. The Circle of Blue team, which I direct, publishes today its compelling multimedia report, “Reign of Sand,” about the water crisis in Inner Mongolia, China. The multimedia package comes as China’s spring dust storms approach. Scientists say the severity and frequency of the dust storms reflect worsening conditions, including: dryer climate, stronger winds, water shortages, over-grazing, population growth, and a clash between nomadic herders and the government over range and farmland management.
We’ve said before in this space that it will take powerful narratives and an informed public to respond to these unfolding crises. Take a look and be sure to click to suggest your story ideas, where we should send a team of reporters and why.
“For the first time in history, we see more people living in the cities than in rural areas… and they are forming larger and larger homeless populations within those cities.” That’s Brent Stirton, senior photographer for Getty Images, speaking to us this morning about human migrations and climate-related water redistribution in Peru. We hailed Brent on iSight video fresh off the plane from his assignment near Cusco where he was documenting impacts of climate change and water pollution on the diminishing groups of rural pastorialists who, for generations, have existed off of glacial-sourced water supplies. Brent tells us that many of these people moving to the cities are ill-suited to the urban life, driving serious long-term humanitarian concerns. As we see time and again, the front lines of the global freshwater crisis are inexorably intertwined with persistent cultural, economic and development shifts. We’ll be sharing Brent’s fresh reportage with our audience for “The Future of Water” this afternoon in Paepcke Auditorium at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
I’m just back from Tehuacán, Mexico where an entire region’s survival hangs by each liter of water. Beneath the dust plumes that cloud the sky north of town, families shepherd every drop to sustain themselves and their meager crops. The situation for subsistence farmers can be dire — many only grow enough to feed their families for six months of the year. Other times, they must buy their food, and often their drinking water as well. Water means much more than statistics of declining aquifers or the rediscovery of ancient solutions. It’s an axis issue that defines families, sustains or takes away loved ones, lifts or presses down upon poverty. Our team of Brent Stirton, Joseph Contreras, Dr. Scott Whiteford and Brian Robertshaw reported some exceptional stories. Our production team, 12-people strong, will prepare the piece in time to show March 20 in Mexico City.
It’s all systems go for our Circle of Blue pilot in Mexico. We’re all up to the a challenge — create exceptional, fresh, relevant reportage from the frontlines of the global freshwater crisis in time to present in Mexico City on March 20.
NEW YORK - The closing sessions at the Time Global Health Summit, I hope, left the audience with a feeling of hope and a call to action. Bono appeared above our heads as a giant projected image, likening the summit to a health Woodstock fest, but with a critical mission. I loved his words — that these challenges and days ahead are an “adventure” to be embraced and a time to define ourselves as citizens of the planet.
Pat Mitchell, president of PBS, called for a more engaged media. Her comments are worth taking to heart.
Ironically, though, most every session called for more public engagement and political leadership. However, besides the over-sized Time Magazine cover images and Time’s hosting of the event, the media continues to fail to deliver on these long-term, urgent issues.
