Coleridge’s famous water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink is set to become a universal truism like most other things Coleridge had uttered. The world is fast running out of potable water and there is not much anyone can do. Of course, different ministers of ever warring nations are making the right noises; they all finally concede that global warming and extreme climatic conditions are reducing water levels in countries like Malawi, Bangladesh and Sudan. The UK Independent, for example, reports Gareth Thomas, the International Development minister of UK writing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanding the latter take urgent steps to redress the situation or be prepared for future wars between those nations having water abundantly and those which have their water resources rapidly depleting. The UK we presume have abundant water resources and will be only too happy to help others if only she does not have to part with her own share of water. The whole report is written in a way which cleverly locates the root of this water-problem in over-usage and unrestricted supply of water in some areas. The favorite bashing boy, global warming is also roundly trounced.

But a more sinister and insidious source is not mentioned. There are European and North American bottled water companies who are reputed to have vested interests in the world’s fresh water bodies. The former wants to see the end of drinking-water supply in the world. This makes business sense for them; otherwise the packaged water industry cannot thrive and expand. The Third World unfortunately for these MNCs, still survives on fresh water. It needs no telling that these companies are owned by First World entrepreneurs who are hardly bothered whether the poor of this world survive or not.

So is there any way to prevent this disaster? Pat comes the bureaucratic answer. Tax water, meter it and ration it. Pat comes the answer of the environmentalists. Harvest rain water. Educate the common man about the value of not wasting water, the importance of conserving water. But nobody has an answer to the fact that when billions go hungry, are uneducated and already suffer from severe periodical droughts, what more can they do to protect water? How does one stop international packaged water companies from tacitly encouraging the destruction of fresh water resources? May be for once it is right that the First World is somewhat interested in helping the Third World save its water-resources. At least, the fear of having to share water with the rest of the world will goad European nations into constructive action. We might also add that global warming which the Europeans and the Americans blame for most natural disasters in the world are caused to the largest extent by the US. We wait with baited breathe for Gordon Brown to bring the American people and the US Presidents past and future to book for not adhering to the Kyoto protocol. Once the white-world recants, we will have reduced global warming which in turn will make wars over water the stuff of science fiction.

Source: UK Independent

Images: Science Daily & Database Deptan