The film confronts a lot of concerns that most people may not even be aware of; or, conversely, you may be aware of one problem but unaware it is connected to the world water crisis. For example, developing countries are in debt; to make money to repay their debts, these countries focus their resources on cash crops, draining the water supply that should be feeding the citizens; they then sell their goods well below market value, which does little to improve their situations.
The film introduces several complex ideas and issues, while narrator Malcolm McDowell ties the segments together and gives the big picture explanation. Although this is a very informative approach, failing to fully explain certain terms or provide sufficient back-story can sometimes make it difficult to fully grasp the concepts being discussed. It’s also curious that Australia is the only largely populated continent not mentioned in the debate.
Nonetheless, it is impossible to miss the gist of what is being said: governments around the world are selling out their populaces by allowing the privatization of their water supplies; corporations, globalization and urbanization continue to be the key offenders; most efforts to move water for current use is shortsighted and does not account for what will happen when this good that no one is renewing runs out; Canada is a water-rich country but the United States is already tapping our supply uncontested.
The concluding message is the simplest. The water wars have begun and lives have been lost. But it’s not too late; we can still do something about it.
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