No way back: Water

H2wOe

Synopsis

This RT documentary discusses and illustrates the global water problems associated with the Anthropocene mainly through two examples: the water supply and land subsidence problems faced by Jakarta; and the drying up and degradation of Lake Poopo in Bolivia. The film alternates between footages of the impact of these problems on local populations, short interviews of local officials or experts, and an overall commentary that attempts to scale up these problems to wider statements on the water crisis generated by humans.

This RT documentary discusses and illustrates the global water problems associated with the Anthropocene mainly through two examples: the water supply and land subsidence problems faced by Jakarta; and the drying up and degradation of Lake Poopo in Bolivia. The film alternates between footages of the impact of these problems on local populations, short interviews of local officials or experts, and an overall commentary that attempts to scale up these problems to wider statements on the water crisis generated by humans.

Analysis

This film is one more addition to the growing number of documentaries that emphasize the multifarious water-related challenges faced by humankind. It is rather short (26 min) which, obviously, makes its ambitious objective challenging.

Like most of these films, No way back starts from a few local experiences to discuss the causes of problems that range from poor access to potable water and sanitation, pollution and contamination, drying lakes, or sinking cities. As usual, global statistics are lined up to underline that the third of humankind does not have proper access to potable water, that ensuring proper domestic water supply is problematic in cities as diverse as São Paulo, Cape Town, New Delhi, Mexico City and Los Angeles, that half of the world population lives near areas where sea level is rising, while the UN estimates that by the middle of the 21st century one human out of two will face water scarcity.

The overall narrative is somewhat confusing. On the one hand, some parts stress that water resource mismanagement has a bigger impact that climate change (e.g. the sea level rise in Jakarta is in the order of 8 mm per year, while land subsidence -mostly associated with the overabstraction of groundwater- can be as high as 20 cm per year; Lake Poopo degradation is largely due to the contamination and siltation provoked by mining activities). But on the other, Malthusian statements about growing population and water needs, global warming, shortsighted policies by rich countries striving to maintain an affluent lifestyle are distilled along the film. All these different factors are undoubtedly relevant but they are presented in an unstructured way, which leaves the viewer uncertain about where the problem really lies and what could be done about it.

The documentary well illustrates the hopelessness of local authorities. In Jakarta an interviewed official states that efforts are being made to curb groundwater abstraction and 'one day' to eradicate it, with a face expressing that she probably does not believe herself in what she says. In Bolivia, local officials are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem and its different drivers. The viewer is left with a sense of looming disaster that can only translate in populations being displaced from their toxic and/or life-threatening environments, as the recent decision to move the capital of Indonesia away from Jakarta suggests…

F.Molle

 

Additional Info

  • Director: undefined
  • Producer: RT
  • Language: English
  • Year: 2020
  • Duration (min): 52
  • Theme: Water scarcity, Climate change, Water governance, Flood, Water cycle & hydrology
  • Access: Free
  • Country: Bolivia, Indonesia
  • Technical quality (star): Technical quality (star)
  • Academic interest (star): Academic interest (star)
  • Societal interest (star): Societal interest (star)
  • Technical quality: 4
  • Academic quality: 3.5
  • Social interest: 4