March 2003

Water

NI (No.354) Contents 9 Precious fluid Widespread freshwater shortages are hanging over us. Dinyar Godrej brings the challenge ahead into focus. 13 From dawn to dusk Africa's climate of thirst. 14 Big dams, big trouble And they are no way to ease water problems either, argues Patrick McCully. 16 Closing the loop Maggie Black talks dirty with a group of sanitation experts in a Chinese hotel and sees a green future for the humble loo. 18 WATER - the facts 20 Stalling the big steal The big water multinationals are eyeing Ghana's supply. Rudolf Amenga-Etego is part of the opposition. 22 Running out of water, running out of time Unequal control of scarce water resources is helping crank up Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Charmaine Seitz reports. 25 Harvesting the raindrop Indian village folk are joining hands in a dramatic conservation effort. Sunita Narain witnesses the difference it has made. 26 Going off the mains James Stronell is completing a house in the dry Australian Bush where there's no water connection. What was he thinking? 28 The source - action and information. <<REGULAR FEATURES>> 2 Letters 4 Southern Exposure Silver magic at the heart of the waterfall, by Indian photographer Shyam Tekwani. 5 View from the South Is an Indian living in the US worth more than one living in the Gulf or, horror of horrors, Pakistan? Urvashi Butalia and the fundamentalist Indian Government are at odds. 6 Currents Human kidneys: the new cash crop, a special report by Nancy Scheper-Hughes; multiple murders of young women factory workers on the US-Mexican border. PLUS: Word Corner - Khaki PLUS: Seriously 29 Worldbeaters Already faced by US military might, Saddam Hussein now has to cope with being profiled by the NI. 30 Mixed Media BOOKS, MUSIC, FILM/VIDEO 32 Big Bad World Conspiracy or coincidence? The latest Polyp cartoon. PLUS: NI Prize Crossword 33 Making Waves Campaigner Vis Navaratnam on new drugs for neglected diseases. 34 Essay - Revolution vs Globalization Still squeezed, still embattled, still hanging in there: John Ripton asks how Castro's Cuba will fit into the new world economy. 36 County Profile - Turkmenistan

NI-Japan (No.42) Contents Water There is an impending water crisis. While the rich cuntries consume this precious liquid much faster than it can be replenished, the majority world gets thirstier. Meanwhile corporate elites and the powerful try to make water into a commodity. But communities around the world are taking action to conserve, obtain and most of all to keep control of this vital resource in their own hands. <This month's article> ·Translation of "Precious fluid" (p9-12) <Reporting from Japan> ·Not in our Name---Report from The Third World Water Forum ·Community Participation and Rainwater---Interview with Dr. Murase <Contact Points> Books and NGO information on rainwater use. <Country Profile> -Translation of "Country Profile - Turkmenistan" (p36)