As California drags through its fourth year of a severe drought, many may see the benefits of rationing their water. Others may ask themselves, “Is there another way to fix this water problem?”
Rajendra Singh, a world-renowned water conservationist, social rights activist and 2015 recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize (considered the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in water conservation) will lecture on his novel approach to water resilience — that community engagement and activism can provide water for those who need it — at California State University, Northridge later this month.
Singh’s visit comes at a fortuitous time for the Los Angeles community to learn about water conservation, said Mike Antos, director of CSUN’s Center for Urban Water Resilience and host of the Sept. 24 event.
“Water resilience is not just a technical question — it is a social one, too,” Antos said. “[Singh] is coming to talk about his experiences and the importance of having an engaged community learning together to find solutions … [his] life’s work in rural India perfectly aligns with the challenges and opportunities the Center was developed to pursue on campus and in greater Los Angeles.”
Singh has done most of his work in villages in India, where water had become scarce. Through his methods of social engagement and education on water conservation and resilience, Singh has revived seven rivers in India that were dry for more than 80 years, and built more than 10,000 johads, earthen dams that trap rain water to be used as a resource, a traditional technique used in some parts of rural India.
He also worked on water policy issues and in 2013 founded the Indian “Linking Water and People” campaign, which focuses on educating communities in river catchment areas. Singh has advised the Indian government on cleaning rivers, which launched a government organization that focuses on cleaning the Ganges River.
Antos said the social aspect of water resilience is essential to understanding how to better use this resource.
“It’s really exciting to bring what we know within the social sciences to engage with the water issues facing California,” Antos said. “In 2005, former UN Secretary Boutros Ghali warned of 21st century water wars, but Singh and his colleagues believe instead of it being the catalyst for war, water can be a catalyst for deep communication.
“In the face of so much change before us, building resilience is a process of collaboration and education – not just building new things,” Antos added. “We can work together to solve water challenges, and in the process create more resilient communities.”
Singh will speak at 11 a.m. on Sept. 24 in the Sequoia Hall Room 104. The event is open to the public. For more information, please contact the Center for Urban Water Resilience at CUWR@csun.edu.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
5 Comments
Its called stop allowing nestle to horde a basic human need and selling it back to us for a huge profit. Next thing ya know we’ll be charged for breathing
Yes fire our state representatives that has not spent any money on improving the water issues and population expansion since 1970’s but want to spend 9.8 billion on a train to no where..
Nestle is not the only one doing this other water company are doi g too. Also, I see people washing their car every weekend. My neighbor put bran new grass in his yard and water it every day. Few houses up my street people water their grass by hand for long period of time. No one is doing anything about it.
Francoise stop holding the individuals responsible for the states representatives failure …
8.5 billions dollar train??? Why not 8.5 billions towards water improvement???
But let’s blame the home owner????
But then we spend more money on child education than most states with the most failures … Same thought process???
James, we are in a crisis, and no matter whose fault is it, we all have to make a change. As for child education, i don’t think you know what you are talking about because I am a teacher and so far this year I had to buy my supplies. It is just too easy to blame everybody else and not act on anything ourselves. Lets do it! Lets waist more water! After all it is others fault. What kind of mentality is this