As Globalization and market Liberalization is moving forward unabated the global commons continue to be commodified and privatized at a rapid speed. In this Global process, the ownership, sale and supply of water is increasingly a flashpoint for debates and conflict over privatization, and nowhere the debate is more advanced and acute as in Southern Africa.
This book by David A.McDonald, THE AGE OF COMMODITY, provides an overview of the debates over WATER in the region including a conceptual over view of water privatization, how it relates to human rights, macro-economic policy and GATS. In Age of Commodity, McDonald has presented various case studies of important water privatization initiates in the region, drawing out crucial themes common to water privatization debates around the world including CORRUPTION, gender equity and donar conditionalities.
This book is powerful and hard hitting, a must read the pros and cons of Globalization and privatization in our new age of commodity. The author of this 320 page, hard hitting book, The Age of Commodity:water privatization in southern Africa, David A.McDonald, is Directer of the Development Studies Programme at Queen’s University, Canada. Greg Ruiters is senior lecturer in political studies Rhodes University, South Africa.
Water privatization is an International phenomena, occurring at such disparate places as England, China, Argentina the Philippines and South Africa, and involving global institutions as World Bank and United Nations. Those who are in favour of privatization argue that governments are corrupt, unaccountable, unimaginative and financially strapped, and unable to expand and upgrade water services on their own in a reliable and cost effective manner. The private sector and its operating principles, they argue, must be a central component of water delivery strategies.
Opponents of privatization argue that private companies are only interested in charging the poor more than they can afford to pay and cutting them off when they are not able to pay.
It is also argued that private companies use bribes and corruption to get contracts, or simply low ball bids to get their feet in the door, than suddenly raising the prices, once they entered.
The main reason of debate is Water is our life, 70% of our body is water, than question of who should own and maintain the water services is very important ., as 2 Million deaths per year, caused by water born diseases., which are easily preventable.
If proper sanitation, and water services are properly maintained by honest, management, weather government or private, this debate is of urgent and of critical importance.
This book a must read, on a very critical issue of water services to be privatize or not, as for all, Water is Life.