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Young adults tackle water issues at 'Thirst for Life' conference
Student William Kermode, standing, played the role of a representative of an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO), such as the World Bank, in the moderated discussion on water at the conclusion of the conference.
Photo: Lynne West/CWS
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New York -- Church World Service continued its advocacy in support of water as a human right at its April 27 "Thirst for Life" conference at Pace University. Young adults at the forum participated in discussions around this key environmental issue, and heard presentations from water experts and advocates.in the form of a United Nations debate on water led by members of the college's Model United Nations team.
The simulated U.N. discussion was part of Pace University's Model United Nations program, http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=19336, which equips students with political vocabulary and diplomatic skills by having them simulate United Nations debates on a broad range of global issues.
The discussion was led by members of the university's award-winning Model United Nations team, played the roles and remarks of individuals who—in an actual U.N. debate—indeed would be participants.
CWS co-sponsored the conference with Pace "to provide an opportunity for young adults to test in a real world context what they have learned about water issues in their studies," says CWS Education and Advocacy Director Rajyashri Waghray.
Speaker Frederik Pischke shared some statistics about the scarcity of water, including the fact that "Water use is increasing at more than twice the rate of population growth," a matter of grave concern at a time when climate change and its affect on water resources has become an environmental challenge for the entire world. Pischke is an associate expert in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development.
The conference also featured a viewing of "Reclaiming Water," which produced with funding from the Women's Division of The United Methodist Church, a CWS member denomination.
"I focused on people who didn't normally have a voice at the World Water Forum, such as indigenous people and NGO's working on the water privatization issue." Producer Angela Alston said. Note: This film is listed in the CWS publication on water, "Thirsty Souls and Parched Lands".
 Student Cortney Moshier, fourth from left, played the role of a representative of UN Water in the moderated discussion on water at the conclusion of the conference. (Pictured l-r) Lisa Jamhoury, George Balboa III, Rebecca Connelly, Cortney Moshier. Photo: Lynne West/CWS
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Here's what some conference participants had to say about the experience:
2006 Pace Alumnus George Balboa III was head delegate of the Pace Collegiate Model UN Team. He attended Nationals for the third time in 2006 and learned about water issues there.
"I learned about the consequences of water privatization. It is important to learn about your environment and what your community is capable of. People are more capable than they think they are. This conference was a good place to find that out and voice opinions."
Gretta Gibson, a Pace U. Junior, majoring in Political Science and International Relations, learned about water issues in a Pace Model UN course and also has participated in the national Model UN competition.
"It is about your right to water. That's it. It's that simple. People don't think they have a right to water. They don't get it. What would happen if you did not have water? What would you do? I didn't realize how much I depend on water. The conference was definitely worthwhile. ‘"People don't think about water much. It is a very small detail that we don't think about. But it's time. In the U.S., water is always there. You never expect it to be taken away from you. But when we learn about it, it brings light to a concern. It didn't become real until now."
Cortney Moshier, a senior majoring in political science, played the role of a representative of UN Water, the United Nations mechanism for follow-up on water-related decisions reached at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals, at the "Thirst for Life" conference simulation of a UN debate.
"The conference was worthwhile. The variety of organizations here was very well-rounded. Model UN changed my life. I was always very shy. After four semesters of Model UN, I am a completely different person. Now, I can get up and talk confidently about issues. I am writing my thesis on "Privatization of Water" and focusing on the experience of water privatization in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I believe that the privatization of water is taking people out of the political process."
Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;
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