OPINIONS

FRESH WATER, FREE TRADE AND THE
 LOOMING CRISIS IN NORTH AMERICA 
 CBC and Discovery-Canada's production "Captured Rain"

By Jerry Thompson

A United Nations study has concluded that water will be the oil of the 21st Century.  The World Bank predicts that wars will be fought over fresh water. Now, to the list of chronic water problems caused by drought, population growth and pollution -- we add the complication of international free trade agreements.

In the U.S. Midwest -- America's breadbasket -- and the sunny Southwest -- the world's youngest and most affluent desert civilization -- urban growth seems unstoppable; surface water supplies are over-tapped;  aquifers are being drained faster than nature can replenish them. In northern Mexico, the same problems are even worse.  On top of everything else, add global
warming.  Something has to change.

A seemingly "endless supply" of pristine fresh water lies tantalizingly nearby -- on the other side of the world's longest, undefended border.  Is Canada part of the solution to the U.S. and Mexico's water problems?

CAPTURED RAIN is a unique collaboration between two Canadian broadcasters - CBC Television and Discovery Channel Canada.  This two-part documentary special sheds new light on the most vital environmental, economic and social issue of the new century. The two-part production of CAPTURED RAIN was written, directed and narrated by Jerry Thompson and produced by Bette Thompson and Terence McKeown for Raincoast Storylines Ltd. in association with CBC and Canada's Discovery Channel (John Panikkar, Vice-President, Production.)  Hilary Armstrong is senior producer of WITNESS. Produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, Telefilm Canada: Equity Investment Program, CTF: Licence Fee Program, British Columbia Film, 
The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Province of British Columbia - Film Incentive BC, Rogers Documentary Fund, and Rogers Telefund.

Part-1 (CAPTURED RAIN: American Thirst, Canadian Water -- on CBC's Witness) is all about the international politics of water as a "tradeable commodity" in the global marketplace. The program aired on Tuesday, December 5th at 9p.m EST.

Part-2 (CAPTURED RAIN: Northern Water, Southern Drought -- on Discovery) explores the  science and engineering, the conservation efforts, the history and mechanics of bulk water transfers as well as the environmental impacts. This second episode aired on Friday, December 8th at 10 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. PST.

Jerry Thompson is writer and director of Raincoast Storylines Ltd., Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada. He can be reached at RainStory@dccnet.com.

To send information or comments, email at mail@ambassadors.net.

OPINIONS MAIN

The Ambassadors