On the road to Liberty

My article titled In abundance, scarcity was published on International Policy Network on March 3, 2006. ONE fifth of Earth's inhabitants lack access to safe drinking water and two fifths lack adequate sewerage. But it is neither scarcity nor overpopulation that makes this abundant natural resource an increasingly scarce commodity: it is the heavy hand of government. Even India's north-eastern state of Assam - one of the wettest places on earth - suffers periodic bouts of government-induced water scarcity. Yet Australia, the driest place on Earth, exports agricultural produce. People are paying the price for this, and the poorest are paying with their lives. For the past week, thousands of officials, researchers, businesses and international agencies have been meeting at the fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City. This year's slogan is "local action for global challenges" and it might contain the beginnings of a push for local initiative to replace government m...

Individuals, entrepreneurs and communities are not waiting for government to fulfill empty promises and fill empty water pipes. Private initiatives in India, Africa, Latin America and Asia are already sustaining local markets and improving access for millions. My article titled Water: Scarcity in plenty was published in Business Day on 23rd March 2006. A fifth of the earth's inhabitants lack access to safe drinking water, and two-fifths lack adequate sewerage. But it is neither scarcity nor overpopulation that makes this abundant natural resource a scarce commodity: it is the heavy hand of government. India's northeastern state of Assam ó one of the wettest places on earth ó suffers periodic bouts of government-induced scarcity. Yet Australia, the driest place on earth, exports agricultural produce. For the past week, thousands of officials, researchers, businesses and international agencies have been meeting at the fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City. This year's slog...