February, 17 2009, 03:26pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Rachael Richardson, (917) 733-0434
Kate Fried, (202) 683-2500
Food & Water Watch Sponsored-Film "The Water Front" to Screen
Documentary Exposes the Effects of Underfunded, Neglected Water Systems
WASHINGTON
Food
& Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy organization based in
Washington, D.C., will sponsor a screening of "The Water Front" on
Thursday, February 19 to highlight the negative effects of aging water
systems and one community's struggle to defend affordable water as a
human right.
"The Water Front" illustrates the challenges facing cash-strapped
communities in today's harsh economic climate when, confronted with
aging water systems, many choose to sell their water utilities to
private companies. Privatizing water systems often creates more
problems than it actually solves. Private water utilities charge higher
rates than municipalities and drive up costs while neglecting service.
In fact, research by Food & Water Watch shows that publicly owned
and operated water utilities offer better service at a lower cost than
their private counterparts.
Water Front director Liz Miller will speak after the screening to
answer questions about the film and address issues relating to water
privatization and security. She will be joined by a panel of social
justice and social networking advocates. Miller will also announce the
winner of The Water Front Remix Contest, which challenged sound artists
to remix the movie's title track, "Mr. Waterman" by Detroit area
bluesman Joe L. Carter.
What: Screening of the film "The Water Front" and panel on water issues and social justice advocacy.
When: Thursday, February 19, 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: The Brecht Forum, 451 West Street, New York, NY
Participants: Liz Miller,
director, The Water Front; Lauren Hauser, campaign organizer, DROP;
Leah Sapin, outreach coordinator, Media that Matters.
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.
(202) 683-2500LATEST NEWS
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The House voted 219-199 for Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act (FANFSA), which won support from 96 Democrats and 123 Republicans, including the lead sponsor, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). Named for the constitutional amendment that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, H.R. 4639 would close what campaigners call the data broker loophole.
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The House notably included an amendment forcing a wide range of individuals and businesses to cooperate with government spying operations but rejected an amendment that would have added a warrant requirement to the bill, which the Senate could vote on as soon as Thursday.
Noting those decisions on the FISA reauthorization legislation, Ruddock stressed that "today's vote is a victory but follows a recent loss and ongoing threat as that Section 702 bill moves to the Senate this week too."
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