Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit

180 Pages·2002·56.016 MB·English

by  Vandana Shiva

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,RIVATIZATION,
POttUTION, AND PROF!T

Praise for the Author
"Shiva...has devoted her life to fighting for the rights of the ordi-
nary people of India...her fierce intellect and her disarmingly
friendly, accessible manner have made her a valuable advocate
for people all over the developing wodd."
Maga{ne
-Ms.
"A leading thinker who has eloquently blended her views on the
environment, agriculture, spirirualiry, and women's rights into a
powerful philosophy."
Rcader
-(Jsns
"Shiva is a burst of creative energy and intellectual power."
Progrusiue
-The
"One of the rpodd's most prominent radical scientists."
Gaardian
-The
Praise for Books by the Author
Stolen Harvest The Hijacking
of the Global Food Supply
(South End Press, 2000)
"Stolen Harvest is recommended reading for all who are inter-
ested in genetic engineering and commercial agticulture and the
role they should have in feeding the wodd. Shiva's claims are
well-documented and call for careful consideration by all."
-S us taina b h Co n m ani ties Reuiew
"An important contribution to ongoing debates about."timely
and contentious issues. The book will be of interest to a diverse
audience, including those concerned with development and food
security issues, the trade-environment conflict, and North-South
relations in a globalizing era."
in Deaelopment Stildier
-Progress
"More than a searing indictment of the growing corporati zing of
agriculture, Shiva's book is a call to arms. She encourages readers
to join the growing food fight and...profiles a number of citizen
groups who are doing iust that, successfully."
Slndicate
-L-4Tines
"stolen Harvest is a passionate, articulate, highly recommended
wake up call to the public."
-ll/ i 5 6 6 77 s i s B o o kw atch
Biopiracy: The Plunder
of Nature and Knowledge
(South End Press, 1997)
Named a "Break-Through Book" on Intellectual Property by
Lingaa Franca.
"A path-breaking work on one of the most important issues of
the coming century,..Vandana Shiva's inspiring book is a clarion
call...[that] should be widely read and discussed by everyone
concerned with the fate of the Earth."
Rifkin, author of
-Jeremy
The Biotech Centary: Hamestingthe Gene andRemaking the lY/orld
WATER WARS
Privatization, lution
Pol
and Profit
by Vandana Shiva
South End Press Cambridge, MA
Copyright @ 2002 by Vandana Shiva.
Any properly foomoted quotation of up to 500 sequential words
may be used without permission, as long as the total number of
words quoted does not exceed 2,000. For longer quotations or for a
gre ter number of total words, please write to South End Press for
permission.
Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Printing
Libtary of Congress ConttolNumber: 2002100340
South End Press, T Brookline Street, #1, Cambridge, MI.02139-4146
www. southendPress'org
0605040302 123456
CONTENTS
Prcface lx
Introduction: Converting Abundance into Scarciry 1
1" Water Rights: The State, the Market, the Community 1'9
2 lWater Crisis
Climate Change and the 39
3 The Colonization of Rivers: Dams and Water'Wars 53
4 The World Bank, the \)fTO, and Corporate
Control Over'Water 87
5 Food and \Water 107
6
Converting Scarcity into Abundance 119
7
The Sacred Waters 131,
Appendix 14t
Index 1,47
About the Author 158
About South End Press t59
Related Tides 160

Thh book is dedicated to the peoph of Tehi ard Bhagirathi Vallel, wbose
homes are beingdrowned blTehi Dam, which h aho reuersingthepenance of
Bhagirath.
$7aters, you are the ones that bring us the life force.
Help us to find nourishment,
So that \ve may look upon great joy.
Let us share in the most delicious sap that you have,
As if you are loving mothers,
Let us go straight to the house ofthe one,
For whom you waters give us life and give us birth.
For our well-being, let the goddesses be an aid to us,
The waters be for us to drink.
Let them cause well-being and health to flow over us.
Mistresses of all the things that are chosen,
Rulers over all peoples,
The waters are the ones I beg for a cure.
Waters-yield your cure as an arrnor for my body,
So that I may see the sun for a long time.
!72s615-s21ry away all of this that has gone bad in me.
Either that I have done in malicious deceit,
Or whatever lie I have sworn to,
I here sort the waters today.
'We have joined with their sap,
Oh Agni, full of moisture,
Come and flood me with splendor!
Ancient Rig Veda Hymn, lVater of Life
-The
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