Rising global conflict over water calls for more cooperation

Past societies have battled bitterly over power, ideology and access to resources. Wars of the 20th century were fought over oil, but some scholars believe the 21st century’s wars will be sparked by a different resource — water.

‘Water wars’ conjures up images of deserts and unstable governments. Water conflict is for the Nile and the Jordan rivers, and certainly not for the U.S. If disputes do arise, they happen along the Colorado River in the Wild West, where water is scarce.

Think again. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been locked in a legal war since 1990, with temporary agreements failing constantly. In 2007, water scarcity became so dire that the governor of Georgia led a statewide prayer for rain.

North Carolina is not off the hook; our state has been in conflict over this resource with Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

In response to global water disputes and the need for greater collaboration, the United Nations declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. Celebrations culminate on World Water Day, which is held annually on March 22, to focus attention on the importance of sustainable freshwater management.

UNC recognizes the global need for water cooperation on this World Water Day. Along with the UNC Water Theme, the FedEx Global Education Center is hosting a multifaceted exhibition, “The Water of Life: Artistic Expressions.”

The exhibit opened Thursday with a reception for first-year student and painter Caroline Orr and Hanes Visiting Artist Bright Ugochukwu Eke. The evening also featured a multimedia performance by composer Allen Anderson and photographer and musician Brooks de Wetter-Smith.

Eke articulates ideas about human attitudes toward nature through installation art. His work in the FedEx Center focuses on the historical dimension of water, suggesting that slavery is an issue that cannot be forgotten when discussing water.

“It is through this art that I can raise awareness,” Eke said, “and get people to start discussion on how to ameliorate the situation.”

De Wetter-Smith hopes the program will transfer existing knowledge into a commitment to provide water for all. “We tend to take for granted whatever we do not believe to be a threat to our current lives,” he said.

Orr’s series tells the story of those whose lives are deeply impacted by the water crisis. The work puts a face behind the facts and figures of the global water crisis, telling the personal stories that are all too often glossed over.

Orr’s artwork will be on display through July and auctioned online to benefit a water infrastructure project run by the student group A Drink For Tomorrow. Orr’s work communicates a message to the UNC community and assists in the provision of water to a community in Peru.

UNC’s focus on water has produced much academic talk and research, which is critical for assuaging the crisis. However, we all absorb information differently, so this exhibits portrays water differently through imagery, sound, texture and personal stories.

In an era of growing conflict over water, cooperation and communication are more important than ever. Art is a universal language, and perhaps the best way to start.