Critical Analysis of “Water Incorporated” by Maude Barlow

In the piece “Water Incorporated” Barlow uses an informative voice. She comes across as very knowledgable and is an expert on the subject of incorporating water. It is evident to her audience that she has done lots of research on this subject. I believe that she is writing this piece to all people because water is a universal subject. More specifically the piece is written towards the citizens of countries of which are involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement (Canada, Mexico, and The United States) as well as those involved in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades, and Free Trade Areas of the Americas.

Barlow’s purpose for writing “Water Incorporated” is to inform her audience of the current water crisis that is affecting the entire world. I do not believe that many people are aware that “the global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years.” I think people are even less aware that the “privatization of water is already a $400 billion a year business.” Barlow is trying to bring these issues to the attention of her readers. She wants them to realize that water should not be privatized as it is a “human right.” I believe that she is trying to appeal to our emotions and asking her audience not to be blind to what is happening around us.  She is challenging her readers to oppose the privatization of water.

Barlow believes that agreements such as the NAFTA, GATT, AND FTAA make the privatization of water possible for large corporations. “The FTAA ‘services agreement’ grants private corporations sweeping new authority to overrule government regulations… The FTAA would increase the number of towns and cities forced into privatizing their water systems and reduce the ability of governments to ensure that the privatized systems work to protect the environment, consumers and workers.” Essentially the FTAA takes power away from the country’s government and places it into the hands of large corporations. This is not ethical as the people did not vote for corporations to control their company, they voted for their government. In some ways I believe that Barlow is implying that the FTAA goes against democracy.

Water is now being seen as “blue gold.” Corporations and governments want to treat water as “any other commodity, with its use determined by market principles.” However, Barlow insists that this is not right nor true. Water is not a commodity it is a human right and all people should be able to have access to it. By denying people the right to water, you are denying their right to live. Barlow includes “The Cochabama Declaration: Water belongs to the Earth and all species and is sacred to life. Therefore, the world’s water must be conserved, reclaimed, and protected for all future generations and its natural patterns must be respected.”

I believe that Barlow was really effective at writing this piece. She had many valid points, and facts which got her audience thinking about the issue. I believe that she supported her argument very well. I also thought it was interesting that this issue has been going on for several years and this is only the second time I have heard about it. I had also never heard about the FTAA before reading her piece. Her article was filled with information and I definitely feel more knowledgable after reading it.