I would like for each of us to stop and think for a second, what is the world without water? Of course the first thing that comes to mind is death, disease and starvation. Aside from that, I would like to say that everyone has the power to make a difference in this world. So as I take you through this journey of water sharing, remember that it’s for the better of the people.
One thing that strikes me is how much this world is turning towards destruction. As more and more major companies in the U.S privatize water, I can only stop and say, “we got to put a stop to this!” Instead of sitting there and watching the world burn, we must make it known in our workplace. My plan in this conflict is to start by making donation boxes that would catch people’s attention. Putting a powerful image on the cover of the box is one way to make it happen. Then, at the end of the donation period, the store with the most donation would be granted to go to a concert. The focus will eventually fall into people feeling bad for the poor. Making them wanting to donate.
Torbi, a small village in northern Kenya have been lucky enough to get help from a Christian rock band, Jars of Clay. They built a catchment system to collect fresh water in the desert. Moreover, the ability to start a mission is hard enough, but with great passion comes great success. In 2001, lead vocalist Dan Haseltine visited Malawi and saw villagers drinking dirty water from mud pools. This inspired Haseltine to start the Blood:Water Mission. Haseltine says, “Not only is clean water vital in 3rd world countries, but it helps the communities a lot. It also decreases HIV/AIDS rate (Academic Search Premier).
Companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestle use Michigan well-water to suck up millio...
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...ce to make a change, if the companies don’t take immediate action. After all, we all are humans and need water to survive. No bell rings truer than the one that reaches out to people and gives a helping hand.
Works Cited
Christianity Today. "CLEAN WATER, CLEAN BLOOD." Jars of Clay is well on the way to bringing fresh water to 1,000 African communities Vol. 53.11 (2009): 33-34. Academic Search Premier. Database. 25 Nov 2013.
Interlandi, Jeneen, and Ryan Tracy. “THE NEW OIL.” Newsweek 10/18/2010, Vol. 156 Issue 16, p40-46. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Samson, Kevin. "The Privatization of Water: Nestlé Denies that Water is a Fundamental Human Right." Global Research. Global Research, 27 Jun 2013. Web. 27 Nov 2013.
VanOverbeke, Dustin. "Water Privatization Conflicts." academic.evergreen.edu. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, n.d. Web. 27 Nov 2013.
Water privatization gives private entities control over water and its systems. Barlow believes ownership over water is a breach of human rights. This article does two things successfully: it raises awareness of an important problem and communicates exactly how the problem will affect the world. Barlow’s argument uses pathos and logos to push her ideals to her audience. However, while her use of appeals stimulates, it fails to finish with a final solution to solve the previously posed problem.
No one argues that food, which is also essential to life, should be distributed and owned by the government. If we recognize water as a human right rather than a commodity, I wouldn’t think water provided by the government would be the best alternative. The Private industry would be better suited it can carry out a service at a lower cost than the government could. If water management is a company’s central job it can affect “economies of scale, provide more capital for efficiency investments, better technology, and fewer but better trained employees.” (10) Some regulatory oversight if needed could have a say in the price of water similar to natural gas and electricity. A private company would also have fewer restrictions when it comes to making the necessary investment rather than a governmental entity would when looking at infrastructure.
Water has long been a controversy in countless places worldwide and Colorado is no exception. The water rights in Colorado involve different stages within the Prior Appropriation Law; the senior and junior water rights. Senior water rights are privileges that were the first to be issued on unappropriated streams in Colorado and are to be filled before the junior water right holders. Junior water rights are similar to senior water rights, but are filled after the senior water holders take their allotted amount (Wolfe Prior Appropriation Law). The water in Colorado is just that; Colorado’s water, owned by the people and restricted by the state. However, Colorado is required by law to send over 30 million acre – feet of water to seven western states (“Missouri River”). An acre – foot is “The quantity of water required to fill one acre with one foot of water and is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,850 gallons” (“Missouri River”). The State enforces all water laws in Colorado even though they are not straightforward and are riddled with loopholes. These water laws came into effect “As early as 1879” (Hundley, Jr. 53). In the laws, there are even more constraints and idiosyncrasies including; owning ground water, owning surface water, senior rights and junior rights, and the use and reuse of rainwater or graywater. Water users in Colorado need to familiarize themselves with the laws and regulations involving water in order to receive the allotted water and the reasoning behind that number.
People need oil for daily life and work. Since World War II, oil has caused many serious problems in the United States and throughout the world. Remarkably, economic and social problems were heightened by the emerging energy crisis. By 1974, the United States gained a third of its oil by importing from the Middle East. James Oakes, et al.
The most important benefit of water changed in Uganda is through Dr. Christopher Opio’s actions. First of all, global citizenship is based on the population, it combines food, water and electric which are the three things
“Don’t waste that water! Kids in Africa don’t even have water to drink!” Almost every American has heard this saying before. We have heard this because there are water shortages in third world countries like Africa, as seen in the movie “Blue Gold”. But why have we developed this notion that there are only water shortages in third world countries? When in reality, there is a shortage of water right here in our home country. The Colorado River’s water is high in demand as it serves millions of people, powers industries, and is home to all different kinds of wildlife. The Colorado River will not be able to keep up with the increasing demand of water and soon enough the river will go dry. Organizations like the Colorado River Water Users Association are trying to change the way that the water is used and adjust how it is managed. The Colorado River is drying up and the western states are running out of water, however, public policy is trying to regulate and preserve the Colorado River to make it more sustainable in the future.
In the documentary, Blue Gold: World Water Wars, it follows several people and countries world-wide in their fight for fresh water. The film exposes giant corporations as they bully poorer developing countries to privatize their own supply of fresh water. As a result of the privatization, corporations make a hefty profit while the developing countries remain poor. Blue Gold: World Water Wars also highlights the fact that Wall Street investors are going after the desalination process and mass water export schemes. This documentary also shows how people in more developed nations are treating the water with much disregard, and not taking care of our finite supply. We are polluting, damming, and simply wasting our restricted supply of fresh water at an alarming speed. The movie also recognizes that our quick overdevelopment of housing and agriculture puts a large strain on our water supply and it results in desertification throughout the entire earth. The film shows how people in more industrialized nations typically take water for granted, while others in less industrialized nations have to fight for every drop.
Water privatization is putting water rights into private corporations. In developing countries privatization is acceptable but in developed countries water should be left to the public. In the developed countries like the US, France and Europe water is controlled by the public and private companies or corporations. Water remains a function of municipal government in 90% of cities around the US and Suez Environment and Veolia Water are the top two water companies.2 The consensus throughout the US is that water should be the publics responsibility because water in privately owned water facilities is more expensive and in some cases below standards and less desirable.6 People in the US want to keep their water in their hands because they feel better knowing that people like them control and consume the same water as they do and not people who do not. Putting water in the control of private companies has some less desirable effects on the public. These organizations have a profit motive with incentives that cause them to avoid conservation and efficiency measures since profits depend upon volu...
“How can you buy or sell the sky-the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. Yet we do not own the freshness of air or the sparkle of the water. How can you buy them from us? We will decide in our time” (Chief Seattle: 1855). In the Documentary “Flow – for the love of water” it visualizes the global crisis we face on Mother’s Earth as it pertains to the diminishing of fresh water. The Documentary portrays along with the help of experts that this global crises is affecting each and every one of us in today’s society including animals. The film shows us that water is constantly being wasted, polluted, and privatized by big co operations. Prime examples of these greedy companies were mentioned in the film such as Nestle, Thames, Suez, Vivendi, Coca Cola and Pepsi.
Drinking water is essential and indispensable to life itself possible on the face of the earth, it is much more than a well, a resource, a commodity, drinking water is specifically a human right of first order and an element essential national sovereignty itself and, most likely, whoever controls the water control the economy and life in the not so distant future.
Another problem for people of Africa is clear access to clean water. Clean drinking water is very rare for the people of Africa. Unclean water and sanitation problem leads to many diseases in African countries. Main problem which occurs due to unclean water is child morality. Around 2000 children’s die from diarrhoea which spread due to poor sanitatio...
Water is pure and a transparent liquid that is vital for all humans, plants and animals on the planet. In the United States, people have access to clean drinking water and clean sanitation systems, not like in other parts of the world where clean safe drinking water is getting scarce. A lot of people don’t have access to it, and many regions are suffering severe drought. Yet, humans take it for granted, they don’t appreciate that a reliable clean supply of water is essential to human health, economy and agricultural prosperity. Having clean and safe potable water is a right and not a privilege. Some individuals don’t appreciate the advantage of having clean water available at
One main causes of water scarcity is water mismanagement worldwide. Water mismanagement has become a crisis of governance that will impact heavily ...
As of this year, nearly 1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water and 2.6 billion live without adequate water sanitation. The McDonald's down the street, however, will sell you a 1/3 pounder burger for only 150 gallons. Changes in lifestyle can easily reduce this number and help not only save water, but money as well. Currently, with our diminishing water supply, one of the main goals of humanitarian organizations is ensuring that everyone has the right and equality to water. With global access to water, it reduces the responsibility for political tension between countries fighting to literally stay alive.
Water is an essential nutrient that our body requires every day. Without water human life cannot be sustained. Water deprivation kills faster than lack of any other nutrient. People do not think of water as a nutrient and don’t realize the important role of water in the body functions.