Grassroots vs. Astroturf

A grassroots movement involves ordinary citizens, who, like everyone else, must make political decisions in their everyday lives. People formulate on particular issues to bring about awareness and influence political action and hopefully a change in legislation. Often, politicians try to appeal to voters by seeming interested in various grassroots movements, in an effort to gain support from ordinary citizens. Truthful grassroots movements take the form of lobbying, letter writing, and other forms of activism in order to create some form of awareness.

A grassroots movement can be disguised as astroturf, which began in the 1990s with “fake grass roots were labeled by their opponents with the trademarked name for artificial and rootless grass” (http://www.answers.com/topic/grassroots-democracy).

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Ramaswamy R. Iyer

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
An environmental lawyer and activist and the son of Robert F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has had a longstanding career in dealing with environmental issues around the in the Unites States and around the world. Educated and graduated from Harvard University, and specializing in environmental law, RFK Jr. has dedicated his life and political outlook on environmental issues facing the world today.
More specifically, RFK Jr. seeks ways in which to solve water crises around the world, and more recently, those affecting India; he is part of the umbrella organization Waterkeeper Alliance, who seek to discuss issues of water and promote legal action.*

*(Information about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. obtained from the site: http://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/about.html)

Ramaswamy R. Iyer
Ramaswamy R. Iyer started and organized India’s first ever National Water Policy in 1987, and continues to seek opportunities regarding policy making and activism to bring about awareness to prevailing issues of water depletion in areas around the world, especially in India, where he served as the former Secretary of Water for the nation’s government. Iyer has published a multitude of works on water and dams in relation to people, policy and the quality of life in general.*

*(Information about Ramaswamy R. Iyer obtained from the site:http://www.adb.org/Water/Champions/iyer.asp)

Water Ways 2007 Information

Water Ways 2007 is a three-day conference event that is held at the University of North Texas, discussing prevailing issues of water that are effecting the lives of people all around the world. The program seeks to bring up issues of water resourcefulness and promote ongoing dialogue about water issues with the use of science, art, philosophy and other elements. Throughout the three-day event, guest speakers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former secretary of water for the government of India will be presenting their positions on what needs to be done about the unavailability of water, especially in India. The event is FREE and is open to the public.