RESOURCES: Water Issues + Mos Def Lesson Plan "New World Water"

[Ryan Goble]

True story - you know how there are oil barons, well when I started hearing reports of a water shortage about 7 years ago I thought maybe I could be a water baron. This all changed the minute I started reading about the borderline criminal activities of BIG WATER. Too bad for ethics, eh?

Recently MC Popper Anne Shaw wrote on a media list serve looking for water songs.

I suggested this water themed playlist.. I realize that one could probably add to this list forever - I'm just looking for the A for effort :)

"Glass Of Water" - Coldplay
"Water No Got Enemy" - Fela Kuti
"Drink The Water" - Jack Johnson
"Beyond the Sea" - Bobby Darin
"Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" - George Harrison
"The Ocean" - Ambulance LTD
"Oceania" - Björk
"Ocean Size" - Jane's Addiction
"Life's an Ocean" - The Verve
"New World Water" - Mos Def
"Cry Me A River" - Justin Timberlake
"High and Dry" - Radiohead
"Waterfalls" - TLC

and these pages in MC POP from the Sustainability/Green Education Group:
PLAYLIST: Pop Songs That Deal With the Enviornment/Sustainability
FILM & CURRICULUM: 'When The Levees Broke' Curriculum
CURRICULA: Green Education PDFs from Germany

I also sent her (attached below as PDF) a lesson plan for Mos Def's "New World Water" that I had hanging around from working with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in the early aughts (I did not write this - just acquired the Lesson Plan).

If you're at all interested in this topic the documentary Flow is a must see:
Official film site: http://www.flowthefilm.com/

There is also a film Blue Gold: World Water Wars that is work a gander as well.
Official film site: http://www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com/

This month's Issue of Good Magazine is loaded with great short, readable stories about water issues around the world.

I can't say enough good things about the teachability and relevance of the content of this issue - I read this issue cover to cover.

From there Anne send me a list of links she had found - a nice collection pasted here for your drinking pleasure:

Water - Live Earth

Water for Life - United Nations - Decade for Action - 2005-2015

World Water Day

Is access to clean water a basic human right?> - article, Christian Science Monitor

Water Crisis - Wikipedia

MarineBio Kids

Every Body Counts, Every Drop Matters
New United Nations Classroom Resource Guide on Water

UNESCO World Day for Water 2004 homepage

UNESCO links to water-related web sites

UNESCO links to non-governmental (not-for-profit) organizations &am...

The UN's World Water Development Report
Executive summary is available for free in 7 languages

The Education Corner of the International Year of Freshwater The place to go to find online publications, work sheets, classroom guides, note books, kits, videos, educational online games, quizzes, and cd-roms on water

Water-themed photo library (Most images free for download)

Cyberschoolbus World Environment Day website

Cyberschoolbus' World Health Day site
Learn about the health risks children face at home, at school, and in the community when safe drinking water is not available

Mrs. Annan's slideshow on freshwater

UN Chronicle articles on water

Smart Communities Network

PlanetGreen videos on the oceans