Watermark is an interesting film by Burtynsky talking about water and how people use that water. You see people making leather, rice paddies, abalone farms and even those who have seen how bad not having water has affected them. I find the images of the colorado river to be the most shocking how people and agriculture need water, but we have to balance that need. Around 70 percent of the water usage is going to agriculture. Agriculture is big business, but people want to grow crops in the deserts of California when it cannot really sustain that. People seem to think that water is something we can take for granted. I also found it shocking that LA had to reroute a lake to help supply its citizens with water and now that toxic dust is requiring some kind of cleanup. Water is something that is everywhere and we need it, whether we like it or not. The scene where it timelapses the dam in China filling up with water is rather fascinating as it shows how a dam could easily supply a region with water and electricity. It is sad that people in LA were forced to move because of the aquifer, Dry spells are very bad for LA and even in San Diego, but luckily LA’s dry spell did not last long. Thankfully our drought has ended, but I think we should do our part in saving water.
The movie itself is pretty good as Burtynsky wants to show that we need water, and that water is a precious resource that we should not waste. The photography was excellent and was amazed that it was able to hit the news in Bangladesh.
The most shocking scene in my opinion was the one where they were making leather. These are people who are making leather with virtually no protection (face protection and even feet protection). I think a lot of people could easily get sick and I would not be surprised if the life expectancy in the Bangladesh leather factory is around 30 years old.
Our bodies are mostly water (from the native guy), and that native who said that if 2 people consume from the same water source we would be of the same water. Foods are all a part of that water system as animals will drink from that water or like the pilgrims, praying and using that water for their religion. I do agree that if a cell is destroyed and there is no water, we could see the end of human civilization.
I do wonder if climate is to be involved in this global crisis of water as we have countries that cannot have proper water due to lack of sanitation, but on the other hand we have companies like Nestle who thinks it is their right to profit from water. Infact, one of the biggest exports in California is actually bottled water as people are using the water from the wells and simply reselling it for a price as people really want the convenience of bottled water. Also, the Greenland ice research is rather interesting. I do agree that climates fluctuate as it does not really stay steady as there has been different forms of climate changes. We need to adapt to any form of climate change. I think one reason why our water is scarce is that water is coming from outer space which caused oceans, lakes, rivers and so on.
I think the films message is to show you that we need to save water and to learn more about it, so we can adapt to whatever major event that could cause us to lose it. In the end this concludes my blog post.
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