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HYDRODOLLARS THE WATER PRIVATISATION The trend towards privatising the world's water supplies and applying full-cost pricing policies means that millions of people are losing access to an already scarce resource. here once was a time when water fell freely from the clouds in the sky and bubbled from the springs in the hills...when the rivers, streams and lakes were full to the brim...when ancient underground aquifers flowed like great veins beneath the continents...when water nurtured our people, like babes sustained by their mother's milk. Today, water has become a scarce resource. Climate change has wreaked havoc with the weather, and the clouds no longer pour their tears of life upon our great forests. Vast agricultural lands suck rivers and streams dry. Our lakes are choked with dead fish which have been suffocated by industrial pollutants. The bowels of the Earth are constantly relieved of their waters, millions of years old. Experts predict that by the year 2025 our world will be suffering from the dramatic effects of hydrological poverty. There will be great disputes and even wars over water. "Failure to act could damage the planet irreversibly, unleashing a spiral of increased hunger, deprivation, disease and squalor."' Thankfully, action has been taken—at the highest level—to avert this apocalyptic night- mare. By declaring water a commodity—an economic good, to be measured, apportioned and regulated by corporations—the tide of disaster will be stemmed. This momentous decision has been made for us by a handful of transnational corporations and members of the United Nations system of organisations. This self-appointed group have mandated themselves the custodians of the world's water resources. They concede that the full-cost pricing of water, for domestic, agricultural and industrial use, will be a painful adjustment for humanity. But they argue that this is a small price to pay for water security, for their guardianship of our most precious resource. With the blessing of national governments, a vigorous and dynamic agenda to privatise the world's water supplies is being pursued. Traditional and indigenous rights are acknowledged, then cast aside. National sovereignty is affirmed, then eroded. Access to water—a God-given or a human right—is recognised, then suspended. The old economy has been fuelled by oil. The new economy will be fuelled by hydrodollars. A globalised trade in water is being created’ and we, the people, are to become the consumers in this multitrillion-dollar market. This article examines the unbelievable reductionist thinking, social ruthlessness, arro- gant ignorance and alienating mindset of a group of elite planners and transnational corpo- rations spearheading the drive to commodify our water. THE ZERO HOUR FOR WATER Academics, scientists, politicians and hydrological experts are today in agreement that the world faces a grave water crisis. Using mathematical modelling,’ they have been able to predict that by 2025 at least 40 per cent of the projected world population of 7.2 billion may face serious problems with agriculture, industry or human health if they rely solely on natural endowments of fresh water. Severe water shortages could strike particular regions of water-rich countries such as the USA and China.‘ Already, 26 countries have more people than their water supplies can adequately sup- port. Tensions are mounting over scarce water in the Middle East and could ignite during this decade. Competition for water is intensifying between city dwellers and farmers around Beijing, New Delhi, Phoenix and other water-short areas.° All the evidence points to the first quarter of the 21st century being the "zero hour" for water in some parts of the world. The possibility of a water scarcity has been raised by Susan Bryce © 2000-2001 Publisher/Editor Australian Freedom & Survival Guide PO Box 66 Kenilworth, Qld 4574, Australia E-mail: sbryce@squirrel.com.au Website: www.squirrel.com.au/~sbryce/ APRIL — MAY 2001 NEXUS #25 www.nexusmagazine.com