UNM to Present ‘Running Dry – The Documentary' to Help Public Learn More About Water Problems and Solutions

The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu

November 4, 2005

What can we do to stem the tide of the growing global water crisis? Learn more about the problems — and possible solutions — of water shortages and pollution at the UNM presentation of “Running Dry – The Documentary,” on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in Woodward Hall rm. 101.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session with writer, producer and director Jim Thebaut and local water experts.

The film, inspired by the late Senator Paul Simon's book Tapped Out, is the centerpiece of the Running Dry Project (www.runningdry.org), a public information and education effort to raise awareness of the water crisis and generate support for practical public policy solutions.

“I met Jim Thebaut at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto in March 2003,” said Michael E. Campana, director of UNM's Water Resources Program. “He showed a short version of ‘Running Dry'. I was impressed with the scope of the work. His feature-length version is even more remarkable and provides an excellent summary of the major water issues facing the world. Water issues in South Africa, China, India, the Middle East and the American Southwest are prominently featured.”

The UNM Water Resources Program, the UNM Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development and the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer are sponsors of this event.

The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.