World Water Day: March 22, 2021
March 22 is World Water Day! Beginning in 1993, the United Nations celebrated water and helped raise awareness for the 2.2 billion people that are living without access to safe water (according to the UN's World Water Day Toolkit). This year the UN is asking us to participate in a conversation about what water means to us.
Water To Me
Personally, I love plants. I have an excess of them in my home and I am constantly giving cuttings of them as gifts to others. I always do my best to water my plants using rainwater in the warmer months. It's a great way to gently water the soil and wash/dust off the leaves at the same time!
Water has recently taken on a new importance in my life, as a means to experiment with my kid. Be it painting with water or letting him try to drink out of an open cup (we don't test that emerging skill set with milk just yet), or the wildly enjoyable nightly bath time.
Water-Themed Favourites
If you're like me, perhaps you're not emotionally stable enough to endure a lecture about the water crisis right now. Fear not, despite a few call-to-action moments, this list will not have you sinking into a depressive state. Instead, bathe yourself (get it) in the glory of TPL's collections and please enjoy this curated list of books, movies and documentaries that all have something to do with water.
Blue Planet II : Take a Deep Breath by David Attenborough
"David Attenborough returns to the world's oceans in this sequel to the acclaimed documentary filming rare and unusual creatures of the deep, as well as documenting the problems our oceans face."
Water : Lawren Harris and the Group of Seven by Joan Murray
"This book concentrates on Lawren Harris, Tom Thomson and the other members of the Group of Seven's preference for painting the flowing world."
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
"Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all... When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource. Inspired by the many indigenous-led movements across North America, this bold and lyrical picture book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption."
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou by Wes Anderson
"With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, Oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife, a journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son."
"After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger and Pi - a 16-year-old Indian boy. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary pieces of literary fiction of recent years."
The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro
"An otherworldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment."
Water: a Very Short Introduction by John Finney
"Water dominates the surface of Earth and is vital to life on our planet. It is a remarkable liquid which shows anomalous behaviour. In thisVery Short Introduction John Finney introduces the science of water, and explores how the structure of water molecules gives rise to its physical and chemical properties. Considering water in all three of its states as ice and steam as well as liquid, Finney explains the great importance of an understanding of its structure and behaviour to a range of fields including chemistry, astrophysics, and earth and environmental sciences."
Waterlog: a Swimmer's Journey Through Britain (ebook) by Roger Deakin
"Inspired by John Cheever's classic short story, "The Swimmer," Roger Deakin set out from his moat in Suffolk to swim through the British Isles. The result of his journey is a maverick work of observation and imagination."
The Reef: a Passionate History: the Great Barrier Reef from Captain Cook to climate change by Iaian McCalman
"A journey into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, as experienced by explorers, scientists, and artists"
"The itinerant sailor Ishmael begins a voyage on the whaling ship Pequod whose captain, Ahab, wishes to exact revenge upon the whale Moby-Dick, who destroyed his last ship and took his leg. As they search for the savage white whale, Ishmael questions all aspects of life."
Have I missed any of your personal favourite books or movies about water? Share below in the comments, or tell us what water means to you!
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