Welcome to this year's first Water News, now snarkily called Dead Water News. Even though Climate Change happens to be the premier issue of our time, the current US administration, with the help of a bullied Senate, passed up the chance to implement comprehensive legislation once and for all which would have seen the world's major polluters penalized for releasing carbon dioxide, among other laws. I seem to recall that President Obama, who had described climate change as "the greatest moral challenge of our time", and who entered office vowing to address it, seems to have caved in to special interests and scuttled his own vows, for now. Worldwide climate change accords appear to be dead in the water. Problem is, desertification does not sleep.
Recent Pakistan, Chinese & Australian floods have not occurred without reason. Only the feeble-minded like Glenn Beck, Senator Inhofe and their bought ilk would point out the exact opposite. In the very near future water shortages will shift public perception of the inherent value of water, prodding governments and multinationals alike to view potable water not as another commodity to exploit but as our most precious resource. Over the jump for the latest on the good, the bad and the real ugly.
Feeding China in 2030:
Among the most pressing issues any government must face is its country's ability to feed its people. Handled properly, a nation's ability to feed itself can lead to new export opportunities; handled poorly, governments can fall on the issue, and worse. Source
Bangalore thirsting for more water:
Those living on the new Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) areas struggled through the year, finding it tough to quench their thirst. The New Year will see increase in demand. Source
Northern Kenya pupils miss school over drought:
More than 1,000 pupils in Marsabit North district might not report to school for the first term since their parents have migrated to Ethiopia in search of pasture for livestock. Source
Fact: we use water more efficiently when we pay for it:
Every calorie of an average diet needs one liter of water to produce. This is where 70% of all fresh water drawn for human use is expended. Water shortages – falling water tables, dried-out rivers etc – will, therefore, endanger agriculture and food supplies. Source
Water experts slam Australia's Abbott's dam plan:
It's a misunderstanding of the natural system in Australia, which goes from big droughts to big floods ... [Mr Abbott's proposal] is a bit of a knee-jerk reaction and an old-fashioned view on this kind of issue, when most of the international research shows dams to be detrimental to the environment. Source
Even the Dalai Lama wants to go green:
Frustrated by the stagnation of five decades of political wrestling with Beijing over Tibet's future, analysts say, the Dalai Lama now hopes that pressing Beijing over climate change in Tibet will attract more attention and support inside and outside of China. Source
Scientists Push Desalination To Meet Water Shortages:
While China faces grave water shortages, researchers at institutions across the country are working on new water- saving and desalination technologies that they hope can alleviate the crisis in the crucial years to come. Source
Nature wreaked havoc throughout 2010:
John Stone, a climate scientist at Carleton University, said nature alone may not be responsible for this year's weather extremes. He says these are the kinds of things scientists predict will become more frequent, and devastating, because of global warming. Source
Mining Groundwater in India Reaches New Lows:
Nearly a third of India is suffering from chronic water shortages, and making up for it with "the world's largest groundwater mining operation," according to experts. Source
And now the Good News: $3 key chain could be the end of the World’s water crisis:
Four students from the University of Washington may be closer than ever to solving the world’s clean water shortage after designing a gizmo to aid in the solar purification of water. Source