World running dry

[Windguy]

Alright Richard, especially after your last statement, how much have you saved up to buy water shares if they're traded?

It's a problem that ihas been coming to a head for a while unbeknownst to government officials who have had their head up their .......

But they are starting to do things right now to change it. Eg, Australia:One thing is the buy back of water credits from the Murray Darling.

I'd think I'd rather a policy dictated water rationing then a cost based corporate one any day. We have had many shortages and droughts causing level restrictions everywhere. Everybody is in the same boat, rather than the rich using whatever they feel like it and the poor not even able to afford a glass. The level restrictions work like a charm.

[Richard]

Since when do corporations cause drought?

[Cricket Tragic]

gerrit, use of water for bottled products is the least of the concerns about fresh water on the Earth. Personally, I can’t see the point in buying expensive bottled water, when you have perfectly good potable tap water to choose from, but there you go; lots of people want to waste their money doing this. Much water is used for irrigation and industry and even more fresh water in many parts of the world is contaminated by human waste. Schemes that clean water (i.e. water plants) and systems for recycling water would be a clear help. Strangely, corporations can be important players in getting these schemes going and will do so when there is sufficient value in the system. Otherwise, these schemes are like our desalination plants, subsidised by the taxpayer.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by Richard

Since when do corporations cause drought?

They don't, but an easy way to control population levels is to hand corporations everything. A few droughts and a few brownouts and corporations will be making a motza per litre while we kill off the people who can't afford the new prices. That will just leave the baby boomers alive, so the end of the planet will be one giant retirement village.

A corporation with a conscience? How about more likely a corporation that spends more advertising that fact before it really is!

[gerrit]

Originally Posted by Richard

My hamster died yesterday. It's the fault of evil corporations if you ask me!

In effect, the World Bank and big business are governing the governments of the world right now.

You can't see that?

[gerrit]

If President Bush signs the Great Lakes Pact, it will be next to impossible to overturn.

Corporations will be able to stave off any opposition in the courts of law.

Corporations have deep pockets.

They will win.

[William Djubin]

Hey Gerrit, a former World Bank VP agrees with you.
Former vice-president of the World Bank Ismail Serageldin said, "The wars of the 21st century will be fought over water. No fewer than 31 countries are considered to be in water-stressed areas. And by the year 2025, demand for fresh water will far outstrip global supply. We need to roll back agreements that give foreign-owned, for-profit water corporations the power to pry open markets around the world and restrict poor people’s access to water."

[Richard]

Who should own the water treatment and distribution infrastructure if not the private sector? It could be publically owned (as it used to be in the UK) but it is expensive to run (funded via taxes, so basically subsidised by the public) and difficult to get the government to make the necessary investment required to keep the system running.

If the private sector is not involved in water supply then who is going to pay to build the infrastructure and keep it running?

[gerrit]

Originally Posted by Richard

Who should own the water treatment and distribution infrastructure if not the private sector? It could be publically owned (as it used to be in the UK) but it is expensive to run (funded via taxes, so basically subsidised by the public) and difficult to get the government to make the necessary investment required to keep the system running.

If the private sector is not involved in water supply then who is going to pay to build the infrastructure and keep it running?

It's okay for the private sector to run things, but governments need to gain much more control over their decision-making. Politicians are sponsored by corporations. The media is sponsored by corporations. Who's interests do you think are being addressed?

( see the first post on the "Corporate Dictatorship" thread for an example of why the democratic system isn't working right now.)

[Richard]

Originally Posted by gerrit

It's okay for the private sector to run things, but governments need to gain much more control over their decision-making. Politicians are sponsored by corporations. The media is sponsored by corporations. Who's interests do you think are being addressed?

( see the first post on the "Corporate Dictatorship" thread for an example of why the democratic system isn't working right now.)

Which countries are you referring to? I know the UK water industry quite well and it operates nothing like that.