Water Makes Money, water merchants on Arte

[Christophe]

Water merchants

Drinking water, most precious of all, has become a commodity delivered to commercial issues. On the occasion of World Water Day, "Thema" investigates the foreseeable consequences of this privatization.

http://www.arte.tv/fr/programmes/242,da ... /2011.html

Presentation in the world:

"Water Makes Money": the business of water management in charge

Water management is the subject of a business with colossal financial stakes. The documentary Water Makes Money, directed by Leslie Franke and Herdolor Lorenz, scheduled on Arte Tuesday March 22, at 20:40 pm, in a "Thema" evening entitled "Marchands d'eau" (and which hits theaters on Wednesday), takes us to the heart maneuvers by multinationals controlling this sector.

The powerful Veolia and Suez groups have been delegated, to 80%, the management of water supply in France. Result: the consumer finds himself subject to private interests, which do not concern his health or the future of the planet.

The film shows how the big companies have raised the price of drinking water with impunity. It took the relentlessness of a chartered accountant to uncover the schemes which led the inhabitants of certain municipalities, notably Bordeaux, to pay 30% to 40% more for their water than elsewhere. Profits which are only rarely reinvested in maintenance or sanitation.

Leslie Franke and Herdolor Lorenz notably met a dissident from Veolia, Jean-Luc Touly. This trade unionist, dismissed and then reinstated by his company, is the author of hot books, which earned him a slew of lawsuits. The film supports his claims: bribe practices to obtain markets, culpable acquaintances with the public sphere…

This disturbing film was funded half by private contributions, collected through a subscription launched on the Internet. Today, it is the subject of a defamation attack by Veolia.
Pauline Grand d'Esnon

http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/ ... _3234.html

To review on Arte + 7 for 7 days: http://videos.arte.tv/fr/videos/water_m ... 75756.html

[Gaston]

In this regard, 60 million consumers are organizing a major survey to assess the "true" (selling) price of water in France.

You can participate on this dedicated site...

[Christophe]

To review on Arte + 7 for 7 days: http://videos.arte.tv/fr/videos/water_m ... 75756.html

I just watched it in its entirety, it's quite annoying to see how Veolia and Suez despise municipalities, public goods and consumers ... (I'm not talking about various shenanigans and corruption ...) while showing incompetence intriguing technique (2 "heavy" examples are mentioned: the Brussels WWTP and a borehole in the Hérault)

I don't really understand how elected officials can get so swollen about entry fees ... (a false donation given by the companies to the municipalities during the contract, donation which is in fact ... a loan usurer !!!)

But fortunately all this changes and many cities, including Paris, have returned to public control.

To see therefore ... especially by the employees of Suez or Veolia