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It’s official : We’re facing a problem over water! Or so they tell us. But what exactly is the nature of the problem? The documentary “Against the Flow” points to concrete examples and starts off with something of a paradox: the inhabitants of a village in Mali live on 6 litres of water per day and person, while at the same moment in Barcelona, the authorities fear a water shortage due to drought – each citizen uses on average 120 litres per day! This example clearly demonstrates that the definition of need and shortage is a question of proportion.
We approach the question « Against the Flow » of current trends, by looking at a number of recurrent water crisis situations around the globe – particular examples that are representative of the “water problem” at large. Let’s look at the south of Spain which is said to suffer water shortage – what exactly is at stake? What is the cause of the precarious water supply of a megalopolis such as Mexico City – apart from its population density? How came that the city of Bamako in Mali – situated right on the big Niger river - is unable to supply water to a large part of its inhabitants?
“Against the Flow” does not point towards any “culprits”, but reminds us that water shortage is rarely only a question of resource. From time immemorial, access to fresh and unpolluted water has given rise to complex negotiations between men. Today, faced with new problems, our societies will have to look at the value of water from a new perspective. We will have to adapt and improve the way we manage and share it.
What if it were, above all, a question of democracy?
This film is part of an ARTE theme evening and we suggest you also look at the 26' doc on the water situation in Singapore, part of the same theme eve:
DROP BY DROP
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Documentary
