Thirst - The Movie

THIRST - a screening of the award-winning documentary. The Alliance of Concerned Citizens of Novato (ACCNovato) is showing Thirst free of charge to generate interest in and knowledge about the true facts of water privatization. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Refreshments and snacks will be served, doors open at 6:45, screening begins at 7:00 pm. A discussion will follow at the end of the film.

Is water part of a shared "commons," a human right for all people? Or is it a commodity to be bought, sold, and traded in a global marketplace? Thirst tells the stories of communities in Bolivia, India, and the U.S. that are asking these fundamental questions. Over a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. The corporate consensus for large dams and privatized, corporate water systems is challenged by experts and activists who assert that water is a human right, not a commodity to be traded on the open market.

The central story in the film takes place in Stockton, California. Mayor Gary Podesto proposes to give control of the water system to a consortium of global water corporations. He is surprised by the reaction as Stockton residents create a new grassroots coalition to demand a say in the decision. They are worried about price hikes, water quality, and layoffs of public employees, who tend to be women and/or people of color. African-American water plant supervisor Michael McDonald sees democracy itself at stake in this battle.

Water activists from Bolivia, Stockton, and India all meet at the World Water Forum in Kyoto as part of a new movement against global water privatization. As the Forum reaches its final day, no one anticipates the explosive outcome.

ACCNovato is a grassroots organization formed by Novato residents to prevent the privatization of the operations and maintenance of Novato's new taxpayer funded $90 million wastewater treatment facility. ACCNovato is an alliance of citizens, labor, and community organizers who wish to keep our Novato public utilities local with local control!

Map to the ACCNovato screening of Thirst

For more information email ACCNovato at info@accnovato.org