docUNight | Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey
Explore how we can help rebalance our planet’s water systems during this docUNight screening of ‘Our Blue World’
Join us for a film screening of ‘Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey’ narrated by Liam Neeson, and a conversation about water as a cause for war and peace, access to water, and the right to water as we explore humanity’s profound relationship with water and our planet’s water systems.
With a focus on the water situation in Nigeria, this docUNight is part of the Stories of a Broken Water Cycle exhibition taking place in UN City Copenhagen, which has been created together with women and children across Nigeria.
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Run time: 1h 30 minutes
Language: English with subtitles
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Water shapes how we live, grow food, build cities, sustain ecosystems and, support livelihoods. Yet across the world, changing rainfall patterns, water scarcity, flooding, pollution, environmental degradation, and growing demand are placing increasing pressure on the systems and communities that depend on it.
How can we move forward ensuring access to clean water for everyone? Fulfilling the right to water for everyone? And maybe even the right of water to be clean? Who has the solutions – and who holds the responsibility? What are the consequences for people, planet, and peaceful co-existence if we fail to act?
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PROGRAMME
13:00 Exhibition
14:00 Welcome: Perspectives on Water
- Ulla Müller — Director of the UNFPA Nordic Representation Office, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency
- Polly Alakija — Artist and advocate – on why water in UN City Copenhagen
- Thomas Jazrawi — External Lecturer, Roskilde University – on water as a cause for war and peace
- Santosh Govindaraju — Water Sustainability Director, Grundfos Holding A/S – on access to water as essential to human life and livelihood
- Megan Donald — Researcher, Danish Institute for Human Rights – on the right to water and whose responsibility
14:30 Film Screening ‘Our Blue World’
16:00 Discussion: Reflections on Water and ‘Our Blue World’
- Paul O’Callaghan — Executive Producer of ‘Our Blue World’
- Thomas Jazrawi
- Santosh Govindaraju
- Megan Donald
- Moderated by Ulla Müller
16:45 End of event
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check before the event.
Please note that the check-in will open at 13:00 and close at 13:45. It will not be possible to enter UN City after this time.
Please reserve each ticket under each person’s name. DO NOT book tickets under your name for someone else.
Small refreshments will be available for purchase between 13:00–13:45. You are also welcome to bring your own beverages and snacks to the event.
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ABOUT THE FILM
The creators of the Netflix Documentary ‘Brave Blue World’ have released a new documentary – ‘Our Blue World’. By taking a deep dive into the lives of visionary people around the world, this beautiful, eye opening, and moving film sets out to reveal our relationship with water and its role as the nourishing life force for all that lives on this planet. Our Earth is in trouble and water is the vehicle through which the effects of climate change will be felt. Extreme droughts, floods, fires, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and global warming are on the rise. Our Blue World shows that through a small shift in consciousness and practice, we can bring enormous positive change and rebalance and regenerate life on earth. Our ancestors lived in harmony with water. They knew that water always wins. Our Blue World demonstrates how by relearning the wisdom of our ancestors and fusing it with modern science and technology, we can transform this world for the better.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Ulla Müller is the Director of the UNFPA Nordic Representation Office. During her 30 year career, Ulla Müller has promoted the rights of women, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the broader peace agenda across countries and continents.
Polly Alakija is a British/Nigerian artist, creator of the Stories of a Broken Water Cycles exhibition, and the founder of the Lokoja Dialogues, which exist to surface community-defined challenges and connect them to policy, partnership, and investment pathways that drive sustainable water solutions and break the cycle of climate-driven poverty.
Thomas Jazrawi is an External lecturer at Roskilde University, author of the book “Kampen om floderne – klima, konflikt og samarbejde langs verdens store floder” (The Battle for the Rivers – Climate, Conflict, and Cooperation Along the World’s Great Rivers), and formerly editor of environment and climate at Globalnyt. Thomas has worked intensively with issues of climate change, biodiversity, and nature, especially in a global context, for more than 15 years.
Santosh Govindaraju is the Water Sustainability Director at Grundfos Holding A/S, with previous experience from Novonesis (formerly Novozymes) and MKS Instruments.
Megan Donald, LLD, LLM, is a legal researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights with a focus on climate change, the environment, and human rights. Her research explores the intersection between the environment and economic, social, and cultural rights.
ABOUT UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls, and young people across more than 150 countries. Through its work, UNFPA ensures that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person can fulfil their potential.