Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow spoke to a capacity audience of 330 people in Vancouver last night.
She was joined on stage by environmentalist David Suzuki for a discussion on the main themes in her new book Boiling Point: Government Neglect, Corporate Abuse, and Canada’s Water Crisis.
Vancouver-based Council of Canadians campaigner Emma Lui posted to Facebook, “Wonderful night tonight at Maude Barlow’s book launch in Vancouver! And she was joined by David Suzuki. What a duo!”
Vancouver Cooperative Radio was also there last night and will podcast the speeches on their Redeye program here.
In Boiling Point, Barlow writes, “The water crisis is at our door here in Canada. All the issues we thought so far away are upon us now. It is time to abandon our false beliefs that Canada has unlimited supplies of water, that Canadians have taken care of this water heritage and one another or that we still have lots of time to do so. We need a strong, national plan of action based on a new water ethic that puts water protection and water justice at the heart of all our policies and laws.”
Radio Canada International has recently done a series of 6-minute interviews with Barlow on Canada and the world’s water crisis that can be listened to here:
Overview of the water crisis
The impact of extractive industries on water
Water extraction by huge corporations who export it out of the watershed
How farming practices have changed resulting in increased damage to water supplies
To date, 350 people gathered in Ottawa for the book launch on September 20, a standing-room only audience of 80 people were in Kingston on September 21, 350 people packed a church hall in Guelph on September 22 (where our Boycott Nestle campaign was launched – and which has now been signed by 20,189 people!), 400 people assembled for the event in Toronto (with Sarah Harmer) on September 23, and now the 300 people in Vancouver last night.
To listen to the audio of Barlow’s 25-minute presentation recorded in Toronto last week, please click here.
Barlow will be in Calgary this afternoon for a Council of Canadians Calgary chapter organized event at the Unitarian Church of Calgary.
From there, the book tour goes to Belleville (October 3), St. John’s (October 14-16), Saskatoon (October 18), Peterborough (November 1), Windsor (November 2), Barrie (November 7), Halifax (November 10), Renfrew (November 17), Chilliwack (November 21) and Winnipeg (November 24).
To order your book directly from the publisher, please click here.
