Film "Thirst" on the business and politics of water

Tuesday, February 6, 2007 -- 7pm
"Thirst" documentary
Conscientious Projector series
Discussion follows with producers Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman and community activists
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall
1924 Cedar St. at Bonita, a block above MLK Way
Berkeley, CA 94709

$5-10 donation, no one turned away
wheelchair access

(510) 644-4956 Office
(707) 391-8208 Cell

Producers Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman, Corporate Accountability International Organizer Ashley Schaeffer, students and community activists will discuss the politics of the bottled water industry, of concern internationally and for Americans. Our city offers some of the best drinking water in the nation, yet Californians drink more than twice as much bottled water per person as the rest of the country. Tap water is safe, reliable and can be had for pennies to the gallon. So why do we pay more for bottled water than for gas?

Corporations like Coke, Pepsi and Nestle spend tens of millions of dollars each year on misleading advertising to convince the public to drink bottled water. Public drinking water is more heavily regulated, and often safer than bottled water! Bay Area students and community members are working to challenge the irresponsible practices of these corporations through the Think Outside the Bottle campaign. Water should be protected as a fundamental human right, not a commodity bought and sold for corporate profit at the public's expense. Corporations profit from the global water crisis by privatizing water systems and resources. Take part in our first community meeting. We'll discuss how to challenge corporate control of water.

After this film highlighting local resistance to corporate control of water resources and systems in the U.S., Bolivia and India, we'll discuss the bottled water industry as the most visible attempt of corporations to control one of our planet's most precious resources. We'll pass a hat for Corporate Accountability International, a member-based organization challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world.

Co-sponsors: BFUU Social Justice Committee and Cal Students Against Water Privatization