Blue Gold: The Battle Against Corporate Theft of the World's Water - Hardcover

Barlow, Maude; Clarke, Tony

3.9

320 ratings by Goodreads

9781853839375: Blue Gold: The Battle Against Corporate Theft of the World's Water

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 185383937X ISBN 13: 9781853839375

Publisher: Routledge, 2002

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International tensions around water are rising in many of the world's most volatile regions. The policy recipe pursued by the West, and imposed on governments elsewhere, is to pass control over water to private interests, which simply accelerates the cycle of inequality and deprivation. California, as well as China, South Africa, Mexico and countries on every continent already face a crisis. This book exposes the enormity of the problem, the dangers of the proposed solution and the alternative, which is to recognize access to water as a fundamental human right, not dependent on ability to pay.

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Review:

'[A] well-researched book [that] provides a sobering, in-depth look at the growing scarcity of fresh water and the increasing privatization and corporate control of this non-renewable resource.' Library Journal 'After reading this non-fiction account of the globe's shrinking water supply, it is hard not to think how privileged we are to enjoy simple morning showers, a glass of water, or one-hour drives to the beach.' Winnipeg Free Press 'To describe a book on water as 'refreshing' may be a clich, but the directness and commitment that springs from these pages is both engaging and motivating.' New Agriculturist Online 'In Blue Gold, activists Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke offer an angry and persuasive account of how this (false sense of security) has damaged the environment and how the privatization of once-public resources threatens to exacerbate the problem.' Business Week 'This book points out the need for further research into water management, institutional and policy issues, principles and practices.' Natural Resources Forum 'Blue Gold provides an alternative viewpoint to that presented by many international institutions. The book is a must for campaginers against privatization of water services and makes interesting reading for anyone working in water and sanitation services.' Water Lines

Synopsis:

Global water consumption is doubling every 20 years, much faster than population growth. Water supplies, such as the huge Ogallala aquifer under the American mid-west, on which the country's grain basket depends, are drying up or being polluted, and international tensions around water are rising inexorably in many of the world's most volatile regions. The policy recipe pursued by the West, and imposed on governments elsewhere, is to pass control over water to private interests - which just accelerates the cycle of inequality and deprivation. California, as well as China, Mexico and countries on every continent already face a crisis. This account explains the enormity of the problem, the dangers of the proposed "solution", and the alternative, which is to recognize access to water as a fundamental human right, not dependent on ability to pay. The book tells the frightening story of the commodification of water and its consequences. It illuminates the issues and starkly identifies the choice we have to make: to become responsible custodians, managing and distributing water in the public interest.

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