• Jane Seymour hosts and narrates documentary to air on public television Fall 2008
LOS ANGELES, CA, Sept. 22, 2008 -- The Chronicles Group and presenting station Vegas PBS announce that beginning this fall, public television across the United States will air the new documentary "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?" about drought and water management, hosted and narrated by actress Jane Seymour. Viewers learn about conservation, land use planning, how relentless drought and low precipitation have depleted water levels on vital sources throughout the western United States, such as Lake Powell, Lake Mead, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system, the Rio Grande and the Colorado River.
A web page dedicated to "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?" contains more information, downloadable photos, trailers and content.
The film was produced, written and directed by Jim Thebaut, president, The Chronicles Group, a Los Angeles based non-profit public information/education film production company whose previous project "Running Dry" (2005) documented the global water crisis and shed light on the fact that every 15 seconds a child dies from water related disease. In this latest offering, Thebaut interviews policymakers, congressional members, water authorities, leaders in the Native American community and scientists about the looming crisis. The film makes for absorbing and contemplative discussion about conservation, water reuse, and urban growth in the United States and includes discourse about vanishing groundwater reserves, potential political battles over water resources, and how water was historically divided.
"I wanted to alert Americans that we have a water crisis in our own backyard," says executive producer Jim Thebaut. "One of the major solutions to the crisis is public and private partnerships, and that we must all work together."
Interviews with members of Congress include Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Ken Salazar (Colo.), Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), U.S. Reps. Mary Bono (Palm Springs, CA), and Jim Costa (Fresno, CA). Dr. Gene Whitney, science advisor to President Bush, Timothy Brick, chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Pat Mulroy, who as general manager oversees operations of the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, were also interviewed.
Discussion includes solutions to the water crisis such as desalination, rainwater harvesting, green construction, and individual conservation. The film serves as a wake up call that the problem deserves urgent attention but that individual responsibility and collective power may turn the tide.
Accompanying the documentary is a "Call to Action" DVD as well as an educational outreach component that will provide more information and curriculum about water related issues in the American Southwest and beyond.
Funding for "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?" is provided by California Water Association, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Southern Nevada Water Authority and additional sources.
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