Before the Ground Runs Dry: BIPOC Media on the US Water Crisis

Laura Flanders and Friends: Next Economy, Labor, Intersectional, Climate, LGBTQ, Abortion

This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate

From the sinking lands of California's Central Valley to the depleting aquifers nationwide, we're at a critical point: Americans are running out of water. In this episode of Meet the BIPOC Press, a monthly collaboration between The Laura Flanders Show and URL Media, we take a closer look at the US water crisis that is affecting many Americans, and putting communities of color especially at risk. How are over-extraction and climate change impacting our water supply? BIPOC media outlets are bringing these stories to the forefront, debunking myths about climate change and uplifting solutions to this urgent issue. Joining us for this conversation are Warigia Bowman, Professor at the University of Tulsa College of Law, and Andrew Hazzard, Climate Reporter at Sahan Journal, which is dedicated to reporting on communities of color in Minnesota. Co-host S. Mitra Kalita is co-founder of URL Media, a national network of Black and Brown community news outlets. Kalita is also the publisher of Epicenter-NYC, a newsletter based in Queens, New York. How do we turn the tide on this crisis, before our water sources run dry?

“We should change the food and the crops we grow, we should change what we eat. We should change how we view the role of agriculture in our society . . . Indigenous people are not well represented in academia or in industry for that matter, and they have already worked through some of these solutions.” - Warigia Bowman

“As a climate reporter, I think it's my responsibility not only to raise the fact that there are major issues facing our society due to global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels, but also to highlight that there are people that are working on solutions . . .” - Andrew Hazzard

“I think you cannot separate water from healthcare. You can't separate water from housing. You can't separate water from race and Indigenous communities . . . By centering people of color, instantly we're in solutions mode in terms of how we're presenting these issues.” - S. Mitra Kalita

Guests:

Warigia Bowman: Professor, College of Law, University of Tulsa

Andrew Hazzard: Climate Reporter, Sahan Journal

S. Mitra Kalita: Co-Founder, URL Media; CEO & Publisher, Epicenter-NYC

Full Episode Notes are located HERE. They include related episodes, articles, and more.

Music In the Middle: ‘Yéla Mama’ by Eat My Butterfly featuring Lass & Sibu Manaï, from the Climate Soundtrack album, produced by DJ’s for Climate Action. And additional music included- "In and Out" and "Steppin" by Podington Bear

🎧 LOOKING FOR UNCUT INTERVIEWS? check our podcast feed the following week. Thanks to our sustaining members and their monthly support.

The Laura Flanders Show Crew: Laura Flanders, Sabrina Artel, David Neuman, Nat Needham, Rory O'Conner, Janet Hernandez, Sarah Miller and Jeannie Hopper

FOLLOW The Laura Flanders Show

Twitter: twitter.com/thelfshow

Facebook: facebook.com/theLFshow

Instagram: instagram.com/thelfshow/

YouTube: youtube.com/@thelfshow

ACCESSIBILITY - This episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner.

FOLLOW Laura Flanders and Friends

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/

Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriends

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriends

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends

ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel