42 mins, 2008
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Water shortages are a global problem, affecting both the developed and developing world. These three films highlight what's happening in China, Spain and Cyprus.
FILM 1 CHINA
Inner Mongolia is one of China's largest and driest regions. It's never had much water, but global warming is now pushing the land and its people over the edge.
Villagers living near the town of Qingshuihe say that their communal waterhole started drying up around 10 years ago. Since then getting enough water to live has been a constant struggle and conflict over the fast diminishing supplies.
Over-farming is also playing a part. The land is becoming increasingly fragile. People are now being forced to abandon the countryside altogether.
The film highlights one village which has been deserted completely. The government built a new village closer to town and offered subsidised housing to those who agree to move down there.
This move from remote villages into town is being made by hundreds of thousands of people as part of a massive government programme. It's called "ecological migration".
The government-built village provides people with running water for the first time. But, without land, many of these former farmers are struggling for a livelihood.
FILM 2: SPAIN
2008 brought the city of Barcelona the worst drought in a century. Reservoir levels are at dangerous record lows.
In a desperate attempt to fix the water crisis the government has come up with a plan to pipe water from the mighty Ebro river to supply Barcelona.
But environmental activists believe the Ebro, Spain's most important river, is already stretched to breaking point and taking any more of its water will be the death knell for the river.
At the heart of the water problem, many argue, is simple over-consumption. The answer is a new global approach to water management and to get people to rethink how they use water.
Meanwhile Spain is looking to technology for help. Just south of Barcelona one of Europe's largest desalination plants is being built. It will produce 20% of Barcelona's water needs. But does it really hold a long-term answer to Spain's water problems?
FILM 3: CYPRUS
After four dry winters Cyprus's largest reservoir contains just 2.5% of its capacity. Things are so bad that the government has had to ship in water from Greece and ordered the construction of desalination plants.
The island's farmers were the first to be hit by the drought. Many complain of falling yields as the rains fail and the groundwater reserves diminish.
But it's not only farmers who're suffering. The town of Famagusta has long suffered from water shortages. But now, as its population grows and the groundwater reserves dry up, the situation is reaching crisis point. Families are struggling, as the authorities cut water supplies to reduce consumption.
Tourism is vital to the economy of the island, so the authorities are trying hard to protect this industry from the drought. The government gives priority to supplying water to hotels, but rising costs mean that many hoteliers are taking their own measures to cut consumption.
The island's politicians are at odds over how to solve the island's water problems. Some criticise government plans for desalination and attack plans to promote and expand golf tourism.
With Cyprus sweltering under the summer sun, people are asking what the future holds. Will the days ever return when water could be used without a second thought?
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