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Reviews
Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water by Maude Barlow
tjthom's review against another edition
4.0
Ok... here's the sobering quote from this book:
"It is evident that the world is moving toward a corporate-controlled freshwater cartel, with private companies, backed by governments and global institutions, making fundamental decisions about who has access to water and under what conditions."
"It is evident that the world is moving toward a corporate-controlled freshwater cartel, with private companies, backed by governments and global institutions, making fundamental decisions about who has access to water and under what conditions."
matthew_p's review against another edition
1.0
Although the topic is interesting and increasingly relevant, the entire book is mostly a list of facts barely assembled into paragraphs and chapters. Barlow seems to be trying to draw the reader into joining the cause, but fails to do so through his lack of narrative, which is ultimately disappointing as the story would seem to be rather compelling for anyone hoping to be able to get a drinkable glass of water from their kitchen tap 20 years from now.
cosmicllama's review against another edition
4.0
A far more focused book than Blue Gold, Barlow dissects how corporations have made water their next goal. Barlow begins by breaking down how severe our current water problems are and where we are headed, before launching into an analysis of how corporations have convinced the world that they are our saviors when it comes to providing water to the masses who do not have access.
While Barlow does not get into too much detail about how corporate entities (empowered by local, regional and national governments) have failed in providing water, she widens the scope highlighting how much damage has been done by making water a tradeable commodity. From consistent water price rises, to increasingly larger land grabs, to the willful ignorance of everyone involved, Barlow paints a grim picture. It seems that everywhere you look, problems are just waiting to be compounded.
Barlow offers one solution, take the power back, and force water to be recognized as a human right, not a human need. While she details the resistance movements building at the time, there is not much in the way of major systemic solutions beyond popular resistance. While I don't think she fails to make her case, she doesn't get into the kind of detail that would help readers galvanized by the issue spring into action. She lists groups she's worked with and others that are in motion, but doesn't give a clear idea of what the reader can do, besides seek out local groups.
In the end, the future of water is an incredibly complicated issue, and Barlow manages to put a laser like focus on making sure corporate control of water resources plays as little a part in this future as possible.
While Barlow does not get into too much detail about how corporate entities (empowered by local, regional and national governments) have failed in providing water, she widens the scope highlighting how much damage has been done by making water a tradeable commodity. From consistent water price rises, to increasingly larger land grabs, to the willful ignorance of everyone involved, Barlow paints a grim picture. It seems that everywhere you look, problems are just waiting to be compounded.
Barlow offers one solution, take the power back, and force water to be recognized as a human right, not a human need. While she details the resistance movements building at the time, there is not much in the way of major systemic solutions beyond popular resistance. While I don't think she fails to make her case, she doesn't get into the kind of detail that would help readers galvanized by the issue spring into action. She lists groups she's worked with and others that are in motion, but doesn't give a clear idea of what the reader can do, besides seek out local groups.
In the end, the future of water is an incredibly complicated issue, and Barlow manages to put a laser like focus on making sure corporate control of water resources plays as little a part in this future as possible.
cosmicllama's review
4.0
A far more focused book than Blue Gold, Barlow dissects how corporations have made water their next goal. Barlow begins by breaking down how severe our current water problems are and where we are headed, before launching into an analysis of how corporations have convinced the world that they are our saviors when it comes to providing water to the masses who do not have access.
While Barlow does not get into too much detail about how corporate entities (empowered by local, regional and national governments) have failed in providing water, she widens the scope highlighting how much damage has been done by making water a tradeable commodity. From consistent water price rises, to increasingly larger land grabs, to the willful ignorance of everyone involved, Barlow paints a grim picture. It seems that everywhere you look, problems are just waiting to be compounded.
Barlow offers one solution, take the power back, and force water to be recognized as a human right, not a human need. While she details the resistance movements building at the time, there is not much in the way of major systemic solutions beyond popular resistance. While I don't think she fails to make her case, she doesn't get into the kind of detail that would help readers galvanized by the issue spring into action. She lists groups she's worked with and others that are in motion, but doesn't give a clear idea of what the reader can do, besides seek out local groups.
In the end, the future of water is an incredibly complicated issue, and Barlow manages to put a laser like focus on making sure corporate control of water resources plays as little a part in this future as possible.
While Barlow does not get into too much detail about how corporate entities (empowered by local, regional and national governments) have failed in providing water, she widens the scope highlighting how much damage has been done by making water a tradeable commodity. From consistent water price rises, to increasingly larger land grabs, to the willful ignorance of everyone involved, Barlow paints a grim picture. It seems that everywhere you look, problems are just waiting to be compounded.
Barlow offers one solution, take the power back, and force water to be recognized as a human right, not a human need. While she details the resistance movements building at the time, there is not much in the way of major systemic solutions beyond popular resistance. While I don't think she fails to make her case, she doesn't get into the kind of detail that would help readers galvanized by the issue spring into action. She lists groups she's worked with and others that are in motion, but doesn't give a clear idea of what the reader can do, besides seek out local groups.
In the end, the future of water is an incredibly complicated issue, and Barlow manages to put a laser like focus on making sure corporate control of water resources plays as little a part in this future as possible.