Water Wars

Blue Gold: World Water Wars, was an informative movie that explored various aspects of water issues around the world. Based off the book, written by Maude Barlow and Tony Clark, Water Wars first investigates what our current water problems are and how they affect the human race on a global scale. Next, the movie examines how both corporations and politics influence water rights. The documentary then researches water wars, as a basic human rights violation and finally looks at possible solutions to this global water crisis.

Water is essential for life. Without water, we would die within days. Early human civilizations were founded on rivers- without them, society would not have advanced and we would still be primitive hunters and gathers.

The land is being deforested, eroding away and then hardening to a level that water can no longer enter the ground, turning it into a desert. Besides the obvious environmental harm that desertification does, it also negatively affects humans who are relying more on groundwater for their source of water. We can only estimate how much groundwater there is left but water tables are quickly sinking. Sinkholes are appearing more often and whole cities have disappeared due to this sinking (Ubar). Aquifers are being depleted, it is estimated that we are pumping 15 times more than what we are retuning. Many farmers rely on this water for irrigation, if these aquifers were to dry up and not replenish in time, we would have a massive food shortage on our hands.

The movie also shows the destructiveness of dams. Water, such a precious resource, is being used for energy (hydroelectricity). But, we need water for more than energy. The water that is being held in the dams is essential to downstream ecosystems. Nutrients and sediments are held back, and this actually causes more erosion downstream. The nutrients in the surface water dies and creates an oxygen-less environment. This leads to water quality issues and releases methane (which contributes to climate change). Dams are the “clogging of the arteries” in the world’s heart

War over water has been going on for centuries, in fact, the word ‘rivals’ come from the word ‘river’, after those who fought over rivers. The US has not seen large water wars since 1934 when a group protested a new dam being created and the national guard was eventually called. However, in India, they are very common. Farmers fight each other over the Kaveri River, at one point the fighting led to a kidnapping of a Bollywood star. Many confuse these wars as religious wars but they are actually fought over resources-particularly water. The most impactful example the movie shows is that of the protests in Bolivia. Water had been privatized there, and the government enforced that privatization very strictly. No one could get their own water, including rainwater, without breaking the law. Water prices were very high and protests occurred against the company. The government protected the company with vigor, and when the protests turned violent police killed hundreds of innocent civilians. Eventually, through the hard work of the protestors, Bolivia ended their contract with the company and water was free. This was very severe, however, violence surrounding water isn’t uncommon. In fact, many believe that if we map out where there will be water shortages we will also map out where social unrest will