Just released from National Geographic! Written in Water: A Message for the Future comprises a collection of essays authored by heroes and leaders in the field of water solutions and innovations—a broad range of people from varied disciplines who have contributed their hearts and minds to bringing awareness to and conserving Earth’s freshwater supply. In their own words, authors tell of such tragedies as water slavery, drought, or contamination, as well as their own professional struggles and successes in pursuit of freshwater solutions.

Contributors include: Alexandra Cousteau, social environmental advocate and granddaughter of legendary marine scientist Jacques Cousteau; Peter Gleick, environmental visionary and winner of a 2003 MacArthur “genius grant”; Bill McKibben, bestselling author and winner of a Guggenheim fellowship; Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and Time magazine’s first “hero for the planet”; and Christine Todd Whitman, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, along with more than a dozen other notable people.

These visionaries’ stories touch, surprise, and amaze as they help us see the essential role played by water in our world, our lives, and our future. These are all people who are thinking far beyond the realm of self; they are devoted to creating a better world for all of us.

National Geographic will host a “Water is Life: A Celebration” on Martha’s Vineyard on May Day weekend.

The event is to celebrate the launch of National Geographic’s new book, Written in Water, Messages of Hope for Earth’s Most Precious Resource. The event will also celebrate the release of National Geographic magazine’s April issue that will be completely dedicated to water.

The two-day event will feature presentations by water authors and scientists with book signings; music by Rick Bausman, Kevin Keady, Featherstone Flutes, Katie Mayhew and R. Carlos Nakai and others; film screenings, and a “Green Fair” with booths of local and off-island green businesses and environmental organizations.

A local water panel chaired by Robert Woodruff, with panelists Joe Allosso, Bill Wilcox and others, will provide an update on the “Health of Martha’s Vineyard’s Water”.

The evening of May 2 will close the event with keynote speaker, Alexandra Cousteau, water poetry by Fan Ogilvie, and music by the Minnesingers, Katie Mayhew, and the world renowned Native American flutist, R. Carlos Nakai.

This event is being produced by William Waterway Marks in cooperation with National Geographic, and is a fundraiser for the Martha’s Vineyard Science Fair and ongoing water research by the nonprofit World Waterway. Tickets for the evening of May 2 may now be purchased online at: http://www.ticketsmv.com/event.php?id=14520.