Central Park N.C. Names Maude Barlow As Special Guest Speaker At The 2012 Annual Gathering

RALEIGH, NC, September 07, 2012 (Press-News.org) As the world's water becomes scarce and global corporations seek to exploit water for profit, people around the globe are losing ownership, rights and control of water resources on which they depend for their jobs, livelihood and health. Water consumption is continuously increasing at a rapid rate and water sources are becoming more polluted, depleted, exhausted and exploited by large corporations. As this controversial issue continues to affect millions of people globally, it has also become a key issue of debate locally in the Central region of North Carolina.

Now, some of the nation's leading experts on water licensing issues will address water privatization and the corporate control of water at this year's Central Park NC Annual Gathering at STARworks Center on October 18, 2012. The event, called The Future of North Carolina's Water, will feature a wonderful lineup of expert guest speakers, including an evening address by Maude Barlow, an international water rights activist featured in several well-known documentaries.

Barlow, a well-known Canadian activist, author and prominent voice in the global water justice movement, serves as the national chairperson of the Council of Canadians, Canada's largest public advocacy organization. Barlow is the co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, an international civil society designed to protect the world's fresh water from threats of trade and privatization and serves as the first senior adviser on water issues for the United Nations. She is the recipient of 11 honorary doctorates as well as many awards including, the Right Livelihood Award, commonly known as the alternative Nobel Prize, and the Citation for Lifetime Achievement, Canada's highest environmental honor. Barlow has authored and co-authored 16 books and has been featured in a number of well-known documentaries and short films regarding water rights.

Central Park N.C. (http://centralparknc.org/) is a nonprofit organization designed to promote a new economy based on the sustainable use of natural resources in eight counties in Central North Carolina.
At this year's Annual Gathering, attendees will have the opportunity to see the glass studios, the CSA garden, biofuels plant, and the ceramics studios and clay factory, enjoy delicious locally sourced food, live entertainment, glass blowing and a host of other fun activities.

The event is open to the public; however, a $30 registration fee is required. To register for the 2012 Annual Gathering, visit http://www.centralparknc.com or call (919) 428-9001.

QUOTES:
"We are very honored to have Maude Barlow as a guest speaker at the 2012 Annual Gathering," said Nancy Gottovi, executive director of Central Park N.C. "Maude's award-winning and impressive experience with the global water justice movement will provide dynamic insight to attendees about the future of our state's water and the need to promote the sustainable use of North Carolina's natural resources."

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ABOUT CENTRAL PARK N.C.:
Central Park N.C. is a nonprofit organization designed to promote a new economy based on the sustainable use of natural resources in the eight counties in the center of North Carolina. Central Park N.C. focuses on the growth of small businesses and developing a strong and dependable regional infrastructure for the central region of North Carolina. In 2005, the organization launched the STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise to better serve the creative, agricultural and alternative energy sectors of the region's economy. Central Park N.C. hosts an annual gathering at the STARworks Center to discuss environmental stewardship, the critical elements of an emerging regional economy and utilizing the state's precious natural resources. For more information, visit the Central Park N.C. website at http://www.centralparknc.org.

Jake Potter
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
jake@mmipublicrelations.com
http://twitter.com/mmipr
http://www.mmipublicrelations.com