The United Nations Development Programme says about one billion people – one in six of us – cannot get to safe drinking water. The thirst for water is up due to population growth, as are the demands for electric power and a clean environment. In these heady times of commercial growth, water, power and other poverty alleviation projects are increasingly about a healthy rate of development. For growing economies in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America, the fight pits progress against pollution. The call for allies produces Norwegian experts.