Discussion based on https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/flow-for-love-of-water/: Flow: For Love of Water (Student Research Purposes Only)
Impacts of Water as a Human Right versus Privatization
In 2010, the UN (United Nations) General Assembly passed a resolution calling for water to be recognized as a human right. Based on the film, “Flow: For the Love of Water (2008),” this natural resource should be considered a fundamental human right without restriction by commercialization or privatized trade.
Water, just as air, is a basic human right. It is the very essence of our existence as without water, we would perish. We have created our own situation. We have contaminated our water supply. We must work as an intelligent species to rectify the situation rather than create a market-tradeable commodity. Luxury water in the form of bottled water should be regulated such as high-end wine and not promoted as general products for daily consumption. Privatization of public water systems denies the extremely poor access to this basic right which immobilizes any fulfillment of true human security. Unwater.org publicly maintains that:
“Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights, reflecting the fundamental nature of these basics in every person’s life. Lack of access to safe, sufficient and affordable water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has a devastating effect on the health, dignity and prosperity of billions of people, and has significant consequences for the realization of other human rights (UN Water, 2022).”
This is basis enough to enact stop orders for all production of bottled water. Economic development and industrialization ventures are often supported by entities such as the World Bank (Flow: For the Love of Water 2008) and without any repercussions due to immunity, these progress-driven movements are causing documented negative effects on human security. All biological processes and natural patterns of which man has no knowledge are being disrupted. Major rivers across the world no longer meet the ocean due to dams that have been constructed for various given reasons (Flow: For the Love of Water 2008). Borders for which these resources can be managed in a more localized manner and supply the population of citizens within the political boundaries that have previously been drawn. Unfortunately, this system fails due to differences in state development causing transnational and global issues. Attempts to improve economic development have often led to situations rendering consequences in of the balance of life and existence.
Development and Industrialization as Threats to Human Security
Large corporations exploiting the lack of regulation and abundance of resources in foreign assets has become a global issue. One problem facing humans is a direct impact on the balances of communities. If we look at the workings of an ecosystem, when the predators are decimating the prey population, they turn inward and become cannibalistic. This is no different when it comes to the species of the homo sapiens. We have become a predator within our own species. This makes for a dangerous prediction of stable existence.
We do not believe unless we see; therefore, we see and we believe, but it is then too late for us to make the choice that would have made the difference. Human security is threatened in many areas from economic crises to world pandemics and climate change. The issue facing our entire society now is that change must start locally with introspection of the self and application of what is true and just. This is not realistically possible; yet the option can be offered. Humanity may yet surprise us. Inventions such as the UV water sanitation process from India (Flow: For the Love of Water 2008) and use of ancestral farming techniques have proven successful in localized communities. This lends to the notion that the answer once again lies in the hands of us each as individuals. The world spends more on bottled water than the cost for the UN (United Nations) to provide clean water worldwide (Flow: For the Love of Water 2008). That can be argued to be a personal choice. The UN (United Nations) could also be seen to hold responsibility being the establishing governance for the laws of human rights and protection of human security.
“Change has to be consistent with what really matters (Flow: For the Love of Water 2008).”
These words of wisdom from Ashok Gadgil, developer of the UV Health Water System in India, reflect an important sentiment that drives the need for research to understand how we affect our own destiny of security regarding the flow of water.
References
Flow: For the Love of Water. (2008). Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/flow-for-love-of-water/ (Links to an external site.).
UN Water. (2022.). Human rights: UN-water. UNwater.org. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/
Human Centric Designs 