Hector Trinidad, Guayllabamba Waterkeeper Patricio Chambers, and Organizer Amanda Villela.
Uniting Around ACT50
On Day 2 of the conference, Waterkeepers hit the ground running.
In the morning, nine regional meetings were held, which provided Waterkeeper groups an in-person platform to discuss specific threats, challenges, and opportunities in their geographic areas. These meetings also afforded Waterkeeper groups the opportunity and venue to strategize amongst themselves and elevate ideas, asks, and opportunities up to Waterkeeper Alliance. There is a lot of energy and excitement from Waterkeeper groups to advance ACT50 Advocacy priorities, work on transboundary water issues, collaboratively work regionally to increase capacity amongst themselves, and more.
This was followed by a late morning and afternoon full of breakout sessions. Our Assateague Coastkeeper Gabby Ross discussed the threat of CAFOs, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeeper Rachel Bartels highlighted the dangers of microplastics, and founder of Columbia Riverkeeper, Tim Mooney, currently of Alliance for Justice, laid out the best practices for compliant lobbying. Or as he put it, “how to be the best advocate you can without going to jail.” There were also sessions on the Clean Water Act, science communications, working with tribes, and much more.
Spotlight
Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), spoke to Waterkeepers over dinner on Thursday night. Introduced by his friend and mentee, Grand Riverkeeper Earl Hatley, Tom is a highly respected and influential environmental, climate, and economic justice activist, speaker, film producer, and Indigenous rights leader within the climate and environmental justice and Indigenous movement. Under Tom’s leadership, IEN has become one of the most visible Indigenous Peoples’ organizations working at the forefront of issues such as Tar Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline.
After welcoming Waterkeepers into his sacred space, he spoke about the historic relationship between people and water, our relationships to each other and nature, as well as the ongoing battle to protect waters from corporate greed. Tom’s spiritual stories about the importance of tradition, respecting Mother Earth, and the timeless connection between women, water, and life were an apt lead into the Women of Waterkeeper gathering.
Lights, Camera, Advocacy!
A film crew from American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking dropped by Thursday afternoon to record Patuxent Riverkeeper Fred Tutman and interview Waterkeepers from around the world. More than twenty Waterkeepers from Bangladesh, the Bahamas, Mexico, Nepal, United States, and others talked about their watersheds, unique challenges, and the importance of law enforcement and community engagement. The segments will be part of the documentary, “Upstream, Downriver”, which will premier at the Clean Water Act symposium on Sept. 29th in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Center For Environmental Policy, American Rivers, Clean Water For All consortium, River Network, Chesapeake Waterkeepers, and others.
Hackensack Riverkeeper Captain Bill Sheehan prepares to be interviewed.
Global Advocacy Manager Chris Wilke speaks to a packed room about Climate Change.
