"Tragic and ultimately triumphant, WATER FOR LIFE is at turns beautiful and intense." Dr. Michael L. Dougherty, Prof. Sociology, Illinois State Univ

WATER FOR LIFE tells the story of three extraordinary individuals: Berta Cáceres, a leader of the Lenca people in Honduras; Francisco Pineda, a subsistence farmer in El Salvador; and Alberto Curamil, an Indigenous Mapuche leader in Chile, all of whom refused to let government-supported industry and transnational corporations take their water and redirect it to mining, hydroelectric projects or large-scale agriculture. Despite reassurances from companies and the authorities, they knew what lay ahead: contaminated water, environmental devastation, and the destruction of their communities.

It is a story of courage and determination, betrayal and corruption, death threats and murder, and of unexpected victories in the countryside and in the courts. It is a story that asks how economic development can grow in harmony with environmental protections. Above all, WATER FOR LIFE illuminates a growing recognition of Indigenous rights and a rising demand for corporate responsibility and environmental justice that's being seen around the world. It is a story that begins and ends with water.



Grade Level: 7 - 12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2024     Copyright Date: 2023
DVD ISBN: 1-961192-27-6

Reviews "Stunning...Remarkable...Water for Life is a singular contribution not only to Indigenous water and land rights movements, but to the intimate documentation of transnational government and corporate injustice in the horrific abuse of power in the Americas in the 21st century." Deborah Neff, The MY HERO Project "At the intersection of neoliberal extractivism, environmental justice and Indigenous worldviews, we find three persons from Latin America who risk or lose their life to protect the rivers of their communities despite death threats and the killing of people close to them. In the end, after years of terror and abuse but also determination and strategy, their small but significant victories give as a message of hope in humankind and the power of non-violent struggle. Beautifully crafted, Water for Life is an important film than can be used in the classroom as well as in communities facing similar environmental threats from governments and/or corporations." Ignacio López-Calvo, Professor of Latin American Literature and Culture, University of California-Merced, Co-editor, Hydrohumanities: Water Discourse and Environmental Futures "Tragic and ultimately triumphant, Water for Life is at turns beautiful and intense. It counterposes lush panoramas with scenes of struggle. Its meditations on the ambiguity of the state and the power of the judicial system offer rich opportunities for discussion. While exploring the tensions between development and conservation, this film resists easy, simplistic stories for something refreshingly complex, moving, and ultimately hopeful." Dr. Michael L. Dougherty, Professor of Sociology, Illinois State University, Co-editor, Mining in Latin America: Critical Approaches to the New Extraction "Water for Life brings us face-to-face with the struggles and prospects that face communities in Chile, El Salvador, and Honduras as they confront corrupt and repressive forces that so powerfully dominate today's global water wars. The vision and voices of small farmers powerfully illuminate the courage, strategy, and unity that are essential in mobilizing moral and political strength for achieving the most fundamental of human rights - water. This is an exceptionally well documented and accessible resource for social science, environmental, and indigenous studies, as well as for community audiences." James Loucky, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Western Washington University "Water, a central element of the narrative, is presented not only as an essential resource, but as a fundamental right...The impact of the documentary goes beyond the screen, acting as a call to action. By documenting the struggles of Curamil, Pineda and Cáceres, the film not only informs us, but also inspires us to get involved in defending the environment. A powerful and necessary film." Rafael Argemon, Repórter Brasil "At its heart, Water for Life is about the struggle for self-determination on the part of Indigenous and campesino communities. These are, of necessity, anti-colonial struggles. The film is also about the power of collective action and solidarity. This is a powerful film, at once tragic and inspirational. I'm looking forward to sharing it with my students." Tom Perreault, Professor of Latin American Geography, Syracuse University "The rate of environmental activists being killed is rising around the globe. Water for Life provides an intimate and thought-provoking window into the fight for environmental justice on indigenous lands. The film's focus on three Latin American activists who are waging critical and sometimes deadly battles will both educate and inspire." Veronica Herrera, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Political Science, University of California-Los Angeles, Author, Water and Politics: Clientelism and Reform in Urban Mexico "Water for Life is an inspiring and touching documentary that highlights the tension between an expanding modern industrial world and communities living a simple life. Water is the medium that both need, but in very different forms. The question that reverberates throughout the film is: What does the human right to water really translate to? It is fundamental to what we define as our values - and how they are changing by time and culture." Upmanu Lall, Director of Water Institute, Professor of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Director of Columbia Water Center, Columbia University