Water is often taken for granted in the US, especially in water rich areas . However, the battle over water affects us to this date.

Take the Darfur crisis for example. In early 2003, Arab Baggara nomad tribes began moving their livestock south. Decades of drought and no water management left them with no choice. They started to displace non-Arab farming communities, birthing the conflict. Latest numbers: 450,000 dead, 2.5 million people displaced. All of this over water.

In 2004, PBS aired the documentary “Thirst”, detailing the struggles of three public communities (Rajasthan – India, Cochabamba – Bolivia, and Stockton – California) losing control of their public water to private companies.

The documentary raises a fundamental question: Is water a human right or a commodity? That question is the basis for an ever growing social war.