3. Ivy McDermott- Water as a Human Right

    I’m currently doing a paper on water quality in Virginia so this week has been very informative and inspiring for me. I found it really interesting that France has had private water for ages, through the means of the French government, and how there are pros and cons to both privatization and public access. It would be interesting to look into how privatization is successful, how public access is successful, and find a way to intertwine these processes. The documentary we watched described a need for a partnership between government agencies and these companies privately owning water. 

    Although we can pinpoint who is the largest polluter, who commits a crime, who exceeds what safety limits, etc., there is an essential requirement for change. The people being affected most have a lot of impact. I was very moved by the story about Lee Kyong Hae and farmers’ riots due to privatization of water. Speaking up, being proactive, voting, and communicating in your community are all great ways to spark change and bring light to corporate greed. I recently heard about a thing called the “plastic bag ban” and how people are advocating for this in our areas! There is a lot of stubbornness in the way, however, and people clinging onto the aesthetic of convenience.

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