Republic of Angola (Xyami): Bolivia's Water Woes After Bechtel | Fla. on the Brink of Ruin

Friday, January 16, 2009

Bolivia's Water Woes After Bechtel | Fla. on the Brink of Ruin | TVA Coal Spills

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January 16th, 2009
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Defeating the Multinationals Is Just the Start of the Problem for Anti-Globalization Movements
By Jeff Conant, AlterNet
Bolivia ignited anti-globalization supporters by ousting the company that controlled its water. But that was just the beginning of its problems. Read more »

This week we have continuing coverage on the big spill in TN from the TVA coal plant as well as a smaller, but also highly toxic spill from another TVA plant in Alabama.

We've also got two great AlterNet originals. Jeff Conant has a terrific inside look at what's happened in Bolivia since the 2000 "water war" in Cochabamba that ousted Bechtel. Conant's piece is an important look at the problems that communities face, especially in countries lacking in both financial and water resources, to create truly equitable systems of public control of water. It looks like they've faced a lot of hard problems in the years since in Bolivia but have also learned a lot that water justice advocates should be taking note of.

And we've got a piece by AlterNet regular Stan Cox about how development is pushing Florida over the brink when it comes to resources, like water. Stan's piece is a great over view of this problem and I highly recommend reading "Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S." by Cynthia Barnett if you're interested in more about Florida and how a state covered by swampland is now short of water. The book is a truly great read.

Thanks for reading,

Tara Lohan, Senior Editor

Is Florida Just One New Development Away From Environmental Ruin?
By Stan Cox, AlterNet
A thousand people a day move to Florida, but with development gone wild, the state's natural systems have passed the brink of sustainability. Read more »

What Happens When We Run Out of Drinking Water?
National Radio Project
Here's a look at three communities facing water shortages along with the pressure to grow and what they're doing to find solutions. Read more »

The Human Impact: What TVA Isn't Saying about the Coal Spill Disaster
By Erin Brockovich, Robin Greenwald, Huffington Post
What does the future hold for the public's health and safety? Overnight, a whole community's lifestyle is gone. Read more »

Why a New Water Project in China May Be a Catastrophe in Waiting
By Christina Larson, Yale Environment 360
A geologist has serious concerns about plans for a massive Yangtze River diversion project. But will the government heed his advice? Read more »

Ethanol Is a Disaster, But What About Other Biofuels?
By Jenna Scatena, AlterNet
In the midst of corn ethanol's failing, researchers may have found a new hope for biofuel -- just in time. Read more »