Take action on World Water Day!

March 22 is World Water Day and to mark this day, the Council of Canadians, KAIROS, Development and Peace, CUPE and other organizations across the country will take part in a national day of action to promote water as a public good – not a source of profit.

It is an excellent opportunity for water activists across the country to raise awareness of water issues, hold events and strengthen the profile of the national water campaign in the media.

This day will also be part of a larger movement toward enshrining water as a human right, calling for a national water policy, and working against the commodification of water.

How your chapter can get involved:
Get together an active group of volunteers and start brainstorming some ideas. In order to get a lot of people to your World Water Day event, it should be informative, engaging and fun. Get creative with your planning, and find interesting ways to get people thinking and talking about water issues.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Film screenings
You can show political documentaries or feature films with water themes, either on a large-screen TV in a public room or a community movie theatre. The film could be used as a build up to a larger action. The Council of Canadians can make arrangements for your chapter to get a copy of Thirst (contact your Regional Organizer to find out about the availability of copies). You will also find a dvd copy of the Council production of Water for People and Nature included in this toolkit.

Concerts, philosophers’ cafes and coffeehouses
Concerts, philosophers’ cafes, or coffeehouses are a great way to creatively celebrate World Water Day. The general rule for a concert is to plan to make more money than you spend organizing it. Try to get everything donated: the stage, sound equipment, bands, and food. Philosophers’ cafes and coffeehouses are organized around topics of discussion. It gives people a chance to get together, have drinks and snacks, and enjoy some discussion.

Outdoor rallies, parades, public demonstrations, street theatre and marches
These kinds of events do take a lot of planning to be successful, but they can be a great way to gain public attention. You will need a public venue, speakers, entertainment, visual aids like banners and placards, and a good crowd. In some locations, you may need to get a rally or parade permit. These events can work best if you can mix hard-hitting speeches with music and participatory exercises. World Water Day falls on March 22, which is very close to the annual Iraq war protests that take place in many communities. If there is a peace rally in your area, by all means use this as an opportunity to reach others in the peace/social justice movement by carrying banners, distributing handbills and having an information table.

Panel discussions
In panel discussions speakers make short presentations, followed by discussion or questions from audience members. Having a petition or a letter to sign is also a good way to involve that audience. Make sure you choose a topic that matters to your community and have panelists that represent different views on the issue. Some panel topics could include: water as a human right, privatization of community water facilities, water, health and the environment, source protection and banning water exports, and bottled water.

Meet with your MP
World Water Day is an excellent opportunity to visit your newly elected, or re-elected Member of Parliament. Organize a group of citizens to meet with your new member, bring materials and fact sheets and discuss why Canada needs a National Water Policy.

Municipal declarations
Kairos and Development and Peace have launched a campaign to get municipalities to sign the “Water Declaration,” which asserts the principles that water is not a commodity, but a public trust and shared legacy that must be protected and made available to all.

Find out if your town, city, municipal or regional council has already signed the Water Declaration. A full list is available at www.devp.org/testA/current/ACT2005/MATEN/City-List-Campaign0506.htm.

You can also get your city to support March 22 as World Water Day. Speak to your city councillor about how you can do this.

Other creative actions to celebrate World Water Day

• Create banners with a strong message for World Water Day
• Organize children’s drawing competitions
• Find out about and expose water privatization plans in your community
• Produce a play or skit on water issues. (Visit www.development.org for ideas)
• Distribute flyers, posters or handbills highlighting World Water Day
• Organize information tables or events at workplaces
• Have performances by musicians and artists to raise money or awareness
• Hold photo competitions
• Organize picture exhibitions on issues of water
• Run a quiz on water with sponsored prizes
• Organize a water ceremony with local Aboriginal or faith groups

Setting goals and planning your event
Public events are often thought up during inspired brainstorming sessions. It is important to set concrete goals for attendance and intended impact. This will give direction to your planning, as well as criteria for evaluating the event’s success after it’s over. Make a list of everything that will need to be done and divide up responsibilities among members of the group. Core members should delegate tasks so that one small group doesn’t end up with the bulk of the work.

Publicizing your event
There are many ways to get the word out about your event. Try to target communities or groups most concerned about water issues. There are a variety of environmental and social justice organizations that work on water issues that may have materials available and/or a local chapter in your area. Aside from the Council of Canadians, KAIROS, Development and Peace and CUPE, other potential allies may be: Polaris Institute, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Sierra Legal Defence Fund, The David Suzuki Foundation, Sierra Club of Canada, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Canada, local OPIRGs, environmental groups, university clubs, students’ and seniors’ groups.

Media strategy
Getting media coverage is a good way to get publicity. To get your event mentioned in the media, send out a media release or a media advisory. The Council of Canadians, along with other national organizations supporting World Water Day events, will be coordinating a national media strategy, but getting some local coverage is a great way to get the word out. (See media tips fact sheet for more information.)

An effective media strategy may also include letters to the editor explaining your water issue, whether it is privatization, water quality, a general explanation on why Canada needs a National Water Policy, or why Canada must enshrine water as a human right.

Keep us in the loop
Let the Council’s national office know what kind of event you are planning so we can share success stories with other chapters across the country. Don’t forget to take pictures of your event and send them to us. Most important of all, have fun!

For further assistance
Contact your Regional Organizer if you need further assistance with resources for your event.

• British Columbia-Yukon: 1-604-688-8846 (toll free) 1-888-566-3888
• Prairies: 1-780-429-4500 (toll free) 1-877-729-4500
• Ontario-Quebec: 1-416-979-5554 (toll free) 1-800-208-7156
• Atlantic: 1-902-422-7811