Water apocalypse? Yep, coming to a reservoir or an aquifer near you, in the not too distant future. Water is the essence of life, sustaining every being on this planet. Without water, there would simply be no plants, no animals, and us, the main culprits. But the global water supply isn't just at risk, it's already in crisis as I post these links below the fold. This scarce resource is facing heavy and unsustainable demand from users of all kinds, and farmers increasingly have to compete for water with urban residents and industries. Scientists and resource specialists say freshwater scarcity, even in unexpected places, not only threatens farm productivity, but limits growth, increases business expenses, and drains local treasuries.
“I truly believe we’re moving into an era of water scarcity throughout the United States,”
said Peter Gleick, science advisor to Circle of Blue and president of the Pacific Institute, a think tank specializing in water issues based in Oakland, California.
“That by itself is going to force us to adopt more efficient management techniques.”
Water scarcity is not just an American problem, it's being felt worldwide.
Will there be enough water to grow food for the almost 8 billion people expected to populate the Earth by 2025? That is the trillion dollar question, IMHO. It is impossible to answer this without an understanding of the evolving relationship between water availability and food production, global warming and deforestation. The following links are bleak and show the stark truth: we do not have a handle on water scarcity as yet. There are some bright spots such as reverse osmosis and new gadgets to collect water in remote deserts among other news but I fear that water is being privatized right under our noses and not much is being legislated to address this crucial issue.
However, so that I can also report some good news, next week I will write a diary that focuses on one wonderful person that is making water available to quite a few souls, free of charge and without conditions. We need altruism badly on this earth.
Water for all, or for profit?:
An attempt by the Ghana government to privatise water supply has met with fierce resistance. A group called the National Coalition Against Water Privatisation has rejected a proposal by the World Bank which urges the Ghana Government to consider privatising water supply in the country. Source
Northwestern India's breadbasket is running out of water:
The water table is declining in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana and the national capital, New Delhi - the breadbasket of India - according to a NASA report. Source
Managing scarce water resources in the European Union:
While Europe is by and large considered as having adequate water resources, water scarcity is an increasingly frequent phenomenon in the European Union. Source
Two die fighting over water:
With the monsoon continuing to play truant in Punjab, two farmers lost their lives in a village near here after they were clubbed to death following a row over sharing canal water in paddy fields. Source
Somalia: Desperate Water Shortage in Somaliland:
The self-declared republic of Somaliland has been gripped by a drought that has left thousands of families and their livestock in desperate need of water, officials say. Source
You have to be strong and fight to get the water:
When rain fell in the village of Konton, on the Kenya-Somalia border, the local community thought they were saved from the impending drought. Instead, the water crisis is getting even worse. Source
Satellites Unlock Secret To Northern India's Vanishing Water:
Using satellite data, UC Irvine and NASA hydrologists have found that groundwater beneath northern India has been receding by as much as 1 foot per year over the past decade – and they believe human consumption is almost entirely to blame. Source
Water crisis to hit Asian food:
Scientists have warned Asian countries that they face chronic food shortages and likely social unrest if they do not improve water management. The water experts are meeting at a UN-sponsored conference in Sweden. Source
And finally I urge you to read Dr Peter Gleick's interview here, where he speaks about unsustainable water usage.
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