Summertime Water Issue Awareness.

This morning I received an interesting e-mail from one of the student's I TA'ed last semester in Doug's EcoMethods class. His name is Dylan White and this summer he's taking on an epic journey: Dylan and his friend Garrett will be riding their bikes across Canada. Not only is this one seriously long trek, but it's an expedtition with a much greater purpose than seeing our great nation. Dylan and Garrett will be carrying with them equipment to produce a film about water issues across Canada.

I think this is an amazing feat to take on at a critical time for natural resource management in Canada. Our neighbours to the south have finely elected a worthy candidate to lead their country. I imagine the pressure to move water to the States will relax and we NEED to move away from the idea of privatization of our fresh water sources. This line from the Canadian Odyssey Quest for Water website is truely inspired, "One of the film’s objectives is to help build a sense of commitment and even pride in our natural waters, an awareness approach that we hope will encourage a change to the current complacency Canadians have towards inefficient water use and pollution." The emphasis is my own, but just imagine taking pride in something that we've taken for granted for decades. So out of Canadian character. I think there's opportunity for change and these two are on to something.

You can find the group supporting this journey on facebook. Or at their previously mentioned website.

And while you're at it, check out what these two are up to this summer. Another student from BIOL*4110 is heading the opposite way across Canada to create a film about water issues and how they are perceived by Canadian Youth. I haven't been in touch with them yet, but I can't wait to hear all about their journey as well.