Water Issues film series begins tonight, July 7

At last night's Volunteers For Change-Fresno general meeting, V4CF Water Team leader Dr. Bob Merrill invited all members to learn more about the history of water issues by attending a six-part Water Film series, sponsored by the Valley Water Consortium and the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno.

The series begins with 'The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?,' a documentary about the Southwest's history of conflict over water, and how that situation will only get worse unless the conflicts between population, agriculture, and environmental needs are balanced. 'American Southwest' is scheduled 7 p.m. today, July 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, 2672 E. Alluvial Ave. in Fresno.Admission to all films in the series is free.

The series continues until Aug. 11, with the following films:

• July 14- Chinatown – The movie (Rated R)
• July 21- Cadillac Desert – How LA stole the Owens River
• July 28- A Land Between Rivers – (Fresno County)
• Aug. 4- Tales of the San Joaquin and Cadillac Desert – Part 3 (The San Joaquin Valley)
• Aug. 11- FLOW (Global Privatization of Water)

The film series "is meant to improve our understanding of water and its related issues and to provoke thoughtful conversation and discussion based on facts,' according to the event's sponsors. "To succeed at this goal, discussion leaders will try to focus the discussions and attempt to make certain that varying perspectives are heard."

For more information, call (559) 434-8046 or (559) 313-7674.