Summary of ¿A quién pertenece el agua? | DW Documental

00:00:00 - 00:40:00

The water crisis is a global problem that is only getting worse as the world's population grows and climate change exacerbates the situation. In this video, DW Documentary looks at the water issue in Germany and the potential consequences of a water shortage. The documentary highlights the need to be more careful in allocating water rights, as this is an increasingly scarce commodity.

• 00:00:00 In the video, DW Documental chronicled the history of water usage and its current scarcity throughout the world. They discussed how, as the world's economy has grown, so has our demand for water, which has now reached unsustainable levels. The video also highlighted how climate change is exacerbating the problem, with water becoming scarcer in many regions due to increased drought. The presenter called on authorities to be more careful in allocating water rights, as this is an increasingly scarce commodity. The presenter also mentioned that Coca-Cola, one of the world's largest beverage producers, is preparing for a water- extraction project that has raised concerns among environmental advocates.
• 00:05:00 The video follows a group of people protesting the Coca-Cola company's extraction of water from a 190-meter deep well in the city of Luneburg, Germany. The mayor is faced with a dilemma: how to sell water to the citizens, when they should be using it to drink, and then transmit this information to the citizens who obtain drinking water from the subterranean water supply in Luneburg. The doctor leading the protest movement since 2020, Maria TmZelda, discusses the initiative with DW's interviewer. The head of the district responsible for granting water extraction permits, James Butter, will make the final decision on Coca-Cola's request. The doctor warns that the water supply in Luneburg could run out in the near future, and that the next generation will have to learn to live with less water. However, in states such as Bavaria, where Coca-Cola has a strong presence, water is not scarce. San Cristobal, a city in southern Mexico, is facing a water crisis: Coca-Cola has a large, well-protected plant, and according to the Mexican health agency, Mexicans drink 2 liters of cola per day on average. The value of water is increasing every day, and it is important to save it
• 00:10:00 In this video, DW Documentary discusses the water issue in Phoenix, Arizona, which is experiencing a water crisis due to the increased demand from a nearby Coca-Cola plant. The narrator explains that, due to the plant's large demand for water, the region's water reserves are quickly dwindling. The documentary also features interviews with locals who are fighting against the Coca-Cola plant, as well as experts who discuss the importance of having a good infrastructure to deal with water shortages.
• 00:15:00 The video discusses the importance of water in the arid Southwest region of the United States, where there is little water remaining. It interviews an urbanist, a scientist, and a journalist about the water crisis in Arizona. They discuss how the water crisis affects the economy, the urban growth patterns in the region, and how individuals are adapting to the situation. The water crisis in Arizona is a result of a number of factors, including the growth of the cities, the migration of companies to the region, and the perversity of economic incentives that drive people to use water inefficiently. The video shows an example of how people are adapting to the water crisis by redesigning their gardens and installing artificial turf. We must all work harder to conserve water if we want to continue to have access to it in the future. The water crisis in the Southwest is a clear example of a unsustainable system.
• 00:20:00 The documentary discusses the water issue in the U.S., focusing on the issue of water rights. It explains that, due to the ever-growing population, the country is running out of water. In order to increase production, large agricultural companies are fighting for their rights to water, using all means necessary, including pressure from the government. However, the farmers are not willing to give up their water rights without a fight.
• 00:25:00 The water crisis began in Germany when James migrated to the United States and changed his name to Henry Miller. He arrived in San Francisco around 1850 and had a business partner, also an immigrant German. Together, they opened a butcher shop first. They were competition later, worked together, and when they arrived in California, it was growing very fast. They needed good food and good meat, so they bought more land in the north to the Oregon and Washington. Henry Miller was the largest landowner in the United States by the time he recognized that water would be key to his business success. He won rights to water through the courts and today, his German-born business model is still in use in all of California. Critics of his model claim double moralism, while supporters credit his foresight and the laws he won to this immigrant German with ensuring that we have water rights to much of the state today. Agriculture uses 70% of the world's water, and meat production is one of the main reasons for this water scarcity. If a region known for agriculture and livestock were to lose water, we could see this happen in Canada too, with livestock herds declining by up to 30%. It takes many years to establish a livestock business, and once you've done that, you
• 00:30:00 The water availability is decreasing and threatens the entire continent. All of our ancestors farmed the land in times of my grandparents, relying on underground water. However, the underground water has now decreased to 20-25 meters below the ground in this area. As it continues to decrease, the situation becomes more threatening. Here, people have only agriculture left to rely on. Before we had natural water sources like rivers and canals, now we have to extract underground water from deeper depths. The farmers are desperate for water, and are losing their subsistence due to water shortages. Thanks to my father's education, I have become a decent person, and he committed suicide by spraying pesticides. One line that stands out is "balancing" - he took his own life on January 25, 2022. It was completely unexpected. His wife and son also killed themselves without prior warning. He lost a large part of his crop, and even had higher costs due to not being able to make any money. My father had to borrow money. The increase in temperatures and the reduction of water availability are causing bad crops, so more farmers in Rubén Agar, India, are going into debt. They cannot repay the loans, and many of them end
• 00:35:00 The water war between India and Pakistan is becoming increasingly probable, with India having a 16% share of the global population but only 3% of water resources. India and Pakistan accuse each other of diverting water resources for their own benefit, with the tone of the debate becoming harsher. Pakistan accuses India of using 20% of the water resources, which causes water shortages in the western parts of India. Pakistan says India is responsible for widespread unemployment and crop failures in Pakistan. The sound of swords in political disputes also feeds the anger of farmers in the border region, who no longer want to share water with their hated neighbors. The water problem is getting worse every day, and most of it flows to Pakistan anyway. If the situation worsens, we are prepared to fight for our water. Feld also believes that Germany should develop more water-saving technologies and use them if necessary. If we have evidence that water will not be available in the future, we will have to take action. This includes using water with moderation, mainly sustainably, using water twice during irrigation in fields, and finding other technological solutions. Feld says that since climate change is moving faster than politics can react, the activist Mariana Iitemes feels "frustrated." We see a need to
• 00:40:00 In this video, DW Documentary examines the water issue in Germany, where some people are concerned about the possibility of a water shortage in the future. The documentary also looks at the renewable energy industry and Tesla's plans to build a factory in Brandenburg. The documentary concludes with a warning about the need to adapt to the water availability situation, and the potential consequences of not doing so.