Environment

Kevin McMahon’s Waterlife

by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper | April 14, 2009 at 06:47 am

566 views | 35 Recommendations | 6 comments

For every decision we make, we must consider the needs of others, and the needs of people seven generations into the future - “The Great Law”

This Great Law is the message behind Gemini award-winning filmmaker Kevin McMahon’s powerful new documentary about the Great Lakes. Waterlife is narrated by Gord Downie, Trustee for Lake Ontario and includes clips with Doug Martz, the St. Clair Channelkeeper. It premiers at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto on May 2, 2009.

Waterlife challenges audiences to abandon our short-term view of the Great Lakes. The film chronicles the 350-year journey of a water molecule travelling from the headwaters of Lake Superior to where the St. Lawrence River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

McMahon follows the water as it passes through through wetlands, factories, and even people. In these stories, Waterlife reveals a Great Lakes region under siege:

Local fish populations plummeted to 20% of their historic numbers, in part because of invasive species like the sea lamprey and the zebra mussel.
Thirty percent of coastal wetlands are stranded every year by receding waterlines.
Areas of the heavily industrialized lakes now contain toxic sediments 25 feet deep

“Waterlife is meant to be a community tool,” explains McMahon. “We hope the film can help raise awareness of what’s going on in the Lakes.” McMahon has also created Ourwaterlifecommunity.com for people to connect and learn more about the issues.

Living at the Barricades had a chance to sit down with Kevin McMahon recently. Kevin talks about the changes he has witnessed first hand during his 30-year career documenting Canada’s great waterways.

Music on this week’s show:
Changes - David Bowie
A Change is Gonna Come - Leela James
Change - Blind Melon

Listen to the show:
Listen to this week’s show online (right-click to download).
Subscribe to the Living At the Barricades Podcast via iTunes

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sara star

at 07:27 on April 14th, 2009

WATERLIFE follows the epic cascade of the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. From the icy cliffs of Lake Superior to the ornate fountains of Chicago to the sewers of Windsor, this feature-length documentary tells the story of the last huge supply (20 per cent) of fresh water on Earth.

The source of drinking water, fish and emotional sustenance for 35 million people, the Great Lakes are under assault by toxins, sewage, invasive species, dropping water levels and profound apathy. Some scientists believe the lakes are on the verge of ecological collapse.

sara star

at 07:31 on April 14th, 2009

Hope they come to Halifax. Great show.

Amy Judd

at 12:04 on April 14th, 2009

Sounds amazing

Paschen

at 21:56 on April 14th, 2009

Great intro and post. I wish we would even think or conceder at least four generations rather then just the one we seem to think of now and even that would be some think if we planned 25 year rather then just in 5 year terms as we have been doing since the first World war.

jazzyzazzy

at 16:43 on April 15th, 2009

I loved the Blue Planet documentries this sound. cool.

Doug French (not verified)

at 06:10 on August 6th, 2009

I live in Traverse City MI and Kevin was just here last week doing a workshop on how he filmed Waterlife and taking questions from prospective film makers. I had tickets to attend and was very disappointed that I was unable to make it. I was wondering by posting this if I could recieve more information on a way to view his film and also if there was any other way to get more information on what he covered in his workshop, or perhaps upcoming events he may be attending.
As we continue to hear how the worlds oceans are just becoming more and more polluted and much of the worlds attention is on them, there is a lack of concern for our own great treasure here with our Great Lakes. Having spent time living in Alaska, and traveling other places it always amazes me how few people have ever even seen them. No wonder there is an apathy about them, once one has seen them I think ones perception changes.

Anyway I'm intersted in how to see some of Kevins work and see if perhaps he has anything coming up this way again in the future...

Thank You... Doug French Traverse City, Michigan