Summary Of The Big Mist By Charles Fishman

The documentary, Blue Gold, World Water Wars, was a dramatic depiction of the prognosis of our ability to sustain life on the earth if we don’t take very seriously the natural resource of water. The movie by Sam Bozzo was released in 2008 and is based on the book Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World’s Water by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke. The movie opens with a dramatic display of what happened to Pablo Valencia who in 1906 walked from Mexico to California in search of gold. He survived without water for 7 days and documented the experience. One of the most compelling statements from his experience was the statement, “who ever goes without water for a week, cries blood.” That statement was riveting and came to mind often during the course of viewing the movie. The filmmaker succeeded in galvanizing my attention with that opening frame. Bozzo highlights how extensively our ecosystem is being impacted by our seemingly lackluster regard for the water we have been given on earth. It seems as though some think water is an infinite resource. Contrarily the movie shows that our abuse of water is deteriorating water flows and threatening the sustainability of our ecosystem. The planet, human beings, plants, animals, fish, etc. all need water to survive.

“This is Water” will open the reader's eyes by using relatable subjects that the majority of society can understand. The author tries to convey the “ harsh “ truth of society using minuscule tasks can be the hardest

In the book The Big Thirst, Charles Fishman addresses the key issues of how water is abused in areas, like Las Vegas, and the era of “easy” water is over. Fishman explains where the largest amount of water is located and water’s presence in space. His book is mainly composed of case studies showing how water in certain areas, like Las Vegas and India, has been dwindling and the absence of preparation in those places when the water is almost gone. Lastly, he talks about the misconceptions of tap water and the lack of understanding communities and people in power have about the future of water. Fishman wants the reader to be crystal clear on how water has come to this point, the issues of water shortages, and the solutions to water problems.

He is completely right with the fact that water does not belong to only one person or a small group. What surprises me, is the fact that it has been seven years since the article was published, yet people are only noticing the dilemma because of the dwindling supply of water. The article states “However, the problem is poor management of water which results in scarcity and conflict” (Weiser). We have continued to waste our resources on a daily basis. We have developed the bad habit of taking an essential of survival such as water for granted.

“Water is important to people who do not have it, and the same is true to control,” (Didion). The article, “Holy Water” by Joan Didion draws parallelism to the controlling or lack of control of water by metaphorically comparing water to life. Analyzing the possibility of how people are taking water for granted, especially where rainfall is extremely sparse, Didion touches on how supply and demand of a natural resource is solely dependent on its availability and whether or not it is immediately needed. Didion’s use of tone, appealing to emotions, gathering the audience to develop a trust, and providing a direct insight into her purpose allows the reader to recognize the importance water has within the planet.

Water is an essential quality in life that you need to live. Yet many people don't realize that how important it is in life until it could be taken away. John Thorson, a water rights and lawyer, says “ water links us to our neighbor in a way more profound and complex than any other.” It is a way people are connected around economically, socially, and environmentally. Some struggle to have clean water to drink and others can not find clean water at all.

Water, like food, is a necessity for human life that is used for many purposes such as agricultural, industrial, and domestic systems. While water is a common element around the world not all of it is clean and able to be consumed or used by humans. With only a percentage of the world’s water being clean and the use of water increasing, the availability of water around the world has become a common issue in the developing and even the developed world. This may be a smaller problem in areas close to clean water sources compared to areas far from a clean water source but, the availability of water is not strictly based on location, it also depends on the specific political and social needs and issues of the area as well. These all become issues that must be accounted for when deciphering whether water is a basic human right or a commodity and what action must be taken to aid the developing water systems in community’s that lack them.

Didion mentions in her article about her amazement with the hydraulic pumps that humans have created to manipulate this powerful necessity that we call water. I think that this is a great point, because inventions like this go unnoticed by the general public on a day to day basis. We take for granted our warm water with high water pressure, but we do not think of what it took to get that water to us. I think that it is important to take time out of our days to think and appreciate all that is available to us, even if this is just something as simple as our water

The focus of this book was thoroughly established in the introduction section with very organized and

Charles Fishman a knowledgeable critique of the water crisis around the world understands that water is the most essential asset to a human being. Fishman argues in his Novel, The Big Thirst about waters necessity to human life. In his quote, “It is one of the ironies of our relationship to water that the moment it becomes unavailable, the moment it really disappears--that’s when water becomes most urgently visible.” can be related to a wide variety of topics that humans manage to take for granted when it runs out. Peace and Love relate to this quote for many reasons because they can both be lost and then that is when it becomes most clear that, it's what a person really wants, and/or needs.

Entertainment media, such as television and literature, have often used the archetypal plot tragedy. Tragedy is a plot in which greatness can be crushed and goodness, in turn, defeated. Often, a tragedy presents the challenges of adulthood, rather than a romanticized version of life, proclaiming beauty and youth. In a tragedy, a hero accepts a call to action to go on a journey, and, along the way, fate thwarts their efforts, and they perish or are defeated. Afterwards, the audience experience a feeling of catharsis, or “the releasing of a strong emotion (such as pity or fear)” (Merriam Webster). Director Michael Apted’s Golden Globes winning movie, Gorillas in the Mist, closely followed the plot of a tragedy. Apted uses archetypal characters, symbols, and pathos to portray a tragedy.

work. These themes and many more will be explored throughout this paper in an attempt

Throughout history, water has eternally served a salient purpose in keeping all forms of life alive to this day. However, water 's sustenance seems to have been appreciated more in past ages than it is currently. If you were to ask someone about the roles that water plays in our lives today, they would most likely say that it keeps us hydrated, our bodies clean, and our plants watered. It may seem that facile, but little do many people know about the numerous, distinct ways that water succors us in our daily lives. Water plays a vital role in our quotidian lives by making manufacturing, power, jobs, and the balance of nature attainable by communities.

“There is enough water in the world for everyone's need; there is not enough for everyone's greed.” (Natashaghica). This quote from Mahatma Gandhi shows that there has always been enough water to sustain life across the planet, but first world societies overconsumption is putting that water supply in jeopardy. First world societies see water as an infinite resource because of the large oceans covering the planet, but over 98% of that water is salt water and less than 1% is considered safe for human consumption (“Water Facts”). From the formation of water companies to the invention of faucets now in every room, the first world wastes more and more every day. Technological advances in consumer goods have caused first world societies to waste more water than ever.

Typically, water is an essential element that has kept us alive throughout centuries and has been around since our existence. It’s become a prioritized need humans strive for to survive on the daily. A cycle in which we need to be aware of not only because of its significant value, but also because of the situation its causing to people around the world. Our world is made up of 71 percent of water, but only 3 percent is considered natural fresh water. This makes up that 68 percent of water is mostly found in oceans or elsewhere. Water that we can’t use. Meaning we can’t consume the water into our bodies or use it in our daily needs such as