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WATER SUSTAINS
LIFE: without it, humans cannot survive for more
than a few days. And yet this precious fluid is
increasingly politicized as the debates about the
world's water supply gain force. Who owns water?
Who pays for the pumps and pipelines--and the
leaks? What does it mean to local cultures and
economies? The control and ownership of water
itself, and of the many organizations which govern
its use, are increasingly the focus of
international concern.
This guide explores the many roles water plays in
human life--in history, health, transport,
recreation, rituals, economic systems, and
politics. Maggie Black shows clearly how water is
distributed and by what technologies; she explains
irrigation, agriculture and land use, and the
effect of the profit motive when water becomes a
commodity. Readers will learn that the defence of
water rights in communities across the world is set
to become explosive. Will water wars be the next
step?
MAGGIE BLACK is an
expert on water and environmental issues. She has
travelled widely in her work for UNICEF, Oxfam, and
other NGOs.
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