Spain's water politics

Julian Pettifer in Spain

Over a million people have taken to the streets across Spain to demonstrate against a highly controversial brand of water politics.

The proposed scheme aims to divert part of the Ebro River in the north east of Spain to irrigate the parched South.

But, in one of the greatest public displays of anti-government sentiment since Franco, there are serious questions to be asked.

In the run-up to the Johannesburg summit on sustainable development, Julian Pettifer investigates why Spain has been so wasteful of its water resources.

He also questions the reasoning behind the Spanish Prime Minister saying the scheme will make his country "more unified, more caring and more just".

Crossing Continents -
Spain's water politics:
Thursday 8 August 2002 on BBC Radio 4 at 1100 BST.

Repeated on Monday 12 August 2002 on BBC Radio 4 at 2030 BST.

Reporter: Julian Pettifer
Producer: Lucy Ash
Editor: Maria Balinska