Everyday Activist - AGHBALOU - The Source of Water (MLJFF 2015)

Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 06:00 PM

AGHBALOU - The Source of Water

Movie Review by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

This beautifully filmed documentary talks about one of the most critical issues facing people; water shortages. Unlike Cowspiracy which focuses on animal agriculture and water wastage, AGHBALOU - The Source of Water shows us how traditionally, one African nation addressed irrigation issues in the desert. Before diesel or gasoline pumps were introduced to the regions in the 1970s, people built tunnels to the ground water. The ground water would then flow through the tunnels to the farm lands. Because this system was based on gravity, the water used in the fields could be replenished at a sustainable rate.

Technology can be a double edged sword. With the introduction of water pumps, water could be delivered to crops reliably, until the ground water levels significantly dropped making it harder and harder for people to farm. Also, the price of diesel or gasoline to feed the pumps eats into the small profits these farmers may make. One of the ways to use less water, as one farmer suggests, is to plant crops meant for the desert climate. Parents want to pass on the values of farming onto the next generation, but many children as is the case in many parts of the world, want a different and perceivably easier life.

Another technology to “tame” the desert uses a micro irrigation system to deliver water right to the roots of the plants thus reducing water wastage from evaporation. The concept works, except that, to small scale farmers, this solution is impossible to afford and implement. Many of the smaller farms are non-contiguous and scattered throughout the desert. The system tends to get clogged and results in waste plastic littering the desert when it needs replacement. Groups have come in with cheaper forms of the same technology, but it’s a temporary solution to large scale problem.

Drought and water shortages aren’t limited to African deserts. This year in North America we’ve seen record numbers of drought stricken areas even in Alberta. Originally from southern Alberta, I grew up with these issues. We never really talked about solutions, other than irrigation. Reducing consumption and waste is the key to proper resource management; however, this means less profit for certain people, thus will never be an encouraged behavior unless it comes from a deeper understanding within each individual wanting to change.

AGHBALOU – The Source of Water has a running time of 27 minutes and will be screened at lunch time, 12:10 PM on Thursday, November 19th, 2015 at the Globe Cinema, as part of the Marda Loop Justice Film Festival 2015. The screening is free and you are allowed to eat lunch in theatre, but bring cash for the concession if you want some popcorn.

Calgary Showtimes: AGHBALOU - The Source of Water >

AGHBALOU - The Source of Water (Official Trailer) from Chouette Films on Vimeo. Follow Chouette Films on Twitter.