Aquidneck Land Trust Conservation Speaker Series

The Aquidneck Land Trust is pleased to announce its 2012 Conservation Speaker Series. The purpose of this program is to bring important conservation speakers to each of Aquidneck Island's three communities over the course of a year so as to deepen the dialogue on our Island about conservation.

On Thursday, April 19 a free viewing of Last Call at the Oasis, directed by Jessica Yu, will be at the Jane Pickens Theater.

Firmly establishing the urgency of the global water crisis as the central issue facing our world this century, this documentary film illuminates the vital role water plays in our lives, exposes the defects in the current system and shows communities already struggling with its ill-effects. Featuring activist Erin Brockovich, respected water experts including Peter Gleick, Jay Famiglietti and Robert Glennon and social entrepreneurs championing revolutionary solutions, the film posits that we can manage this problem if we are willing to act now.

In 2011, the Aquidneck Land Trust completed a year-long mapping and prioritization study of all the remaining and threatened open space parcels within Aquidneck Island's seven primary watersheds. The loss of these critical natural buffers would further strain the island's main watersheds and the waterways and reservoirs they serve. Laura Gabanski, Senior EPA Biologist and Healthy Watersheds Initiative Leader, states, "The cost of protecting watersheds is much less than the cost of restoring impaired waters. Choosing to protect ecologically valuable systems will save money in the long run."

After the film, this global water crisis will be discussed along with local actions we can take, such as the Aquidneck Land Trust's watershed work. This free presentation is made possible through a collaboration between the Aquidneck Land Trust and newportFILM.

RSVP to Courtney Huth at chuth@ailt.org or 401-849-2799 ext. 19 as space is limited. Light refreshments will be provided.