For Immediate Release: July 6, 2007

Commonwealth Club of California and
Pacific Institute Present “Cool Clear Water” Series

August Series Features 24 Bay Area Programs

(San Francisco) More than one billion people lack adequate access to clean water and sanitation. In California, water management is under constant scrutiny as drought, climate change, pollution, and and conflicting interests threaten our existing resources. With local and global water concerns in mind, the Commonwealth Club of California and the Pacific Institute are proud to present Cool Clear Water, a series of special lectures this August. 

The series, comprised of 24 programs, will address the gamut of critical water issues –- from protection of the environment and the health of the San Francisco bay, rivers and ocean, to the impact of global warming on water resources, to use of water for irrigation and industry, to conservation of water for household use.  The series will also acknowledge the joys of water recreation, the future of seafood, and water’s role in the health of all life forms.  

Two signature events will kick off the series:

On August 1, Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic oceanographer and famed champion of the oceans, will deliver an overview of the health of the world’s oceans at the Aquarium of the Bay on August 1. Reserve tickets.

On August 2, Dr. Peter Gleick, co-founder and President of the Pacific Institute, will discuss the threats and solutions to the world’s – and California’s – water challenges. The evening will also feature the water-related photography of Gil Garcetti from his new book Water Is Key. Reserve tickets.

The programs, featuring identified experts, panel discussions, films, and field trips, will be open to the public. Most programs will be held at The Club offices located at 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor in San Francisco, unless otherwise noted. Please find a detailed list of scheduled events below.

Cool Clear Water is a Commonwealth Club series co-sponsored by the Pacific Institute. It is underwritten in part by the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund.

Cool Clear Water Series Schedule

Saturday, July 28

Bair Island Canoe and Restoration

11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Redwood City
$25

Wednesday, August 1

A Celebration of Ocean,
Sylvia Earle, National Geographic

5:15 pm reception, 6:00 program,
Location: Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39
$15 Club members and Bay Institute members,
$30 non-members 

Thursday, August 2

Fresh Water in the 21st Century
Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute; Gil Garcetti, Photographer

5:15 p.m. reception/viewing of photographs, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Friday, August 3

Thirteen Ways to Stop Global Warming
Alrie Middlebrook, author

11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program,
members free, $8 non-members

Saturday, August 4

Improve Wetland Habitat at Shoreline Park, Oakland

9:00 a.m. to noon
Location: MLK Jr. Shoreline Park, Oakland
free event

Monday, August 6

Water Wars: Drought, Flood, Folly and the Politics of Thirst

5:30 p.m. book discussion
note: author Diane Raines Ward will not be present
free for members and non-members

Monday, August 6

Dams and Global Warming: Polluting Reservoirs, Droughts and Floods
Patrick McCully, International Rivers Network

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program,
members free, $8 non-members

Tuesday, August 7

Maximum Wine, Minimum Water
Remi Cohen, Merryvale Vineyards

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program,
members free, $8 non-members

Wednesday, August 8

How Essential Is Water to Good Health?
Diana Amodia, MD

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Thursday, August 9

Colonial History and India’s Water Woes
Meena Palaniappan, Pacific Institute

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Monday, August 13

The Privatization of Water
Deborah Kaufman, Alan Snitow, documentary filmmarkers

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Tuesday, August 14

Hetch Hetchy and Beyond,
Susan Leal, SFPUC

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program,
members free, $8 non-members

Wednesday, August 15

The Nexus of Water, Energy and Climate
Heather Cooley, Pacific Institute

11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program
members free, $8 non-members

Thursday, August 16

Flood Control and Water Management
Raymond Seed, Peter Rabbon, Les Harder, Dave Brent, Ron Stork

11:30 check-in, noon program,
members free, $8 non-members

Thursday, August 16

Is There a Future for the Sacramento Delta?
Greg Gartrell, Tom Graff, Ellen Hanak, Mike Taugher

Location: Bentley School, Lafayette
6 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program,
$15 members, $30 non-members

Monday, August 20

Return of a World-Class Bay Area Ferry System
Steve Castleberry, Bay Area Water Transit Authority

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Tuesday, August 21

The Future of the Salton Sea
Michael Cohen, Rick Daniels, Dale Hoffman-Floerke

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program,
members free, $8 non-members

Wednesday, August 22

Water and Human Disease in Developing Countries
Vincent Resh, Jim Boylson

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Monday, August 27

Sacred Water, Tully McCarroll

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Tuesday, August 28

Water in Israel, Booker Holton

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program,
members free, $8 non-members

Wednesday, August 29

Saving the Bay Again ...
David Lewis, Sylvia McLaughlin, Pete McCloskey

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program
members free, $8 non-members

Thursday, August 30

Fish Forever: The Future of Seafood
Paul Johnson in conversation with Ed Uebers

Location: Farallon Restaurant
11:30 a.m. check-in, noon luncheon and program
$65 members, $75 non-members

Thursday, August 30

Water and Social Justice
Whitney Dotson, Mark Franco, Laurel Firestone, Amy Vanderwarker

5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. program,
members free, $12 non-members

For more information on individual programs and to reserve tickets, go to www.commonwealthclub.org/water

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