Bad Water

Join Forces, Lobby for Change

A sick nation

The Hokala Nation of Quebec, Canada were at the end of their tether. Numerous attempts to get the government to act on their complaints of bad water had gone nowhere. People were sick. The Hokala chief said they were dying a slow death. They formed a local water quality team, then discovered New Earth Village.

Finding partners

In a New Earth Village talking circle (forum), the Hokala Water Team discovered and partnered with six other Quebec nations desperate for a water quality solution.

Working together

Together in a New Earth Village wiki (working group), they documented their cases, researched short and long term solutions, then approached the government. It was ‘deal with us or deal with the press,’ they said.

Action at last

The government dealt. In four months, a low cost, high tech, low maintenance water filter had been installed in every home in those seven communities. Within two months, health improvements were significant. Long term solutions are underway.

The Point:

Joining forces with other communities to achieve a goal leverages your human resource and your political power, enriches ideas and speeds development.