Convening for Action in British Columbia

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KNOW YOUR HISTORY, LEARN FROM HISTORY: “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” – George Santayana (1863-1952), influential 20th century American thinker whose philosophy connected a rich diversity of historical perspectives

Note to Reader:

Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Storylines accommodate a range of reader attention spans. 

 

Know your history; learn from history – season finale

“We share our world view through our stories and storytelling. It is not the technical stuff that carries the day. It is the stories about the technical stuff that carry the day. Stories unite us. Water does it. Water is life,” wrote Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director and Watebucket eNews Editor.

 

 

“Addition of one word, WATER, can make or break whether minds open or close when an idea is introduced to an audience. It is no surprise, then, that the terms water sustainability and water reconciliation are comparatively powerful. Take a moment to think about it.”

A loss of continuity has consequences

“Never has storytelling been more important than it is today. And that is because knowledge is being lost at an alarming rate. A look into the  future by Jay Bradley in 2007 has proven prescient in foreshadowing what is happening in the post-COVID era.”

 

 

“Jay Bradley’s quote nails the nub of one of the challenges of our time. And that is, loss of continuity is happening just when continuity of understanding is needed most. It is reinforced by the following quote from legendary columnist Thomas Friedman.”

 

 

“Without the passing of that baton, those who follow will not know what they do not know. This is why stories behind the stories are important. One must look back to see ahead. But it is more than that. It is also the ability to adapt.”

“Alvin Toffler, regarded as one of the world’s outstanding futurists, stated in a 1998 interview that: Society needs all kinds of skills that are not just cognitive; they’re emotional, they’re affectional. You can’t run the society on data and computers alone.”

 

To Learn More:

The edition of Waterbucket eNews published on June 3, 2025 brought to a close the Winter /Spring 2025 season of the weekly newsletter series. During the 3-month period from January through May 2025, the Partnership for Water Sustainability published 19 feature stories.

To access the 19 stories, click on  SEASON IN REVIEW: Headlines and Defining Quotable Quotes.