The world is running out of water. Some of our largest rivers now trickle into sand miles from the ocean exhausted by human need. Water is 'the new oil' - except we can live without oil; there are no alternatives to fresh water. RED PEARCE explores the complex origins of the growing world water crisis. His vivid reportage reveals the personal stories behind failing rivers, barren fields, desertification, floods, water wars, and even the death of cultures. s there hope? Yes - but only if we revolutiuonize the way we treat water. This phenomenally important book shows us just how essential it is that each of us takes responsibility for the water we use now - before all our rivers run dry.

Author Biography

Fred Pearce is a former news editor at New Scientist magazine, and is currently its environment and development consultant. He has written 14 previous books, which have been published in the UK and US and translated into French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Norwegian and Portugueseis. He writes regularly for the Independent and the Times Higher Education Supplement, the Boston Globe and Foreign Policy in the US. He is also syndicated in Japan, Australia and elsewhere and has filed articles from more than 50 countries in the past decade. e was voted BEMA Environment Journalist of the Year in 2001 and has been short-listed for the same award in 2000, 2002 and 2003. He is a past recipient of the Peter Kent Conservation Book Award and the TES Junior Information Book Award. His books have been translated into eight languages. e is a regular broadcaster on radio and TV, with interview credits from Today to Richard and Judy to the Open University.