WATER ABLAZE - Patagonia Sin Represas

In numerous cases, the struggle for drinking water goes hand in
hand with an attack on democracy and human rights. When the Chinese
maize farmer Fu Xiancai criticised the Three Gorges Dam on the
Yangtze River in the German media in summer 2006, he found himself
in hospital soon afterwards, beaten and crippled. This situation calls
for heightened awareness, also with regard to the western industrial
nations which allow economic interests to take precedence over human
rights issues in countries such as China.
As for China’s rivers, the current situation is alarming. As a result
of rapid economic growth, some rivers are now so badly polluted that
any form of close contact with the water should be avoided at all costs.
There is often a direct correlation between large-scale dam schemes
and armed conflicts, even if this fact goes almost unmentioned in
the media. The issue of water distribution could provide even more
reasons for fighting in years to come. If, for example, the GAP project
in Turkey “cuts off” the water from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers
from neighbouring countries Syria and Iraq, then violence will be
unavoidable.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is largely one about water from the
Rivers Jordan and Litani, as well as the springs in the Golan Heights
and other water resources.
Equally damaging to the environment is the so-called process of
river-linking, whereby natural rivers are linked up or diverted via
artificial canals. At present, citizens in Brazil are fighting against the
diversion of the São Franciso River; a bishop went on hunger strike,
stating that he was prepared to sacrifice his life for the life of the river.
In India, much thought is being given to a large-scale project which
would link almost all the major rivers of the subcontinent, including
the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. In order to realise this, 100 huge
dams would have to be built. It will be almost impossible to halt this
insane project if the international community does not join in the
protests.
Our water supply is also being threatened by the melting of glaciers
as the result of a steady increase in global warming. A vicious circle has
begun. When carbon dioxide and other gases which affect the climate
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