Triangle founders Paul Cochrane and Dr. Karim Eid-Sabbagh’s documentary on the political economy of water in Lebanon, We Made Every Living Thing from Water (وجعلنا من الماء كل شيء حي), premiered on Thursday, November 22 (Lebanon’s Independence Day) as part of the Beirut Art Film Festival. The 40-minute documentary debuted at Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema as part of BAFF’s campaign, “No WATER, No LIFE.” 

In cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland, the documentary was also screened at 3,000 private and public schools, as well as 16 university campuses.  

Directed by Cochrane and Eid-Sabbagh, the documentary reveals the dangerous impact of environmental degradation on Lebanon’s water resources and documents mounting public discontent in the face of pervasive disregard for ecological concerns. 

Filmed in the wake of the July 2015 rubbish crisis and based on doctoral research by Dr. Eid-Sabbagh, We Made Every Living Thing from Water explains how politics, sectarianism, development priorities and structural economics result in the current management, and mismanagement, of Lebanon’s water resources. 

Following the screening, the directors, along with Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director, Lama Fakih, held a lively open panel discussion with audience members on the film and the impact of the waste and water issue in Lebanon. Beirut Report founder and editor in chief, Habib Battah moderated throughout the panel discussion as attendees asked questions, shared comments, and commended the directors for their film’s role in highlighting the ecological and health effects of Lebanon’s deteriorating water quality and damaging water use patterns. 

Documentary and Panel Discussion Points: 

• Need for Public Awareness: Paul Cochrane emphasized that public awareness is crucial to addressing environmental degradation in Lebanon.
• Grassroots Change: Dr. Karim Eid Sabbagh highlighted the importance of empowering local communities to take part in decision-making processes to protect their environment. 
• Human Health Impact: Lama Fakih discussed the health consequences of burning trash in Lebanon and the severe underfunding of the Ministry of the Environment, with a budget of just $9 million, which is insufficient to tackle Lebanon’s environmental issues. 

We Made Every Living Thing from Water has received widespread acclaim from journalists, academics, development experts and water resource experts alike: 

• ‘I really enjoyed it. It’s a really excellent piece of reporting.’ – Laura Gane, Editorial Director of the Frontline Club in London.
• ‘The only good film about water in Lebanon.’ – Dr. Mark Zeitoun, Water Security, at the University of East Anglia.
• ‘A frightening vision for the future – if the government’s approach to water and environmental management does not improve, very substantially.’ – Peter Newborne, Research Associate at the UK’s Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
• ‘A courageous and interesting documentary.’ – Claire Papin-Stammose, LEWAP – Programme Solidarite Eau. 

Watch the trailer
Read press coverage in the Daily Star (EN) , L’Orient-Le Jour (FR) and Reuters (AR)
For more information on the documentary contact: [email protected]

We Made Every Living Thing from Water

Duration: 40 minutes
Languages: English and Arabic (w/subtitles)
Written and Directed by Paul Cochrane and Karim Eid-Sabbagh (Beirut, Lebanon)
Filmed by Alan Ginoux and Paul Cochrane
Produced by Karim Eid-Sabbagh
Funded by the American University of Beirut and the International Development Research Centre

A Triangle Production