It may seem surprising that Cape Town, the place that first invented poo wars and then made global headlines in 2018 because it came so close to running out of water during a prolonged drought, now has Ramsar City status. Yes, our City is now designated as a wetland of global importance. What does this mean for all of us who live here, in one of the most unequal cities in the world?
The purpose of Water Stories is to celebrate the work of our Water Protectors and to present clear information about Cape Town’s urban water cycle and what we can all do to co-create a resilient and just system in which people and nature can thrive. Cape Town sits in and around rich wetlands and waterways that are literally our safety net for the future. Yet they are being used as a sewer and waste dump.
Bringing together scientists, academics, activists, city councillors, community members and artists who engage with the watery bodies around Cape Town, the first online Water Stories Community Connection was co-hosted by Mycelium Media Colab and Environmental Humanities South (UCT) on July 1st 2022. Our aim is to create opportunities for connection and collaboration between the individuals and organisations we have engaged with over the last two and half years in developing waterstories.co.za, and with all fellow water protectors.