As demand for water hits the limits of finite supply, potential conflicts are brewing between nations that share transboundary freshwater reserves. More than 50 countries on five continents might soon be caught up in water disputes unless they move quickly to establish agreements on how to share reservoirs, rivers, and underground water aquifers.
Corporate giants force developing countries to privatize their water supply for profit. Wall Street investors target desalination and mass bulk water export schemes. Corrupt governments use water for economic and political gain. Military control of water emerges and a new geo-political map and power structure forms, setting the stage for world water wars.
All those facts can develop serious conflicts because of water. The scenario in which water will be privatized by giant companies and people would have to pay for it isn’t so impossible. In Bolivia in 2003 the private company had an arrangement with government and had ownership of water. People had to pay for water or go thirsty. Since they couldn't pay, they had no alternative but to fight. A popular rebellion and an organization formed, from a group of people ranging from farmers to street vendors and started a resistance. The government sent out the military and police to guarantee the judicial security and profits of the company. More than a hundred people suffered from bullet wounds. After that the Bolivian government gave in and kicked that company out of the country.
Another example is The Coca-Cola Company which gained access to the main water supply in one of the third world countries. They were bottling water and selling it along with coca-cola. There wouldn't by anything suspicious about that if the water wasn't almost twice more expensive than coca-cola.
You can find more information in the very interesting movie Blue Gold – World Water Wars, which I personally recommend.
Questions
- Do you think that water can become the new oil and be a cause of military conflicts?
- Can you imagine that water is a limited and privatized resource and you have to pay for it?
Hi,
ReplyDeleteAnswering your 2nd question , I cannot believe that I am even more sure that it will NEVER happen. The politiciants would never agree for this kind of idea. But assuming that it would happen, it would cause a lot of deaths this time not because of cigaretts durgs alcohol but luck of water.
Regarding 1st question I think yes. I hope that united nation organisation would prevent this war.
Do you think that water can become the new oil and be a cause of military conflicts?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, but I hope it will never happen.
Can you imagine that water is a limited and privatized resource and you have to pay for it?
Yes I can, but it's rather scary idea.
But you pay for water so it's limited and water is a reason of military conflicts:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_over_Water
So what you want to imagine, hope or believe?
"I hope that united nation organisation would prevent this war."
I doubt it.
About the limited part. If I have a good memory privatizing water was shown in the newest Bond movie ;). Evil mr Greene wanted to suck Bolivian water in some huge underground water tanks and keep a monopoly on the country's water supply
ReplyDeleteDo you think that water can become the new oil and be a couse of military conflicts?
ReplyDeleteI hope that this kind of situation never take place. Unfortunately everything is possible, especially when it comes to politics and power.
Do you think that water can become the new oil and be a cause of military conflicts?
ReplyDeleteThere's always water or ice somewhere - on mountain tops or on the seas. There's no possibility to block access to these resources. So Mad Max scenario is not likely to happen
According to the second question:
ReplyDeleteWe have already had to pay for tap water. Our bills contain amount of water that we use. And if you use to drink bottled water it cost you also some money. For example: 30 times 2 zl (per 1,5l of mineral water) gives 60 zl per month. Yearly it is equal 720 zl...
First Q:
I HOPE that governments will never allow on this kind situation... But who nows what happen in the future...
and there's always more water in the sea :P it can't be very expensive, sea water is for free and sun is also for free
ReplyDeleteAll of us have to pay for the water. Even if you are not buying it in markets in bottles you have to pay for the water you are using during whole day - morning shower, doing laundry, washing the dishes, etc. So paying for the water is the fact. In some regions on our planet water IS some kind of oil - Africa -there is almost no water - I am sure that a lot of conflicts there, even if are not because of water - are because of money, for which you can buy it.
ReplyDelete