The Rivers Need You

Posted by Tara Lohan, AlterNet at 2:13 PM on March 12, 2008.

Have a special place in your heart for a river in your hometown or somewhere in the world? If you do, get on board with the International Day of Action for Rivers, which is officially March 14 (although it kicks off with a great Bay Area event on March 13).

And if the state of our rivers hasn't crossed you mind lately -- it should. Because our water and food supplies, and the biodiversity and many of the recreational opportunities that we've come to appreciated, rely on rivers.

Our rivers are being dammed, drained, and reconfigured at the whim of governments, power companies, and developer -- threatening priceless ecosystems.

So, let's do something about it. Join International Rivers this week and the hundreds of world-wide actions that will be taking place.

Here's what IR says about the event:

The International Day of Action Against Dams: For Rivers, Water, and Life is the next step in strengthening the international movement. Our aim is to raise our voices in unison against destructive water development projects, reclaim the health of our rivers and watersheds, and demand the equitable and sustainable management of our waterways. By acting together, we will demonstrate that these issues are not merely local, but global in scope.

You can visit their website and find out about events that might be taking place in your area or learn about their work worldwide to protect rivers.

And if you happen to live in the Bay Area, there is an extra bonus. IR will host an event in Berkeley on March 13 that is focused on the spectacular, pristine rivers in Patagonia that are threatened by impending plans for major hydro-electric projects. Guests will have the opportunity to see both a slideshow of stunning images and a video of one of the first-ever expeditions down the Pascua River.

Tara Lohan is a managing editor at AlterNet.