Fiche à imprimer : Water wars : la lutte pour l'or bleu (Tle)

Anglais	Français
water scarcity	la pénurie d'eau
Water is sometimes called "blue gold".	L'eau est parfois appelée « l'or bleu ».
A dam upstream can reduce the water flowing downstream.	Un barrage en amont peut réduire l'eau qui coule en aval.
Rivers cross borders, so countries must share them.	Les fleuves traversent les frontières, donc les pays doivent les partager.
By 2050, demand will have increased considerably.	D'ici 2050, la demande aura considérablement augmenté.
Unless we cooperate, water could become a source of conflict.	À moins de coopérer, l'eau pourrait devenir une source de conflit.

L'eau douce est inégalement répartie et de plus en plus sollicitée par l'agriculture, les villes et le changement climatique, qui multiplie les sécheresses (droughts). On la surnomme « l'or bleu » (blue gold). Comme de nombreux fleuves traversent plusieurs pays, un barrage (a dam) construit en amont (upstream) peut inquiéter les pays situés en aval (downstream) : c'est le cas du Nil, avec le grand barrage construit par l'Éthiopie, ou du Mékong. Pourtant, l'histoire montre que l'eau pousse aussi souvent à coopérer qu'à se battre. Grammaire : futur antérieur (By 2050, demand will have increased) et unless (à moins que, sauf si).

Mise en situation : le cours de géopolitique en anglais

Teacher : Why do some experts talk about future "water wars"?

Pourquoi certains experts parlent-ils de futures « guerres de l'eau » ?

Amara : Because water is becoming scarce. By 2050, the world's population will have grown and droughts will be more frequent.

Parce que l'eau devient rare. D'ici 2050, la population mondiale aura augmenté et les sécheresses seront plus fréquentes.

Teacher : Can you give an example of tension between countries?

Pouvez-vous donner un exemple de tension entre pays ?

Oliver : The Nile. Ethiopia built a huge dam upstream, and Egypt, downstream, is worried about having less water.

Le Nil. L'Éthiopie a construit un énorme barrage en amont, et l'Égypte, en aval, craint d'avoir moins d'eau.

Amara : But water doesn't always lead to war. Many countries have signed agreements to share rivers.

Mais l'eau ne mène pas toujours à la guerre. Beaucoup de pays ont signé des accords pour partager les fleuves.

Teacher : Exactly. So, to conclude?

Exactement. Alors, pour conclure ?

Oliver : Unless countries cooperate, water could become a major source of conflict. But it can also bring them together.

À moins que les pays ne coopèrent, l'eau pourrait devenir une source majeure de conflit. Mais elle peut aussi les rapprocher.

À retenir

water scarcity, a drought, blue gold, a river, a dam, upstream, downstream, a border, an agreement, a conflict.
By 2050, ... will have + participe passé (futur antérieur) ; Unless... ; is worried about + V-ing ; doesn't always lead to... ; to bring together ; to conclude.

Exercice 1 : La lutte pour l'or bleu : exercice 1 (QCM)

« la pénurie d'eau »
1. water scarecrow
2. water scarcity
3. water scare
« une sécheresse »
1. a draught of beer
2. a drought
3. a dryness of
« un barrage »
1. a dam
2. a dame
3. a barrier of water
« en amont »
1. upstream
2. upriver of
3. downstream
« D'ici 2050, la demande aura augmenté. »
1. By 2050, demand will have increased.
2. By 2050, demand will increased.
3. Until 2050, demand has increased.
« à moins que les pays ne coopèrent »
1. unless countries cooperate
2. unless countries don't cooperate
3. unless countries will cooperate
« L'Égypte craint d'avoir moins d'eau. »
1. Egypt worries about have fewer water.
2. Egypt is worried about having less water.
3. Egypt is worried to have less water.
« signer des accords »
1. to sing agreements
2. to sign agreeing
3. to sign agreements
« rapprocher (des pays) »
1. to bring together
2. to bring closer of
3. to bring along together of
Le grand barrage cité en exemple se trouve sur...
1. le Rhin
2. le Nil
3. la Tamise

Exercice 2 : La lutte pour l'or bleu : exercice 2 (à compléter)

Water is becoming .......................... .
By 2050, the population will .......................... grown.
Droughts will be more .......................... .
Ethiopia built a huge .......................... upstream.
Egypt is worried about .......................... less water. (have)
Water doesn't always lead to .......................... .
Many countries have signed .......................... .
.......................... countries cooperate, water could become a source of conflict.
It can also bring them .......................... .
Water is sometimes called "blue .......................... ".

Exercice 3 : La lutte pour l'or bleu : mise en situation

Pourquoi certains experts parlent-ils de guerres de l'eau ?
1. Why do some experts talk about water wars?
2. Why do some experts talks about water wars?
3. Why some experts talk about water wars?
L'eau devient rare.
1. Water is becoming scarce.
2. The water becomes scarcely.
3. Water is becoming scare.
D'ici 2050, la population aura augmenté.
1. Until 2050, the population has grown.
2. By 2050, the population will have grew.
3. By 2050, the population will have grown.
Pouvez-vous donner un exemple ?
1. Could you giving an example?
2. Can you give a example?
3. Can you give an example?
L'Égypte, en aval, craint d'avoir moins d'eau.
1. Egypt, upstream, is worried about having less water.
2. Egypt, downstream, is worried about having less water.
3. Egypt, downstream, is worried to having less water.
L'eau ne mène pas toujours à la guerre.
1. Water doesn't always lead to war.
2. Water doesn't always leads to war.
3. Water always doesn't lead to war.
Beaucoup de pays ont signé des accords.
1. Many countries have sign agreements.
2. Much countries have signed agreements.
3. Many countries have signed agreements.
Pour conclure...
1. In conclude...
2. For concluding of...
3. To conclude...
À moins que les pays ne coopèrent...
1. If countries don't cooperate not...
2. Unless countries won't cooperate...
3. Unless countries cooperate...
Elle peut aussi les rapprocher.
1. It can also brings them together.
2. It can also bring them together.
3. It can bring also they together.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) water scarcity · 2. b) a drought · 3. a) a dam · 4. a) upstream · 5. a) By 2050, demand will have increased. · 6. a) unless countries cooperate · 7. b) Egypt is worried about having less water. · 8. c) to sign agreements · 9. a) to bring together · 10. b) le Nil

Exercice 2

1. scarce · 2. have · 3. frequent · 4. dam · 5. having · 6. war · 7. agreements · 8. Unless · 9. together · 10. gold

Exercice 3

1. a) Why do some experts talk about water wars? · 2. a) Water is becoming scarce. · 3. c) By 2050, the population will have grown. · 4. c) Can you give an example? · 5. b) Egypt, downstream, is worried about having less water. · 6. a) Water doesn't always lead to war. · 7. c) Many countries have signed agreements. · 8. c) To conclude... · 9. c) Unless countries cooperate... · 10. b) It can also bring them together.