The Story of Water

Profit-driven corporations want control over your city's public water systems. What could go wrong?
The Story of Water exposes the dangers of water privatization and highlights innovative solutions that cities are adopting that keep water management in public hands. Water is a human right and shouldn't be controlled by corporations whose primary motivation is profit.
Tell Congress: Pass the WATER Act!
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Made in collaboration with Corporate Accountability (www.corporatea...)
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[@StoryofStuff]

♻️ The plastic crisis gets a lot of attention as pollution, but the environmental impact of plastic’s life cycle starts long before it ends up in our waterways and ecosystems. Watch our latest animation, The Story of Plastic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4CWhHRqjt54j7c

[@hotelsltuff]

Here in South Africa, Cape Town was the first city in the world to almost run out of water completely. The resilience and discipline of the citizens was legendary - with the strictest restrictions, heeding advice and minimal use, they avoided a disaster.

[@thegoodhomecompany]

Wish there was follow up news on this positive change! So glad to hear this!

[@samanthafairchild7643]

Wow. I'll definitely read up on that. Thanks.

[@gregbell3506]

Yes, I recall hearing about this, I would like to read more about how the city came out of this serious situation, what they did, what worked, contingencies etc

[@earthling_za]

@@gregbell3506 A major factor was that we kept to daily water usage limits. Most people actually made an effort.

[@gregbell3506]

We here in New Zealand have much potable/drinking water. However our rivers & lakes are being polluted by intensive agriculture, especially dairy farming, not to forget our local council giving discharge consents to urban business. I don't drink from many of our rivers these days, as opposed to the 1980's, '90's. Capitalism & the growth model we are addicted to. OMG, what to do @@earthling_za

[@biagioarevalo]

Water used to be free, like air. But now most of the available water is polluted. Big corporations profit worldwide monopolizing the main sources of pure water affecting agriculture and low income communities.

[@joshp4582]

This comment won't age well... only a matter of time before Air is also Privatised...

[@saitejayerra6465]

In India we made a film called sardar on this topic

[@scubastevesnider8010]

In a market system, where everything is monetized, the world is turned upside down. Sustainability, positivity, compassion, everything good is suppressed, while everything destructive is incentivized. When civilization climbs up, they profit. And more importantly, as it falls, the profits are even higher. It is NOT profitable to conserve, build things to last, share information, etc...we are taught to compete, therefore placing the well-being of others below our own. Every day we participate unwittingly, so don't be surprised to know that you, as well as I, are a part of the problem. Only we can fix it. Or...seal our doom.

[@HugoBaesJr]

A corporation is a "legal person", who can do many things a "real person" can, like buying, selling, law suiting... but does not have feelings like one. In short, a psychopath.

[@scubastevesnider8010]

@@HugoBaesJr Even worse, they're super powerful. And thanks to NAFTA, they can even sue a country. It's the stuff of nightmares. It's appalling and so surreal. #keepfighting

[@scubastevesnider8010]

@@HugoBaesJr the real power is in mass unity. If we can ever come together, we will overturn the system. It seems less likely every day, but that won't stop me.

[@Kheperaunghk7]

The problem is CAPITALISM. Yet this is a step in the right direction.

[@faithbooks7906]

But for centuries we've had a capitalist system that didn't have this problem. I think a mixed system is best. Capitalism needs to be tempered for sure so that these big companies don't gain a dangerous monopoly on basic common goods.

[@HappyPhilS]

@Marilynn DeSilva Does printing a word in all caps mean that it is a good thing or a bad thing?

[@sishrac]

+Anetch Hrak ​@@faithbooks7906 You said the word. The problem is 'monopoly' whether in government or corporate hands. Monopoly sets off a win-lose situation in any area of our lives. This video is actually misleading people into another state of monopoly by the government. In the long run quality of water and services will dwindle in the hands of the government alone. That's when they'll start the whole privatisation programs once again. But what people don't realise is that we're constantly switching between one monopoly to another. Whereas, in a true free market, corporations will compete to offer the best quality water for the least price. Unfortunately what we call capitalism today is actually a form of fascism with the government favoring one corporation over another. That's when we end up with a monopoly of selected corporations while the government makes its gains through corruption. Government's proper role is to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and allow the corporations to compete among themselves in order to offer the best products and services for its people. That's when we'll have a lasting win-win situation in anything. BTW, corporations could also administer a solution suggested in the video - charging for clean water according to people's income. The ones offering the best deal (environmentally and price-wise) will make better profits than those that don't. Nothing wrong with profits in this case! This will also keep the prices affordable because there's no monopoly in the game (pun not intended)! Corporations will have to work hard and be ever creative to stay in business. That's possible if our government isn't corrupt! We'll have true capitalism or what we'd call the free market. That's not exactly what we have today, hence we have the problem described in the video. TSoSP's solution is Socialism, which will kill incentives in the long run and we'll be left with poor quality of everything.

[@HappyPhilS]

@Marilynn DeSilva My apologies for responding to the wrong all caps capitalism.

[@brianfranco1143]

@Marilynn DeSilva yes

[@hotmandead1]

Wasn't expecting the mayor to narrate wow

[@kitni]

his voice sounds like he need some water

[@AnOldSchoolPro]

@@zapatasghost you're the "you must be fun at parties" guy. Congrats on your failure in social intelligence

[@sl.3620]

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@jeffdaniel772]

@@zapatasghost Sorry to bear the bad news, but that comment was funny, stop being butthurt, no one is getting hurt by this person's joke.

[@vandaviegas6443]

Up to the last drop: the secret water war in europe. It's important to see!

[@zbynekcodykolacek]

Vanda Viegas EU did go far with private water Corps. Disgraceful.

[@sarracene]

a play on words for "good to the last drop"?

[@vandaviegas6443]

@@zbynekcodykolacek you are right :-(

[@PacoOtis]

Well done! Thanks! Excellent message!

[@StoryofStuff]

U.S. Folks: Get involved and send a letter to Congress asking them to support The WATER Act! bit.ly/supportwateract

[@reforest4fertility]

The Story of Stuff Project Wow, good story, but no mention of nature’s hydrological cycle that is set by how much forests we have and whether mountain sides are left forested. This is what determines continental fresh water reserve levels. Forests also were nature’s carbon sink the ocean was never meant to become. Plus and big plus is forests stabilize climate better than anything else known. This is just why non sellout scientists say we need to plant 1.2 trillion trees within 10 years to avert climate chaos.

[@woodsprout]

Water is just too vital a resource to privatize !

[@dolph9913]

Just like healthcare?

[@rippenthecatadventures6530]

@@dolph9913 And Electricity.

[@lizpify]

And Ports...in Western Australia they have been selling/leasing our ports!!

[@zeeenno]

This is great, but did you have to make the heads look like butts?

[@Wenving]

I love your video. Can you tell what animation program did you use? :(

[@ravenrobloxxox3551]

Ya

[@emmap4339]

Describe exactly the issues in Ireland.

[@mamehendrix34]

patents on water. Illegal to save and capture rain

[@GenghisVern]

Federal funding of state and local government via per-capita grants on behalf of every registered voter.... would overcome the solvency constraint and "race to the bottom" that prevents local governments from solving this themselves. It would also boost the economy tremendously.

[@zapatasghost]

sounds great - but chances are the grants would be earmarked to be used as part of "public-private" partnership hustles - which is what caused the crisis in the 1st place. Unfortunately our system always allows capitalism to trump (pun intended) democracy and basic public need. Capitalism = organized crime on a mass scale.

[@GenghisVern]

@@zapatasghost Local governments and private firms both have a solvency constraint, whereas federal government does not. The concern is corruption, not capitalism. As long as the rights of all citizens are secured to vote and to stand for office, then we should allow local government a great deal of latitude in the administration of federal funds.

[@GoodRaceVaxjo]

GoodRace is ON!

[@goofytycooner5519]

It's a good thing this channel has improved since the rant disguised as an educational video that was The Story Of Stuff.

[@zapatasghost]

Hmmm. Good and needed rant though. I'd like it be a bit more radical to be honest.

[@imasfatimah9650]

I love this channel so much. Theres no ytube channel like this in indonesia. But indonesia need this. I need your all videos in indonesian version. So i have an idea to create channel the story of stuff.id . The contents is all of your video but in indonesian. The narator is indonesian. But i dont understand about copyrigt ? Give me advice please. Or solution. Or what should i do ?

[@GrantWitherspoon]

You can do it!

[@daeyongdamianlim2449]

How does Cardi B's WAP gets 220,955,430 views and THIS video gets not even half of that

[@makennagary9776]

how long does it take to make a video like this in hours?

[@madhunbelur]

I feel the voice is at a very low pitch and not as lively as the ones in the various videos of "story of stuff project". I hope this comment is considered. Please.

[@lizpify]

That's ok, it's the voice of the actual mayor who is acting for good...ok with me

[@BenVost]

I wish Baltimore's mayor could say "Privatization" properly :) If Jimmy McNulty or Stringer Bell were around they could probably help. Even Jimmy Carcetti although he's Irish... ;)

[@MK-ih6wp]

And flouridated?

[@aurolyn2]

Great message, but could you have done a few more takes to correct the MULTIPLE times the narrator says "privazitation" rather than "privatization"?

[@yogayantra]

européistes, juste regardez le d.but. Vous comprendrez comment la privatisation de tout => une augmentation des dividendes + une diminution des investissements dans le renouveau de l'opération. Ici c'est l'EAU, comme les actionnaires veulent plus d'argent, ils diminuent les dépenses => les populations se retrouvent privées d'eau potable. La même chose se produit avec l'electricite, ou pour augmenter les dividendes, on diminue les services => coupures de courant, Ceci doit rester dans le domaine public. Or l'union europeenne = neo-liberalisme, rien d'autre.

[@DevieSefti]

Oh God...

[@sravanipriyanka6330]

nice

[@anjalisharma5780]

Hello everyone

[@olitesla5891]

Who’s here from Europe?

[@zbynekcodykolacek]

oli tesla Me

[@BenVost]

Me too. English guy, living in France so I know how the water systems work in two countries (at least from the bill paying end)

[@zbynekcodykolacek]

Ben Vost Corrupt Czech government has sold to foreign companies the water and sewage systems. People paying ridiculous money, well we have learned how not to waste water. Years ago towns and village started to buy back water systems..., the pipes falling apart.

[@olitesla5891]

Ben Vost I’m English as well, living in Brussels. Tap water is decent here.

[@zbynekcodykolacek]

oli tesla Well, I live for last 10 yrs Aspen/ Snowmass Village. Cheap and great quality water but yet, silly people still buy bottled drinks. I can not understand that!

[@LibertyFirst1789]

Not a human right.

[@abgarsargsyan6448]

Why are you spreading anti-capitalism messages?

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

Because capitalism doesn't work for most things and is becoming hugely obsolete.

[@abgarsargsyan6448]

@@PistonAvatarGuy Capitalism works!!! However, it is the human needs( not wants) where Capitalism fails to deliver. There is no better system than capitalism.

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

@@abgarsargsyan6448 Capitalism only works well for consumer goods and entertainment, public ownership is better almost everywhere else.

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

@@abgarsargsyan6448 Capitalism also can't cope with global warming, it can't cope with technological unemployment and it can't cope with the end of growth. We also can't solve the worst environmental problems with capitalism. Capitalism served us well to this point, but it's time to move on to something new.

[@abgarsargsyan6448]

@@PistonAvatarGuy Don't blame capitalism for global warming! Blame the government!! Because it is the government's responsibility to provide security and incentives to the people. Capitalism is working there's nothing wrong with it!!! It's only the government's fault!! If no capitalism then what system? The system it's not exist and it's only a dream that we will not reach within a centurys. There's no full capitalist governments USA is not fully capitalist.

[@madmodifier]

What a bunch of bunk. Why no pointing out the failure here is really that of the public representatives? Failure to do the basic duties they are responsible for, maintaining the infrastructure.

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

Because public representatives are only failing to do their jobs because they're bought out by private interests.

[@madmodifier]

@@PistonAvatarGuy Is that really your honest interpretation of the situation? You don't see municipalities doing major capital expense projects over the last 50 years with no plans towards maintaining them over the long run?

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

@@madmodifier Who is going to make those plans when all of the representatives are bought out by private interests?

[@JohannY2]

Anything that requires hard work and investment in infrastructure CANNOT be free unless you steal the money from someone else first.

[@dolph9913]

Another Politician telling us what is good and bad. We should dig deeper before we make rash decisions.

[@Ghonosyphlaids]

You're right! Let me just do a quick Google search... Nestle, they're successful, they must be doing good work- HOLY SHIT. Okay what about the corps that buy out small town water treatment- OH- OH WOW. Overwhelmingly exploitative, didn't see that coming! Maybe you should scratch the surface before telling people to dig deeper, huh?

[@GS42SCHOPAWE]

Kinda wish there was a white narrator so I can actually understand, guess I’ll settle for subtitles

[@pimpdaddytruth5751]

My teacher made me watch this

[@kupferonkel]

I‘ll make my kids watching this! 😉

[@emj602]

That’s a good thing. Same here.