Reflections: Understanding Our Use and Abuse of Water

Water is essential for life but is often used to destroy. Mark Zeitoun, a water engineer, negotiator, and scholar, argues that unchecked assumptions about water mix with political and economic systems to create an insatiable and ruinous thirst for ever more water. He shows how we use water to lethal effect in wars and demolish drinking-water systems with wanton disregard. To restore water's inner grace, we should focus on what we do with it when it is in our hands rather than just saving it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Water, the essence of life, holds immense significance, yet it is paradoxically employed to perpetrate destruction. While it possesses the ability to nourish and cleanse, we misuse it to cause starvation and division. The consequences of either desecrating or restoring water's inherent grace are profound, impacting both ourselves and the future we envision.

Drawing upon his extensive experience as a water engineer, negotiator, and scholar, Mark Zeitoun offers a unique insider's perspective on this phenomenon. He delves into how unchecked assumptions about water intertwine with political and economic systems to fuel an insatiable and ruinous thirst for ever more water. Zeitoun exposes how water is wielded as a weapon in wars, leading to the devastation of drinking-water systems with callous disregard. He raises questions about why we transform majestic rivers into canals that ignite international conflicts and test our capacity for preventative diplomacy.

The answers to these questions reveal more about our society than we may be willing to acknowledge. To restore water's inner grace, Zeitoun argues, our focus should shift from merely saving water to considering the actions we take with it once in our possession. By embracing responsible water management practices, we can strive to mitigate the negative impacts of our actions and work towards a more harmonious relationship with this vital resource.

In conclusion, water, a symbol of life and unity, is tragically misused and abused. By recognizing the destructive consequences of our actions and embracing sustainable water management practices, we can strive to restore water's inner grace and create a future where water is a source of nourishment, purification, and harmony for all.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 242 x 221 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197575123