“Water Is Life”: Docuseries ‘The Struggle For Mother Water’ Examines Precious Resource That’s Becoming Out Of Reach To Billions – Berlinale Series Market – Deadline

Report on Global Water Crisis and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

In 2010, the United Nations recognized access to clean water as a fundamental human right, emphasizing its critical importance to global well-being and sustainable development. Despite this, over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean, safe drinking water, and nearly 4 billion lack reliable sanitation, highlighting a severe global water crisis.

Documentary Series: The Struggle for Mother Water

Filmmaker Michael Zelniker explores the global water crisis in his documentary series The Struggle for Mother Water, which was selected for the Berlinale Series Market, a prestigious platform recognizing impactful nonfiction series. The series aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Global Water Access Challenges

1. Rural and Developing Regions: In South Ethiopia’s Choriso District, residents rely on polluted water sources due to lack of alternatives, posing severe health risks.
2. Sanitation Issues: In Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, contaminated water sources are clogged with trash, and boiling water is not always feasible due to inconsistent electricity supply.
3. Environmental Pollution in Developed Areas: In Northern Alberta, Canada, tar sands oil refining has polluted groundwater, affecting Indigenous communities and violating environmental justice principles.

Factors Contributing to the Water Crisis

• Climate change impacts
• Industrial pollution
• Inadequate sanitation leading to contamination
• Commodification and privatization of water resources

Water Commodification and Its Impact

The documentary highlights how multinational corporations, such as Nestlé and BlueTriton/Primo Brands, extract and sell water resources at minimal cost, generating substantial profits while exacerbating water scarcity for local populations. This issue touches on SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Gender Dimensions of the Water Crisis

The United Nations emphasizes that the water crisis disproportionately affects women and girls, who spend an estimated 250 million hours daily collecting water in 53 countries. This burden impacts their health, safety, and opportunities, making the crisis a significant gender equality issue under SDG 5: Gender Equality.

Reflecting this, Zelniker’s documentary predominantly features women leading water protection efforts worldwide, underscoring the critical role of women in achieving sustainable water management.

Environmental and Social Justice Concerns

Indigenous communities, such as those in Northern Alberta, face environmental crimes due to pollution from industrial activities, violating their rights and threatening their livelihoods. This situation intersects with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Call to Action and Future Prospects

• Zelniker urges political leaders and industries to recognize their responsibility to future generations and the environment.
• The selection of The Struggle for Mother Water by the Berlinale Series Market signals market viability and the potential for widespread dissemination of its message.
• There is a call for major broadcasters and streaming platforms to amplify the documentary’s message to raise global awareness and inspire action.

Conclusion

The global water crisis is a multifaceted challenge that directly impacts several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Addressing this crisis requires coordinated efforts to ensure equitable access to clean water, protect ecosystems, and empower vulnerable populations, particularly women and Indigenous communities.

Additional Resources

Watch the preview of The Struggle for Mother Water to learn more about the global water crisis and the efforts to combat it:

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article focuses heavily on the global water crisis, emphasizing the lack of access to clean, safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people worldwide.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article mentions diseases transmitted through dirty water, affecting health and causing deaths, especially among children.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article highlights the disproportionate burden on women and girls in water collection and management, making the water crisis also a women’s crisis.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Climate change is identified as a factor exacerbating the water crisis.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The commodification and industrial exploitation of water resources by corporations like Nestle and BlueTriton are discussed.
6. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Environmental pollution and degradation of water sources, such as contamination from tar sands oil refining, affect ecosystems and biodiversity.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.
   • Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.3: End epidemics of waterborne diseases such as cholera and other neglected tropical diseases.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work, including water collection, and promote shared responsibility within the household.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters affecting water resources.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, including water.
6. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress

1. Indicators for SDG 6
   • Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services (implied by the statistic that over 2 billion people lack access to clean water).
   • Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (implied by the mention of almost 4 billion lacking reliable sanitation).
   • Water quality indicators such as levels of pollutants (e.g., arsenic, iron, naphthenic acids) in water sources, as discussed in the Athabasca River case.
2. Indicators for SDG 3
   • Incidence of waterborne diseases and mortality rates related to unsafe water consumption (implied by references to deaths from diseases transmitted through dirty water).
3. Indicators for SDG 5
   • Time spent by women and girls collecting water (explicitly mentioned as 250 million hours per day in 53 countries).
4. Indicators for SDG 13
   • Measures of climate-related impacts on water availability and quality (implied by the discussion on climate change affecting water resources).
5. Indicators for SDG 12
   • Volume of water extracted by corporations and pricing metrics (implied by the discussion of water extraction and commodification by companies like Nestle and BlueTriton).
6. Indicators for SDG 15
   • Extent of pollution and contamination in freshwater ecosystems (implied by the description of toxic spills and environmental degradation).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: deadline.com