Voices from the Waters - 2010 The 5th International Film Festival on Water
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Bangalore Film Society, Arghyam, Svaraj- Society for Voluntary Action Revitalization and Justice, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca College, USA (FLEFF), Mountainfilm in Telluride, Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Charter of Human Responsibilities, Samvada, Karnataka Chalanachitra Akademi and Water Journeys- Campaign for Fundamental Right to Water are organizing the fifth edition of the largest international film festival on water- Voices from the Waters 2010.
Guest post from S.Vishwanath of the Rainwater Club and Arghyam
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Dear All,
The Water and Sanitation Channel on youtube- http://www.youtube.com/user/zenrainman- reached a landmark today with
the number of videos uploaded reaching the 300 mark.
This has been an initiative to document and highlight efforts ongoing
in such fields as rainwater harvesting, eco-san, grey-water reuse,
groundwater recharge , ecological flows in rivers and such allied
issues.
It has now hit a steady view rate of 400 a day and has overall been
viewed nearly 200,000 times . It is the 20th most viewed ALL time
channel from India in the Reporters section and the 20th most
subscribed in the Reporters section ( with such other eminent channels
ahead such as bodybuilding and punjabi cute boy :) )
Greenpeaceseeks monsoon related stories from different corners on India, read on to learn more!
What is Rainspotting?
Greenpeace is doing a report on how the Indian monsoons are affected by climate change. We are in the process of putting together a monsoon report for the Prime Minister of India to show how the erratic monsoons are affecting the common man and hence demand for a renewable energy law that will save millions of lives.
As a part of this process, we want to document the trials and tribulations faced by the farming community in the remote parts of India. We'd like your help in putting together this report by sharing your valuable expertise with us.Read More
Meet Muniyappa and his team of well diggers. They have dug over a 150 wells with us in the last two years and perhaps more than a 1000 wells in their life time. While digging Muniswamy (or someone else in the team) is drenched in sweat and is bare chested. He climbs up and down the well which can be upto 40 ft deep on footholds 2 inches deep that he himself digs into the sidewalls of the wells. When he is deep down under, digging, and soil has to be hauled up, Srinivasu and Muniyappa are precariously perched on the side of the well pulling up the rope that holds the basket full of soil. And then once the well is dug, concrete rings (each weighing in the range of 75 Kg to 250 Kgs depending on the size of the well) are introduced down from the top with the help of the rope - and the sinews of Muniyappa, Srinivasu or Muniswamy. And during this process, Muniswamy virtually climbs in and out of the well for each ring that is introduced.Read More
This is a DVD made by a non-profit group that has been uploaded to the web where it could reach many more people and add visibility to your organisation's work. If you would like India Water Portal to do something similiar with your organisation's DVD , please mail us at portal@arghyam.org
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Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation has been constructing infiltration wells as a water source for many years now. Their website is http://www.grassrootsindia.com .Read More
Guest Post by: Lenneke Knoop, The Water Channel Image and Content Courtesy:The Water Channel
The new version of www.thewaterchannel.tv has been launched. TheWaterChannel is a dedicated web-based video channel on water. It wants to be a main repository for video material on water and a main support and medium in promoting better water management.
TheWaterChannel now contains over 150 water related videos with new material coming in daily. The new version has several improved features and much more functions including improved uploading services, several technical improvements and news feed subscription.Read More
Image & Content Courtesy:Water For People
The following is a passionate account of the Cyclone Aila from Water For People, and first hand experiences related to it. The report details the challenges in delivering aid & sustaining relief efforts in the face of various challenges & the vagaries of nature.
What was cyclone Aila?
Cyclone Aila was a tropical cyclone that had been developing over the Bay of Bengal and hit West Bengal and Bangladesh on May 25th. 2009,leading to a major climatic disaster, affecting the lives of millions.
A tropical cyclone is one which is caused over warm oceans. In order to initiate one, the sea temperatures need to be above 25.6 degrees Celsius, and is characterized by violent winds, heavy rainfall and therefore can be potentially very dangerous. The main cause for such cyclones has been attributed to global warming. Due to increased global warming over the last few years, sea temperatures have been continuously on the rise. As it is known that these dreadful cyclones are caused over higher temperature oceans, the rising global warming increases the threat from similar cyclones to recur in the near future. In fact it is said that this cyclone did not strike with its actual potential. If it had, things would have been far worse.Read More
WaterDrops is an effort to showcase WaterAid India's work, ideas, issues and concerns with its partners, civil society organisations, international NGOs, UN agencies and other important players in the water and sanitation sector.
The latest issue of WaterDrops focusses on issues of inclusion, including articles on Social exclusion in drinking water and sanitation, Caste based discrimination, Water as a tool for social control and Inclusive approaches in Bihar.
The latest issue can be downloaded here:WaterDrops Issue - 12Read More
When he is deep down under, digging, and soil has to be hauled up, Srinivasu and Muniyappa are precariously perched on the side of the well pulling up the rope that holds the basket full of soil. And then once the well is dug, concrete rings (each weighing in the range of 75 Kg to 250 Kgs depending on the size of the well) are introduced down from the top with the help of the rope - and the sinews of Muniyappa, Srinivasu or Muniswamy. And during this process, Muniswamy virtually climbs in and out of the well for each ring that is introduced.
