 | When Doug Haffner looks at the state of the world’s fresh water resources, he doesn’t like what he sees. But he’s hoping a new film to be screened in Windsor on Wednesday will wake Canadians up to the reality that we’re quickly running out of our most precious resource.
“This film is critical,” Haffner says of Waterlife, a documentary about the state of the Great Lakes that follows water on its journey from the Nipigon River near northern Lake Superior all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. “I think people have to go and see this film.”
Haffner, a biology professor in the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, provides a voice-over for the film, which is narrated by Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragically Hip. Haffner said the film’s crew was here about a year ago and he took them on a tour of the Detroit River and Lake Erie.
“We tried to give them a broad overview of the environmental issues here and the role the university and the Detroit River Cleanup Committee is playing in trying to help,” he said.
Kevin McMahon, the film’s director, praised Haffner for his cooperation, generosity and his ability to “contextualize” the issues.
“He was enormously helpful,” said McMahon, who described the film as a watery road movie. “There are a lot of voices in the film, but some of the really great lines are his. He was one of the people who really put things into perspective.”
Haffner said the quality of Lake Erie has improved over the last 20 years, but little is being done in terms of developing policy to protect the Great Lakes to deal with increased phosphorus and other contaminants associated with population expansion around their shores.
“We still don’t have a water policy in this country,” he said. “The Great Lakes have a finite capacity. Society has to learn how to live with this limited resource and we’re not seeing any leadership on this issue at the national or the international level. We’re going to run out of fresh water in 30 years and we’re doing nothing about it.”
The documentary will be screened September 23 at the Silver City cinema on Walker Road. The event is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. In Windsor, call 311; outside the city, phone 519-255-2489. |