Water, water everywhere

My computer doesn't like me. Do you know what I mean? Some days it just rebels. Today is such a day. I wonder if I got a cute little imac things would be better. alas {sigh}

Bolivia. I learned a lot about Bolivia when I watched "The Corporation". For me, the first thing I do now when I hear about something and it is obviously biased(as is the case with this movie although not so much as with some others) is I run to Wikipedia. I LOVE Wikipedia. I use it as a verb now-in the same way I use 'google'...I'm hoping it will catch on, so spread the love! I am urging you all to wikipedia 'bechtel corporation' if you do not already know about the Cochabamba situation of the late 90's early 2000's. You see, I had heard a bit about some countries and the fact that their water was being privatised and that this was bad for them. That's all I knew. What I didn't know is that these companies(in the case of Bolivia--Bechtel) come in and they stake claim to all running water in the country. Now, for Bolivia, they had approached the World Bank and asked them for a loan to upgrade their countries failing water system. The only way the Bank would help them was for them to privatize said system. Thus, Bechtel bid and won the rights to the water in Cochabamba--the third largest city in Bolivia. Now...I'm thinking...how bad can this be because we all pay someone for water, right? Well, in a country where people make on average $70/month, try paying $20/month for your water bill. The rates were increased a week after the privatization occurred. And, to be fair to the company, they needed the funds to pay for much needed upgrades to their system. And, before Bechtel, many citizens got no water at all due to the corruption of the state. But, under Bechtel law, it was illegal to collect rain water. It was also illegal to collect water from a natural running source and carry it to your house. So, people everywhere had difficult decisions to make--pay for medical care or pay for water. Pay for your kids to go to school or pay for water. Pay for food or pay for water.

The beautiful thing is people have power. In the famed Cochabamba protests of 2000, the citizens took back their water supply and Bechtel was overthrown. Protest is a powerful thing. Did I once say that I wasn't going to get political on this site? Well, I lied. Those who know me well are just shocked at my resistance thus far.

So, how is this about green living? First off, who cares? This is my blog and I am going to write about whatever I want...I am the all omnipotent goddess of the blog afterall. But if you must. There are very few things that we, as humans, truly need and water is one of them. Breathable air is another. In fact, those are the two things that we would be totally screwed without. I think it is important to understand exactly what is happening to both. Sometimes, if you watch a movie like 'The Corporation' instead of 'Grey's Anatomy' you might just enlighten yourself. BUUUUUTTTTT it is so hard not to watch 'Grey's'...I love George. I mean are him and Izzy ever going to work things out or what? And, Dr. McDreamy or McSteamy whichever one is your favorite flavour...how can we do without? Here's the thing--it's summer so they're all reruns anyways. Skip the rerun and borrow our copy of this movie...or read a book or rent something else...I know that I am sounding pushy, but--again, don't you know me at all?