Blue Gold Water Wars Study Questions

Blue
Gold Water Wars Study Questions

1

The
world is fast losing water because of disrupted water cycles emanating from
global climate change. The world will not run out of water, but there will be a
severe shortage of usable (freshwater) in the future. Human activities such as
industrialization and deforestation have significantly disrupted the water
cycle affecting the rain patterns and freshwater availability (Hossain et al.
27). Scientists warn of consequences in the future.

The
reality of the water cycle in modern society with roads, dams, overuse, and
privatization of water as a commodity to be bought and sold has contributed to
the water shortage. Some individuals or organizations have confiscated and
privatized crucial water sources or diverted water to private dams, creating a
scarcity of the resource. The goals have been to monetize water resulting in a
water crisis among humans and animals who cannot access water following the
privatization of water reservoirs.

2

Rich
countries and wealthy communities have an abundance of water. In the global
south, poor and developing countries do not have water leaders to wars and
conflicts. However, the reality, the developed nations, and regions are not
endowed with more water than the developing regions. Some developing or
poverty-stricken regions have more water sources than developed nations. The
difference is the tools the two regions use to and make
them accessible to their populace (Chellaney). Developing nations face more
political and social conflict in the struggle to control water resources. These
regions often misappropriate their priorities, making it challenging to exploit
available water resources. On the other hand, the developed regions have invested
more technologies to increase the accessibility of water, reducing possible
conflicts for the crucial resource.

3

Water privatization refers to
corporations purchasing or operating public water utilities, especially in
urban areas such as municipalities. The measure is always perceived as a
solution to addressing the problem of water shortage and aging water systems in
urban areas. However, critics argue that this move does more harm than good
because of the exorbitant rates individuals pay to access water.

4

Individuals
have advocated for establishing foundations such as Ryan’s Wells, which get
water to areas that don’t have it (Byker et al. 48). There have been public
protests against privatization by the three world water corporations. Activists
have filed lawsuits challenging privatization. The public has also employed acts
of defiance to reject the bottling of water. Individuals are learning to use
water sparingly and conserve crucial this resource. There has been increased
public inquiry about the availability and purity of water.

5

Privatization
of water leads to scarcity of this resource in the community. It is worth
participating in public debates and movements advocating for conservation and
the increased availability of freshwater. Allowing corporations to privatize
water allows them to control and monetize a crucial resource that every person
should access freely.

6

Availability of usable water is one
of the core things in human existence across communities. Shortage or scarcity
of water emanating from privatization affects every person. A society without
accessible clean water risks poverty and other effects such as children
dropping out of school, especially in developing countries which affect a
countrys GDP (Hossain et al.). The water shortage problem is not confined to a
specific society because every individual needs water for survival. Besides,
industrial activities such as food processing require fresh water.

7

I will sensitize my community on the
importance of conserving water and increasing the measures to mitigate climate
change. I will collaborate with the environmental protection agency in tracking
the water use within the community. Besides, I can also encourage residents of
my community to minimize the water used in irrigation.