Blue Gold—Declare War on Companies Stealing the World's Water Resources: Declare War on Companies Stealing the World's Water Resources

Author: Maude Barlow
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: "Blue Gold" not only highlights the predicament we face in the issue of water scarcity but also provides the necessary information and strategies to enable us to fight effectively for water protection both domestically and globally. In this persuasive and passionate declaration, the author clearly states: We must become responsible guardians of the world's freshwater resources. "Is water a basic 'need' or a basic 'right' for humanity?" Freshwater is rapidly becoming a privilege for the rich and a tool for profit. The world's most fundamental and indispensable resource—water—is gradually disappearing. In fact, global water scarcity could potentially lead to the most severe ecological, economic, and political crises of the 21st century. Who is making this problem worse? Multinational corporations. In "Blue Gold," Maude Barlow, a citizen movement activist and best-selling author, and Tony Clark, document the rapidly expanding new industry—privatization and commodification of water—supported by international trade agreements. They describe how multinational corporations, including speculative capital, heavy industry, bottled water merchants, and the two giants of the soft drink industry, are exploiting the world's water sources, packaging them, and selling them back to us at high prices. Their actions are damaging the global ecosystem and harming community interests. "Blue Gold" not only highlights the predicament we face in the issue of water scarcity but also provides the necessary information and strategies to enable us to fight effectively for water protection both domestically and globally. In this persuasive and passionate declaration, the author clearly states: We must become responsible guardians of the world's freshwater resources.