About Water - human right or private commodity? Europe's ongoing battle with privatisation
The battle for the elixir of life - water - is currently a salient topic of discussion in Europe. This has been triggered by fears that the EU might privatise the water supply. The basic question: does the provision of water have to be state-organised or should private companies be allowed a shot too? The EU Commission claims their stance isn't a question of forced privatisation, rather greater transparency in public procurement. Nevertheless, opponents see the common ownership of water being threatened by the commercial interests of big business. Furthermore, critics fear that water is increasingly becoming a profit-making object of speculation. Many even predict that water will ultimately overtake oil in its ability to spark conflict as a resource. The consequences for consumers are always the same - lower water quality and increased costs. But is this all just scaremongering and unnecessary hysteria? Original title: The Battle for Water Year: 2013 Directed by Alexander Steinbach and Patrick Hafner Produced by ORF, Interspot Film and AGB Films
Water - human right or private commodity? Europe's ongoing battle with privatisation is presented by wocomoDOCS. Its listed runtime is 30 minutes. The source link and publisher attribution are provided with the embedded film.
As a society documentary, Water - human right or private commodity? Europe's ongoing battle with privatisation uses water, human, right as its central frame. Social documentaries work best as invitations to examine systems through lived experience. Distinguish individual testimony from wider claims, and consider which institutions, incentives and inequalities shape the choices shown.
What to consider before watching
- What evidence, testimony or observation does the film use to explain water, human, right?
- Which people, institutions or historical conditions most influence the story told in Water - human right or private commodity? Europe's ongoing battle with privatisation?
- How does wocomoDOCS' framing affect the documentary's emphasis, and which perspectives may deserve further research?
Topics covered in this documentary
Documentary details and original source
- Title
- Water - human right or private commodity? Europe's ongoing battle with privatisation
- Category
- Society
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- wocomoDOCS
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