The Blue Community began when Maude Barlow, founder and former chair of the Council of Canadians, launched the project in defence of Canadian communities threatened with water grabs. From there it spread as more and more Canadian communities and cities turned blue. Building on this dynamics, Maude Barlow successfully began working with universities to become Blue Communities. And now Maude Barlow and the Council of Canadians have launched a project for Blue Community Schools. Roland Brunner spoke to Maude Barlow about this latest move.
Maude, first municipalities and cities, than universities, now schools. How did this new project come about?
Maude Barlow: It has become very clear to me that we desperately need widespread education about the twin water crises – human and ecological – separate from the issue of the climate crisis. While it is true that climate change negatively impacts water, it is also true that our abuse, over-extraction and diversion of water negatively impacts the climate. We could end every greenhouse gas emission in the world tomorrow and we would still have a freshwater emergency on our hands. It is very important that we teach our young people to think “blue” as well as “green.”
The project offers crucial information on many facets of water: the human right to water; the need to protect and restore watersheds; how plastics are harming our waterways and bodies; why it is imperative to maintain public governance of water services and reject privatization and commodification of water; and how Indigenous teachings are central to protecting Mother Earth. Children must learn to care for water from the earliest age.
What is most exciting to you about this project?
The Blue Community Schools project serves two purposes. It provides a wealth of information and materials – lesson plans, films and videos, books, lists of organizations protecting water, up-to-date information on the latest water news, exciting stories of action and hope. We want this website to serve educators and parents in their outreach to young people and to share with kids the need for positive action.
But a school can also apply to become a Blue Community School by taking three pledges: to educate about the need to protect water; to promote the human right to water; and to phase out or ban the sale of bottled water at school (where safe tap water is available). The Blue Community School will receive a certificate that can be handed over in a lovely ceremony for the students and teachers. We want young people to join the blue movement.
Your last book is titled «Still Hopeful». It was published in March 22, more than two years ago, and a lot has happened since. Are you still hopeful and is there good reason for today’s school kids to be hopeful?
Hope is a moral imperative. We must give young people hope and a sense of purpose. Of course a realistic view of the world right now can be very pessimistic. But there are many signs of hope, including a coming international plastics treaty and pledges to protect the biodiversity of 30% of land and waters everywhere by 2030. Many young people around the world are taking part in river and lake clean-ups and regeneration, understanding the need to care for local water sources. Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki says if we stop hurting nature, it will be more forgiving than we deserve.
The project is designed for schools in Canada, but offered for participation worldwide. How do you see and hope the project to develop?
Yes, that’s right. This website and project is designed for Canadian schools although you will see there is much information about the global water crisis as well. It is my hope and dream that communities and organizations around the world take the model of Blue Community Schools and adapt it to their situation and reality. I have no desire to have “ownership” of this great project, but would be delighted to see it grow around the world. We need and informed and active youth everywhere to think blue and care for the water the gives us all life.
Thank you Maude for answering our questions, and all the best wishes for the Blue Community Schools.
