Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the world running out of?
What is the world running out of?
Fresh water
What does the use of pesticides in agriculture lead to?
What does the use of pesticides in agriculture lead to?
Birth defects in Mexico; fertility declines throughout Europe
In laboratory tests, what is Atrazine linked with?
In laboratory tests, what is Atrazine linked with?
- Chemical castration in male frogs (correct)
- High sperm counts
- Increased fertility in humans
- Ovarian cancer (correct)
Where is Atrazine legal and where is it banned?
Where is Atrazine legal and where is it banned?
In La Paz, Bolivia, what was diverted into the river?
In La Paz, Bolivia, what was diverted into the river?
What are poor countries being forced to do to their water systems?
What are poor countries being forced to do to their water systems?
According to Julian Perez, what was the result of water privatization in the city of El Alto?
According to Julian Perez, what was the result of water privatization in the city of El Alto?
According to Jim Schultz, what are most of the childhood deaths in Bolivia linked to?
According to Jim Schultz, what are most of the childhood deaths in Bolivia linked to?
Why did violence erupt in Cochabamba after 1999?
Why did violence erupt in Cochabamba after 1999?
Who forced water privatization in Bolivia?
Who forced water privatization in Bolivia?
According to Oscar Olivera, what is at stake in the water wars?
According to Oscar Olivera, what is at stake in the water wars?
What did the Bolivian government do in 2007?
What did the Bolivian government do in 2007?
Why are people drinking and using unclean water from the river in South Africa?
Why are people drinking and using unclean water from the river in South Africa?
How do poor people in South Africa get tap water?
How do poor people in South Africa get tap water?
How do poor people in South Africa pay for tap water?
How do poor people in South Africa pay for tap water?
What did people in Chatsworth do in reaction to electricity and water cutoff?
What did people in Chatsworth do in reaction to electricity and water cutoff?
What does Jean-Luc Touly say about the progressive language the water companies use?
What does Jean-Luc Touly say about the progressive language the water companies use?
What does Maude Barlow say is just common sense?
What does Maude Barlow say is just common sense?
What did Ashok Gadgil come up to provide safe drinking water in Bomminampadu, India?
What did Ashok Gadgil come up to provide safe drinking water in Bomminampadu, India?
Where has most of the past aid investment in water safety gone in India?
Where has most of the past aid investment in water safety gone in India?
What days are ending?
What days are ending?
According to Erik Olson, how many people at the FDA are responsible for regulating bottled water?
According to Erik Olson, how many people at the FDA are responsible for regulating bottled water?
How much does the UN estimate it would cost to provide safe drinking water to the entire planet?
How much does the UN estimate it would cost to provide safe drinking water to the entire planet?
How much is spent on bottled water every year?
How much is spent on bottled water every year?
What is the World Water Council (WWC)?
What is the World Water Council (WWC)?
According to Jim Schultz, what does debt become for poor countries?
According to Jim Schultz, what does debt become for poor countries?
According to Maude Barlow, what did the WWC understand about water?
According to Maude Barlow, what did the WWC understand about water?
According to Vandana Shiva, what is the Ganges river symbolic and central to in India?
According to Vandana Shiva, what is the Ganges river symbolic and central to in India?
How is the function of the Ganges river under threat to the people of India according to Vandana Shiva?
How is the function of the Ganges river under threat to the people of India according to Vandana Shiva?
In the 20th century, what changed the way that humans utilized water resources?
In the 20th century, what changed the way that humans utilized water resources?
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Study Notes
Water Scarcity
- Freshwater resources are depleting globally, raising concerns about accessibility.
- Water privatization has led to significant social and health issues in various regions.
Pesticides and Health
- Use of pesticides in agriculture is linked to birth defects in Mexico and declining fertility in Europe.
- Atrazine has been associated with severe health risks, such as "chemical castration" in male frogs and increased rates of cancer.
Atrazine Regulations
- Atrazine is banned in the entire European Union but remains legal in the United States.
Water Quality Issues in Bolivia
- La Paz, Bolivia, has experienced diversion of raw sewage into rivers, leading to health crises.
- Water privatization in El Alto resulted in the exclusion of 208,000 residents.
Childhood Illnesses
- Most childhood deaths in Bolivia are attributed to illnesses stemming from the lack of clean water.
Privatization and Protests
- Cochabamba witnessed violent protests after the government privatized the city's water system in 1999.
- Water privatization in Bolivia was mandated by the World Bank, exacerbating social tensions.
Community Action and Government Response
- In 2007, the Bolivian government returned control of water systems in La Paz to the community.
- Residents of Chatsworth, South Africa, reacted to water and electricity cuts by attempting to reconnect supplies illegally.
Challenges in South Africa
- Many South African citizens must wait hours for access to tap water due to inadequate infrastructure.
- Unaffordable purification tablets force some to consume contaminated river water.
Corporate Influence on Water
- Water companies are criticized for using progressive language that obscures the reality of their profit-driven motives.
- The World Water Council promotes corporate interests in water management, raising concerns about access and equity.
Economic Burdens on Poor Nations
- Debt is described as a noose around the neck of poor nations, with international financial institutions exerting significant control.
- Providing safe drinking water globally is estimated by the UN to cost around $30 billion.
Global Bottled Water Market
- The US spends approximately $10.8 billion annually on bottled water, with worldwide spending hitting $100 billion.
- Regulatory oversight of bottled water in the US is minimal, with fewer than one FDA employee dedicated to monitoring it.
Cultural Significance of Water
- The Ganges River holds immense cultural importance in India, symbolizing motherhood and spirituality.
- The health of the Ganges is directly tied to the identity and beliefs of millions of Indians.
Historical Changes in Water Management
- In the 20th century, the perspective on water management shifted towards large-scale projects, including dam construction and water diversion strategies.
- This shift fundamentally altered the way humans utilize and interact with water resources globally.
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