Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis

About the community read

For the sixth year, the community of Hesston, led by Hesston College, Hesston Public Library and Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, invite individuals and groups to take part in a community read during the fall semester. The book selection for the 2017 read is Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis (2012, Beacon Press) by Cynthia Barnett.

Barnett, an award-winning environmental journalist, teaches at the University of Florida (Gainsville), and proposes that America needs a “blue revolution” comparable to the “go green” movement to address the use and abuse of water in the U.S. and around the world. The book examines a variety of perspectives and makes an argument for a “water ethic” with a call to action that reconnects individuals to their water.

Water events schedule

Thursday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. – Film presentation and discussion on Last Call at the Oasis, Hesston Public Library

Last Call at the Oasis (105-minute film), a documentary on the world’s water crisis.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. – Book discussion on , Newton Public Library

The Water Knife, a novel set in the near-future, drought-devastated southwestern United States.

Friday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m. – Hesston College forum presentation by Joel Kempf, Hesston Mennonite Church

Kempf is a 1997 Hesston College alumnus who served in Mozambique with Mennonite Central Committee as a sustainable agriculture consultant.

Thursday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. – Film presentation and discussion on Blue Gold: World Water Wars, Hesston Public Library

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (90-minute film), a documentary that discusses how future wars may be fought over water as they are over oil today.

Sunday, Oct. 8, 2 p.m. – Hesston College Bel Canto Singers concert: “Living Water,” Hesston Mennonite Church

Thursday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m. – Film presentation and discussion on Flow: For Love of Water, Hesston Public Library

Flow: For Love of Water (93-minute film), a documentary that examines the facts of dwindling water supplies around the world and the possibility that greed may be the cause.

Friday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. – Hesston College forum presentation by Jared Morrison, Hesston Mennonite Church

Morrison works for Westar Energy’s Waste and Water Division.

Friday, Oct. 20, 11 a.m. – Hesston College forum presentation by the Kansas Water Office, Hesston Mennonite Church

Sunday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. – The Netherlands and water panel presentation, Hesston Mennonite Church

Sunday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m. – Presentation on land ethics and water resources by Heidi Mehl, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains

Mehl works for the Kansas Healthy Streams Initiative.

Monday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. – Book discussion on Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis, Newton Public Library

Led by Dyck Arboretum staff member Brad Guhr, a discussion on the community read title.

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m. – Hesston College Melva Kauffman Lecture Series presentation by community read author Cynthia Barnett, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains

Barnett will speak on local water sources like the Great Plains and Ogallala aquifers in relation to the philosophies of famous conservationist and environmentalist Aldo Leopold.

Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. – Hesston College Melva Kauffman Lecture Series by Cynthia Barnett, Hesston Mennonite Church

Barnett will discuss her book, Blue Revolution, as well as the effects of the global water crisis, including conflict over water, territorial issues and how it affects faith communities and others.

Friday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. – Hesston College forum on flooding by the Disaster Management Program, Hesston Mennonite Church

Saturday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Dec. 31 – The Smithsonian’s Water/Ways exhibit, Hesston Public Library

See the exclusive Kansas tour of a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition brought to you by the Kansas Humanities Council.

Thursday, Dec. 7, 12:30 p.m. – First-Year Experience symposium on water, Hesston College

Hesston College students present their findings from research done on water-related issues.