World Water Wars

Fresh water resource conflicts and wars will be the to the future what oil wars are to the present. In fact, conflict over fresh water resources is already emerging, coinciding with the oil wars.

The 4th World Water Forum scheduled to take place March 16th-22nd in Mexico City is sure to draw some attention from anti-privatization & anti-globalization activists. Keep an eye on this one, folks.

*Also See: BOTTLED WATER: Pouring Resources Down the Drain:* The global consumption of bottled water reached 154 billion liters (41 billion gallons) in 2004, up 57 percent from the 98 billion liters consumed five years earlier. Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing-producing unnecessary garbage and consuming vast quantities of energy. Although in the industrial world bottled water is often no healthier than tap water, it can cost up to 10,000 times more. At as much as $2.50 per liter ($10 per gallon), bottled water costs more than gasoline.

MEXICO CITY, Feb 1 (Tierramérica) – There are many who predict that future wars will be over water supplies, but the wait won’t be long for witnessing some intense skirmishes, expected in March at the 4th World Water Forum between those who favour and those who oppose privatisation of this essential resource.

Every day around the world, 2,000 to 5,000 people die from causes related to water shortages or poor water quality, and one billion people do not have ready access to water. The investments needed to ensure universal access are huge, and although governments assume most of the costs, private sector participation in water services is growing exponentially.

The World Water Forum in Mexico is the fourth, following those held in Morocco (1997), Netherlands (2000) and Japan (2003). They are organised by the World Water Council, created in the mid-1990s by representatives from the business, academic, scientific communities and civil society.

Among those founders are former officials from the World Bank and multinational corporate executives from the likes of France’s Suez Group. Their presence is an irritant to non-governmental organisations that are staunchly opposed to the idea of water being turned into a commodity of the private sector.

These…

Posted by ShiftShapers
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