Water Day - Stop Privatization of Water -Blue Gold

We need a bit of perspective on water and private companies.  Often local authorities have created the problems through corruption, stupid pricing that bears little relation to the cost or scarcity, a huge lack of both future planning and investments.  Private companies are usually far more efficient in the way they allocate resources, they invest in the future, and they are mindful that their shareholdwers are watching them all the time.  Unlike local authorities where politicians have their fingers in the honeypot.

It is essential that poor people have access to permanent water supplies.  that is the only way they are to get cheap water (it can be subsidised by the state too).  At present, under ocal authorities it is often the middle classes that get cheap water.  Surely that cannot be allowed to continue!

First of all I will applaud Sara for bringing up this story and agent for catching it and commenting.. it is a horrific development and I am afraid that this fear will become a reality in the near future.
Re subcontinent the time is now, that India and Pakistan settle the Kashmir dispute which is not just about a peace of land but it is about over a water resource that originates from Kashmir and caters for over a billion population of the sub continent.

Former Pakistani president Musharraf  highlighted that issue in his last visit in India in his speech organized by some forum.  But sadly the participants didn’t take notice or picked up on that point.

I have noticed few stories in the past few years where some major multinational companies have been secretly acquiring water resources. The involvement of IMF is even more frightening for the third world economically failed countries like Pakistan who can be forced to sign contracts and deals by IMF that will suit companies like Nestle and Pepsi etc. During my last job at a very major US company (I wont give the name) my UK based finance director during a meeting said with a smug on his face that the company was spending millions of dollars of spare cash in India in the water resources to “safeguard” its future interests. What really made me feel disgusted was the way he mentioned India as if it was an item or a card from a deck that would be useful for the company.

I think once these companies will uncover their true face it will be too late and the consequences will be so unimaginable that our  present time with Taliban would look like a joke.

Gaia all over again. 

Water needs to be rationed in the western world, being the most abusive and wasteful of this commodity. 50 of recycle water per capita tops and 5 litter of drinking water per capita tops. 

Private water can not be since it is a natural resource  and can not even belong a to nation per say. African in Africa have as much right and say in the water debate in North America then North American do. 

Water along with Air is a product of Gaia not humanity and some one should start representing the wild life here against Human as well. 

The UN will legislate have to legislate water soon. And speak up for those that can not.

Coca Cola is more often then not blamed wrongfully due to its multi national status. However Coke or other such as Nestle should not ever have a hold on water nor be able to control it either.

I am always shocked at how people take clean water for granted.  If we think a credit crisis has implications, wait until it is the supply of water that dries up.

Water isn't a right, but a need. I don't mean to split hairs or disagree about the utter importance of water and people's need for access to water.

I don't like privatization, either.

Rights and needs: we are both born with. You can't take away my right to Free Speech, except in jail. You don't hve to "provide" it, but you do, as a government, have to honor it.

But water, housing, clean air,medical care: I need them, and, in a certain sense, I am entitled to them, but the reality is that my need for housing is something I have to provide for from my own efforts, with others, and the same with clean air and water.

RES PUBLICA: the things of the people. This is what the Romans created for their people. It was an entity to replace the need for kings. The Romans had deposed their kings.

A lot of capitalists don't get it. They appear to want to have everything be a commodity, be in control of the commodity and make money.

"Let the Public Be Damned". - Motto of the Robber Barons.

"Gaia all over again. "

Thanks for bringing that up..! It was actually forgotten by me for  a long time ...!It is a beautiful concept though.

.Agent.

Superb job with this. For those just tuning in, check out the World Water Day feature channel.

Wonderful work, Sara, for pulling this feature together to alert all of us to be judicious about water resources, which is fundamental to our lives and every living thing on this earth.