In Focus: Water Wars in Kenya and Ethiopia

Learn more: http://pulitzercenter.org/projects/africa/water-wars-ethiopia-and-kenya

World Water Day on March 22 reminds us of the 1 billion people on Earth who lack easy access to the water most of us take for granted. Global climate change is making that struggle worse, as we see in this report from the rugged region of southern Ethiopia, where drought is drying up wells, threatening an ancient way of life and fueling conflict.

Reporting from Ethiopia and Kenya, Seattle-based multimedia journalists Sarah Stuteville, Jessica Partnow and Alex Stonehill from The Common Language Project, Kenyan journalist Ernest Waititu of AfrikaNews.org and project intern and videographer Julia Marino of Ohio University take an in-depth look at East Africans' struggles for water and how the actions of Americans are both alleviating and intensifying the problem.

This report is part of Pulitzer Center-sponsored project "Water Wars: Ethiopia and Kenya" (http://bit.ly/sa6BtQ).

Credits:
Video by Julia Marino and Alex Stonehill with reporting by Ernest Waititu
Special thanks to Salihu Sultan and the Ethiopian Red Cross

Produced by the Common Language Project in association with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

As featured on Foreign Exchange, an Azimuth Media production.

And on 1h2o, a Knight Center for International Media project
(http://www.onewater.org).

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Pulitzer Center
• Downstream
• Heat of the Moment
• Water War
• Global Warming
• World Water Day
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Drought
• Effects Climate Change
• Water Conflict
• Africa

[JuniorShaman]

@aklausmann

Well, Canada's water supply has been privatized hasn't it? I do believe most of it is pumped out and sold. As is the case almost everywhere on the planet now.

Take back your lakes and then you can count yourself lucky, my friend.

-Love & Gratitude-

[soniakiwi]

The main users of water are corporations owned and administered by predominantly Western and European countries. Throughout the course of history people have had to relocate and abandon ways of life due to climate change, drought and other environmental changes. Until the rich countries stop wasting water and making the poor pay for their indulgences, we won't see any change.

[truthadvocate]

If your way of life is causing you to die of dehydration, it's time to abandon your way of life. Humans need to adapt like every other living thing in the universe. There is plenty of water for the entire human population. People who can't access it need to move, just like people in modern civilizations move to find better jobs. Of course government loves to crush our freedom to travel and to trade, which are the two ways people like this can save enough to acquire the technology they need.

[MrDaldagnuur]

afrikan cows very skinny. :(

[EthioJegna5]

Read about The Nile Water Agreement of 1929. How the Imerialist UK and Italy were sourrounding the nation of Ethiopia and coerced it to sign the agreement fully tieing the hands of Ethiopian governments of future generations from allowing them to develop the nile to feed their own population.

[EthioJegna5]

its not only cause of the government, Egypt Sudan and UK all conspired to deprive Ethiopia from the Nile River to use it to feed its people.

[jagajg]

0:39 Ethiopian version of "lollipop" by Lil' Wayne.

[alia313]

there is a difficulty when trying to deal with any problem on a global scale. one person can give a solution but two people will bring an argument. now multiply it.

everyone knows they should change but nobody will do it first and everyone wants to be last.

re: fossil fuels. i love the idea that the human race discovered fire for energy thousands of years ago and still haven't moved on.

[toriofbrujas3]

thank you for bringing awareness.. this is a real problem all over the globe.. and if humans do not stop wasting.. soon many more places will be without.

[toriofbrujas3]

there is severe water shortage in and around austin texas.. there are ranchers without water.. so get off your butt. and stop wasting your usage of water.. and damn you have a computer. look it up.. soon you will not have water either.. has nothing to do with gov.. silly ignorant person! your are a spoiled little brat..i bet you flush every time you get ot use a toilet.. gees you are a disgrace to the humans