In Brooklyn N.Y., the Berkeley Carroll School held its second annual, student-run Awareness Day revolving around the many issues we face with water. The whole day was divided into four parts: workshops, action workshops, a movie and a guest speaker. The workshops were all run by students, for students and focused on water issues that we face today.

 

The 30-minute workshops discussed everything from climate change and water to debating, "Who owns our water?" Everyone had an opinion on the issues raised and the debate caused everyone to rethink how they use (and can conserve) water in their daily lives. As Americans we take it for granted that we have water on demand whenever we want it, wherever we want it.  So we sometimes forget how much we actually consume and waste. We forget about the millions of people around the world who die from unclean water and lack thereof.

 

The workshops led to reflection on how we, as students, use our water. In the action workshops there was less discussion about water and more of an urge to do something about the challenges we are facing around the world.  The action workshops consisted of canvas bag decorating (so students can use the bags when the go out for lunch), taking a water pledge, being part of a cleanup crew along a Brooklyn beach, and many more. Students were also able to watch a segment of the documentary called FLOW (For Love Of Water).  At the end of the day we heard from Dava Sobel, the author of Longitude and Galileo's Daughter.