Vandana Shiva,Globalization’s New Wars: SEED, WATER AND LIFE FORMS by Vandana Shiva, New Delhi, feminist fine print, 2005, 120 pp. Rs 250/-, ISBN: 81-88965-17-0
Vandana Shiva’s Globalization’s New Wars: SEED, WATER AND LIFE FORMS is an attempt to depict the impacts of globalisation on ecology and rural economy of India. She gives a detailed account of how ecological tools such as seed, water, and life forms were used by the corporate and capitalist world for capturing natural resources and ultimately the economy of different nations. Shiva insists that, new technologies of production and free trade are tools of war. As described by Shiva – ” Here, we have just another form of ‘weapons of mass destruction’ which kill millions in peace time by robbing them for food and water, thus poisoning the web of life.”
According to Shiva, globalisation is a kind of economic war. Where the ultimate aim is to control the markets of different nations. She had tried to prove her point in Indian context, that globalisation is trying to imprint its effects on Indian markets and economy. This book is intended for general reading and up to high level it achieved success in establishing its view point.
The book is organised into five chapters , which subsequently deals with Biodiversity Wars, Seed Wars, Water Wars, Biopiracy and Earth Democracy. In the first chapter Shiva had given the details that how the multinational corporations are ruining the country rural economy; and the change in ownership over resources from poor peasants and farmers to multinationals. Shiva had dealt with issue like “free trade”; “price regulation”; “industrialized agriculture” and how these policies had aggravated the poor people problems and ultimately became reasons for biodiversity loss and famine in several occasions. In the end of chapter one she had given the account of alternative model of agriculture. She had written that famine in many parts of the country is only due to lack of access of food, due to wrong policies and inability of proper functioning of government institutions, and not due to lack of food production in the country.
In second chapter, Seed Wars, Shiva had dealt with the issue of seeds. According to Shiva, the process of globalisation have augmented monoculture. The harm-full effects of GM seeds have also been shown by author. Shiva had also given account of how multinationals had played their role in making of India’s Patent Act in May 2002. In the end of chapter she had described Bija Satyagraha.
Chapter three, Water Wars deals with issue of control of public resource ( Water) by corporates for their own profit making. Shiva had vividly given the account of Plachimada, where the issue revolves around ground water depletion due to indiscriminate use by Coca Cola Company. The control over Water of Ganges and the protest which evolved in retaliation had been also described.
In cheaper four, Biopiracy, author had dealt with IPR, TRIPS, GATT, and other trade related Acts, and how these acts aggravated the Biopiracy. She had given detail account how patent acts helped the multinationals to take the patent right over many items which were being used by Indian people from antiquity.
Chapter five, Earth Democracy, deals how globalisation is changing nature of democracy. According to Shiva, globalisation only helps multinationals and developed world in robbing millions of poor of their right to life. Globalisation is a political tool to achieve the various objectives of developed world. She had also shown the path to deal with this issue in the end of chapter five.
The book is being written in simple lucid language, author had given various account to support her arguments. One thing which i found lacking is the proper references, due to which it lose its credibility in academic circle. The issue of globalisation and its effect is very much contentious. So, the debate is quite relevant. She had tried to show the grey side of globalisation. Overall it’s an enjoyable reading, which raises a lot of queries and questions in readers mind, which he/she have to chase from other sources.
