Water Wars

The article, “Water Wars: Bottling Up the World’s Supply of H2O” tells how tap water is healthier and more environmentally friendly than bottled water. It is about getting the world to be aware of this problem and change the misconception that bottled water is healthier than tap.

“Water Wars: Bottling Up the World’s Supply of H2O”by Joshua Ortega was published in The Seattle Times on March 21, 2005. This article is aimed towards the people living in America. It is to get the audience aware of the water problem and to encourage them to take action.

1. Rhetorical Question: But how can bottled water be contaminated and still be sold in the U.S.?
-This question appeals to pathos and is one that does not need an answer, but causes the reader to think about the issue of contaminated bottled water. The reader gets more involved in the issue by considering different answers to this question.

2. Simile: Whether in America or less-developed countries, the evidence is as clear as the plastic it’s sold in-bottled water, compared to good tap water is not worth the costs, whether they be environmental, health-related or economic.
-This simile appeals to pathos and causes the reader to stay focused on the negative aspects of bottled water. In this sentence, the reader is reminded of the plastic bottles that are not environmentally friendly.

3. Diction: Indeed, it is a strange day when the same corporation that makes bombs and missiles also owns your water, an “industry” that putatively will be the major focus of this century’s wars.
-This appeal to pathos. The emotions of the audience are being affected by the word choices. Bombs and missiles send out negative and bad vibes that cause the reader to have a negative feeling towards the water companies.

4. Allusion: So much fuss was made about France’s opposition to the war in Iraq, yet there was little or no public outcry over the selling of U.S. water companies to foreign interest.
- The allusion appeals to pathos and also logos. The war in Iraq has had a huge effect on Americans and brings sensitive feelings to the audience. This allusion makes the reader think about the importance of the situation compared to the war in Iraq.

5. Overstatement: The IMF and the World Bank are actively promoting water privatization as a solution to the world’s water problems.
- This appeals to pathos; promoting water privatization will not end all the world’s water problems. This overstatement causes the reader to believe that water privatization can end all the water problems in the world, which makes this important to the audience.

6. Overstatement: Taking away your water is the same thing as putting a gun to your head.
-This overstatement appeals to pathos. It causes strong emotions to be felt by the audience. Putting a gun to your head sends negative feelings to the audience and puts the issue of bottled water on a much more important level. It causes the reader become more serious about the issue because putting a gun to your head is a very serious thing.