** Free, public exhibition explores global water crises with 68 stunning photos in massive light boxes by award-winning photographer, Mustafah Abdulaziz **
VANCOUVER, July 10, 2017 /CNW/ - The Water Stories: The global water crisis in pictures open-air, public exhibition is coming to Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre July 8 to 24 – the only Canadian stop on a global, seven-city tour.
Since 2011, American photographer Mustafah Abdulaziz has travelled the world for his photographic project on water. The exhibition, on display for the first time in Canada, charts the effects of urbanization, poor sanitation, pollution, water scarcity and contamination, and effects of expanding industry and population. It also include landscapes scarred by deforestation in Brazil and barriers to development such as conflict and inaccessibility in Nigeria.
The project is a collaboration with Earthwatch, WaterAid and WWF and is supported by the HSBC Water Programme.
"It is a privilege for WaterAid to work with Mustafah Abdulaziz, a photographer who is incredibly committed to drawing attention to global water issues. We are delighted to share his powerful photos with Canadians," said Nicole Hurtubise, Chief Executive Officer at WaterAid Canada. "We need to tell these stories and be reminded that we all have a role to play if we are going to achieve our goal of making clean water, decent toilets and basic hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation."
Currently, 663 million people live without access to clean water, while 2.3 billion people live without access to basic sanitation. The United Nations has warned that planet earth is facing a 40 per cent shortfall in water supply by 2030.
"Water is essential to life and a fundamental driver of socio-economic growth," said Sandra Stuart, President and CEO, HSBC Bank Canada. "We are honoured to help bring Mustafah Abdulaziz's world-class exhibit to Vancouver's downtown waterfront, building awareness about the global water crises and the vital work supported by the HSBC Water Programme."
The exhibition also includes portraits of individuals working to improve their local environment, the female mason building toilets in Kanpur, India; the former hunter, Zhang, who now protects wildlife around Lake Hong in China; and the volunteer citizen scientists who gather data on freshwater quality in New York City.
The exhibit is free, self-guided, and open to the public. Images can be previewed and downloaded here.
For more information on the exhibit, visit www.thewaterhub.org/waterstories.
Short video on the exhibit here: https://vimeo.com/185782291.
Notes to editors:
| 1) |
Photo caption: Children journey to collect water, Khado Muhammad Jut, Sindh, Pakistan, 2013. Additional / high-res photos available for download here. |
| 2) |
About the HSBC Water Programme: The Programme is a US$150 million dollar global partnership with with Earthwatch, WaterAid and WWF and 60 other non-government organizations. It aims to provide and protect water sources, inform and educate communities in need, enabling people to prosper and driving economic development across the world. Since its launch, the Programme has provided access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for more than two million of the world's poorest people; rivers and wetland habitats have been restored and protected, and fresh water sources have been safeguarded by teaching thousands of people how to farm and fish in a more sustainable way. For more information, visit: www.hsbc.com/our-approach/sustainability/communities/hsbc-water-programme |
| 3) |
About Earthwatch: Earthwatch empowers people to save our planet. We create knowledge and inspire action through hands-on science and environmental engagement to address key environmental challenges. As a partner in the HSBC Water Programme, Earthwatch is delivering freshwater research and engagement to help inform and transform water management. Since the HSBC Water Programme was established, Earthwatch has partnered with international research institutes, NGOs and policymakers to conduct new research to tackle the global freshwater challenge. Over 8,000 HSBC employees around the world – including more than 400 in Canada -- are trained as citizen scientists to monitor the health of their local freshwater bodies. Over 17,000 data points were collected, contributing to environmental and social improvement in freshwater systems across the world. For more information visit: earthwatch.org/europe or follow @Earthwatch_eur on Twitter. |
| 4) |
About WaterAid: WaterAid's vision is of a world where everyone has access to clean water and sanitation. The international organization works in 37 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific Region to transform lives by improving access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation in some of the world's poorest communities. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 25 million people with clean water and, since 2004, 24 million people with sanitation. For more information, visit www.wateraidcanada.com follow @WaterAidCanada on Twitter or on Facebook. |
| 5) |
About WWF: WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive. Find out more about our work, past and present at http://www.wwf.ca @WWFCanada on Twitter or Facebook. |
| 6) |
About HSBC Bank Canada: HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in the country. We help companies and individuals across Canada to do business and manage their finances internationally through three global business lines: Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Retail Banking and Wealth Management. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 4,000 offices in 70 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,416bn at 31 March 2017, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. For more information visit www.hsbc.ca or follow us on Twitter: @hsbc_ca or Facebook: @HSBCCanada |
SOURCE HSBC Bank Canada
Christine LaRocque, WaterAid Canada, [email protected], 613-230-5182 ext. 243; Aurora Bonin, HSBC Bank Canada, [email protected], 604-641-1905
HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. We serve more than 40 million customers through our global businesses: Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking & Markets. Our network covers 64 countries and...
Share this article