I’m writing this on a drizzly day, but signs of spring are all around. Crocuses and daffodils have pushed through soggy leaf litter to bloom defiantly, and buds are popping up on skeletal trees. The contrast of hopeful green shoots against gloomy weather mirrors my mood: I’m inspired by acts of care and courage all around, but conscious of destructive forces moving in the background.
I went for a long walk this weekend to turn down my brain and tune into the sound of birdsong. I ended up at Save The Giants Park, a little slice of land with three magnificent sequoias amid family homes and yards. The trees were almost cut down in 2015 to make way for construction, and now stand as a monument to the power of local organizing.
My newsfeed this morning was full of stories of neighbors coming together to create the kinds of communities we all want to live in: A New Mexico garden growing political power, a Washington “pocket forest” being planted by volunteers, and a North Carolina collective sharing healthful food and practical skills.
Of course, this kind of organizing would not be necessary if the government was doing its job of meeting people’s basic needs. Instead, the feds are dismantling laws and programs that keep us safe and healthy. These rollbacks are justified by messaging that pits the economy against public and environmental health and frames common sense safeguards as “unnecessary burdens.”
And, of course, spin doctors are churning out media that distracts from the life or death stakes of climate and water concerns. How are we, as cause communicators, to respond? That’s what the Water Hub asked Philip Newell and Abbie Richards on last week’s webinar on Defusing Disinformation. Their advice? Root out lies that are spreading in your community, but don’t let this defensive work consume you. Read more of their great advice for when to respond and how to care for your nervous system.
Polling briefing: Water as a bridge builder
While some politicians seem to have forgotten this under pressure from polluters, voters care deeply about water. That’s true all over the country and across the political spectrum, and this broad public concern is something we can harness to build power and push progress, even now. On April 1 at 11am PT/2pm ET the Water Hub and American Rivers will join Environmental Polling Consortium to share key insights from recent public opinion research. Register here.
Current-ly
Groundwater Awareness Week is here! And, while the underground water stores so many communities rely on for drinking and farming were long taken for granted, decades of organizing is making a difference. This week, we’re celebrating hopeful stories of people coming together to protect and replenish overtapped aquifers, from Arizona to Kansas and Florida. We’re also finding some joy breaking down this wonky water word in this video if you need a laugh like us!
Water We Reading
Speaking of spin doctors and the dominance of the right-wing media machine, this Substack from Andre Banks of NewWorld on how we can turn the tide in the information war by meeting people where they are resonates with a lot of conversations we have been having at the Water Hub about the need to reach beyond mainstream news and traditional experts, and create a steady stream of culturally relevant content that speaks to current concerns.
Making waves
In a moment of deepening divides, water is a great connector. We can’t live without it, and no one should have to. That is the central message of We the People of Detroit’s #WaterforEverybody campaign, which invites people to get involved to ensure universal access to this basic necessity. We’re thankful to Sport for Impact for working with athletes to help bring attention to this campaign.
Now streaming
One of the Water Hub’s core programs (and great joys!) is providing hands-on communications help to grassroots groups. We are continually floored by the breadth of solutions they drive, from in-home water filters and schoolyard rain gardens to utility programs and state policies. That’s why we’re heartened to see more philanthropists investing in community-based organizations, including through River Network’s Flow Fund.