Sunday, February 27, 2011

Blue Gold Commentary

Water is the most abundant compound on Earth. It covers 70% of the Earth's surface, yet only 30% is safe to drink, and that number seems to be dwindling. The human body requires 1 to 7 liters of water per day to survive. And to think that humans have resorted to fighting over natural resources. The film Blue Gold was a wonderful depiction of the corruption behind the business of water.

Across the world we are polluting and drying out our natural sources of water. We are diminishing the supply from aquifers, drying out lakes, and sending fresh water to the ocean. One good example of our destruction is Owen's lake. What was once a large full lake is now a dry death zone because we were taking the water faster than it was able to replenish.

The government is particularly useless when it comes to issues with water. Developing countries have turned to massive cash crops, which are draining water supplies. In many countries tap water and indoor plumbing isn't even an option, and the people are left to resort to the disease ridden river water. In some countries in Africa bottled water is more expensive than Coca-Cola. On top of all that, big businessmen like George Bush are in the process of making plans to take from other natural sources, and switching business from oil to water.

Water has become so inaccessible and so expensive, at what point does it turn from a necessity into a luxury?

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