BAGHDAD &

ABU DHABI

OIL, WATER,

BLOOD

Across the Persian Gulf from the UAE lies Iraq, the ancient Mesopotamia -

land “between the rivers” Euphrates and Tigris,

the cradle of Western civilization, dating back 7000 years to the Sumerians and Assyro-Babylonians

Iraq is rich in water, but richer still

in oil

-- as are Abu Dhabi and Dubai

(UAE)

with almost 1 million

dead over the past 5 years

Its own oil has drenched

Iraq in blood,

Abu Dhabi’s and Dubai’s oil in only 3 decades built the wealthiest cities in the world, competing with New York, Tokyo and Shanghai -- and Las

Vegas in ostentation

In Dubai and Abu Dhabi the tallest buildings in the world are being built by millions of exploited immigrant workers living in slums…

Where will the water come from to sustain these mega-cities? How long can such cities survive?

Or will a war destroy them first, like Baghdad?

Story and presentation by Athena Tacha, © 2008

Statement:

“I was struck by the simultaneous existence in the same space -- on the Persian Gulf, across each other -- of two countries (and their capitals) both built on oil, one being destroyed because of it, the other flourishing at an amazing pace and with incredible ostentation, based on the same western materialism, exploitation and technology that is destroying not only Iraq, but the entire Earth. Global warming is only one result of human abuse of this planet. The fresh water crisis is approaching faster than we thought, and all mega-cities (the past as well as the new ones) are going to suffer, if not collapse. Where are Abu Dhabi and Dubai getting the water to mix their endless concrete and to create huge gardens in the desert, when people all over Africa wait in line for days to fill a few gallon-cans for their personal needs? The new wars will be about water.” A.T.

Statement:

“I was struck by the simultaneous existence in the same space -- on the Persian Gulf, across each other -- of two countries (and their capitals) both built on oil, one being destroyed because of it, the other flourishing at an amazing pace and with incredible ostentation, based on the same western materialism, exploitation and technology that is destroying not only Iraq, but the entire Earth. Global warming is only one result of human abuse of this planet. The fresh water crisis is approaching faster than we thought, and all mega-cities (the past as well as the new ones) are going to suffer, if not collapse. Where are Abu Dhabi and Dubai getting the water to mix their endless concrete and to create huge gardens in the desert, when people all over Africa wait in line for days to fill a few gallon-cans for their personal needs? The new wars will be about water.” A.T.

Statement:

“I was struck by the simultaneous existence in the same space -- on the Persian Gulf, across each other -- of two countries (and their capitals) both built on oil, one being destroyed because of it, the other flourishing at an amazing pace and with incredible ostentation, based on the same western materialism, exploitation and technology that is destroying not only Iraq, but the entire Earth. Global warming is only one result of human abuse of this planet. The fresh water crisis is approaching faster than we thought, and all mega-cities (the past as well as the new ones) are going to suffer, if not collapse. Where are Abu Dhabi and Dubai getting the water to mix their endless concrete and to create huge gardens in the desert, when people all over Africa wait in line for days to fill a few gallon-cans for their personal needs? The new wars will be about water.” A.T.

With photos and maps mainly from Wikipedia