A work of art and inspiration, celebrating water and its importance to each of us, everywhere with an introduction by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society

A SKeGROUP project: Marisha Shibuya and Francesca Sorrenti – info@skegroup.com
Ocean Futures Society: Pamela Stacey – pstacey@oceanfutures.org
Publisher: Trolley – www.trolleynet.com
Worldwide distribution: Phaidon Press – www.phaidon.com
Design: The Fold, NYC
Available September 2003
For press enquiries, please contact Francesca Sorrenti – info@skegroup.com

Ocean Futures Society and SKeGROUP are proud to introduce the September 2003 publication of Water Culture – an inspiring photography book that weaves powerful imagery by renowned photographers with stirring Q&A interviews from leading figures in the environmental movement who share their thoughts on issues facing the world's water. The images combine beauty and tragedy, and are highlighted with facts about various water situations.

Photo Credit: Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society

• In the United States, approximately 500,000 tons of pollutants pour into lakes and rivers each day.
• Jakarta's water supply and disposal systems were designed for 500,000 people but today the city has a population exceeding 15 million.
• In England, the Thames River, polluted for centuries, has been restored and is again habitable by fish.
• Of the 30,000 rivers in Japan, only 2 are not dammed or modified.
• In Latin America, only about 14% of the urban wastewater was treated in 2000.

Water is often taken for granted, but it touches every aspect of our lives. The main objective of Water Culture is to bring awareness to one of the most precious elements on Earth.

Water Culture is dedicated to the International Year of Freshwater 2003. Jean-Michel Cousteau introduced the book at the World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, in March 2003, and will present it at other environmental events throughout the year.

Participating photographers include:

William Abranowicz Fabien Baron Andrew Bettles Mark Borthwick Cedric Buchet Codling & Crawford Roger Deckker Sante D’Orazio David Doubilet Masaru Emoto Stewart Ferebee Ernst Fischer Bobby Fisher

Andrea Gentl Nan Goldin Anthony Gordon Bill Henson Emily Howard Kelly Klein Jim Knowlton Peter Lindbergh Craig McDean Richard Misrach Richard Murphy Tom Ordway Platon

Tim Richardson Marcy Robinson Joseph Rodgriguez Jarret Schecter Norbert Schoerner David Sims Richard Sears Carter Smith Francesca Sorrenti Mario Sorrenti Vanina Sorrenti David Spero Jock Sturges

Solve Sundsbo Mario Testino Javier Vallhonrat Jaap Vliegenthart Nick Waplington Christian Weber Guy Wenborne Christian Witkin Txema Yestel Frank Yuyttenhove Anne Zahalka ...and others...

Participating interviewees include:

Mahmoud A. Abu-Zeid, President, World Water Council
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF
Jimmy Carter, Chair, The Carter Center
Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair, Global Water Partnership
Jean-Michel Cousteau, President, Ocean Futures Society
Masaru Emoto, Chairman, IHM Co, Ltd.
Peter Gleick, President, The Pacific Institute
Mikhail Gorbachev, President, Green Cross International
Steve Hilton, President, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Ryan Hreljac, Founder, Ryan’s Well Foundation
Robert Kennedy, Jr., President, Waterkeeper Alliance
Rick Linnehan, NASA astronaut
Richard Sears, President, Mingan Island Cetacean Studies
Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, UNEP

We thank the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada for their generous support.

Ocean Futures Society is currently seeking supplementary sponsorship for this project. If you are interested in supporting this activity, please send an email to: contact@oceanfutures.org.

Click here to view the Water Culture Summary Brochure (PDF format)

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