Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
artists for save our water
It takes 700 litres of water to make one litre of milk. It is export gold at the expense of flushing flows,biodiversity and our right to enjoy our rivers recreationally. Artists Sally Hope and Jane Zusters curated this exhibition to draw attention to the latest Te Waipounamu/ South Island water grab. In august Environment Canterbury will hear 28 water consent applications affecting Mackenzie Basin waterways. Cows are replacing sheep,cashing in on the present dairy export boom reducing the waterways to near-lifeless over-enriched trickles.
This iconic landscape has a fragile ecosystem and is home to over 40 species of birds that rely on these unique braided rivers.
These species are in decline already and face further habitat loss through the proposed water abstarction and diversion to irrigate 25,000 ha. For instance the black-billed gulls have declined from 85,000 breeding birds in 1974 to 4,000 pairs today.
Over 25 artists are participating including Mark Adams, Philippa Blair,Nigel Brown, Bing Dawe and Grahame Sydney.
(the image above is "nature on dialysis' 1500x1500 by Jane Zusters).
NG GALLERY, 212 MADRAS ST, CHRISTCHURCH,
3 JUNE TO 30 JUNE 2008
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