KyotoThird 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

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 .
AQ 21also 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.

NEXT BACK

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws