World running dry

[Richard]

Originally Posted by gerrit

The people in third world countries cannot afford it. Anyways, something that falls out of the sky shouldn't be thought of as a commodity.

There would be more than enough water for everyone if corporate enterprises and the World Bank would just butt out.

We need democratically elected governments to stand up to corporate dictatorship.

They need to ensure that water is distributed justly; and above all, must enact prudent policies of water conservation.

Just because it falls out of the sky doesn't mean we shouldn't put a value on it. Although the actual rainfall is essentially "free", the water still needs storing, treating, pumping etc and all of this costs money. So there has to be some value attached to it. Typically, Western countries have tended to undervalue their water resources (in economic terms), hence why there has historically been so much wastage (why bother to conserve what is essentially a free good?).

Water can be traded internationally but it's expensive to do so, e.g. it could be transported from Canada to Africa. However the cost to do this would be high since water is bulky and weighs a lot. A more cost effective option would probably be to invest directly in the countries that need the help, such as investing in water conservation projects, rainwater harvesting, further resource development etc. Of course you could always "donate" water from Canada to Africa but you would still have to pay transport costs etc (so not really very cost effective).

[gerrit]

[quote=screener;249734]It seems to me that there is plenty of water in the great lakes, what is the difference between that and any other body of water?


The Great Lakes are heavily strained by water consumption now. Lake Michigan alone is losing over 2.5 billion gallons of water a day ( see a fresh squeeze ). In 2007, Lake Superior's water-level receded more than 15 meters from its shoreline ( Blue Covenant ).

This is why it is important to revise the resolution set forth by the Great Lakes Pact. The agreement must not allow the commercialization of Great Lake waters and it must enact better rules concerning water conservation.

[gerrit]

Originally Posted by Richard

Just because it falls out of the sky doesn't mean we shouldn't put a value on it. Although the actual rainfall is essentially "free", the water still needs storing, treating, pumping etc and all of this costs money. So there has to be some value attached to it. Typically, Western countries have tended to undervalue their water resources (in economic terms), hence why there has historically been so much wastage (why bother to conserve what is essentially a free good?).

Water can be traded internationally but it's expensive to do so, e.g. it could be transported from Canada to Africa. However the cost to do this would be high since water is bulky and weighs a lot. A more cost effective option would probably be to invest directly in the countries that need the help, such as investing in water conservation projects, rainwater harvesting, further resource development etc. Of course you could always "donate" water from Canada to Africa but you would still have to pay transport costs etc (so not really very cost effective).

I agree somewhat with most of what you've written, but this is the problem. The World Bank already funds water services in many third world countries. They also lay out the conditions and it chooses the companies that will manage these water services. Rates are then unreasonably jacked-up beyond what many can afford. This leaves thousands of people without access to safe drinking water.

[gerrit]

A more cost effective option would probably be to invest directly in the countries that need the help, such as investing in water conservation projects, rainwater harvesting, further resource development etc. ( QUOTE )



Yes, but deals like this must be struck solely among nation's governments; not the World Bank. The World Bank is not a democratically elected institution and they tend to unfairly tie their issues up in courts of law in order to get what they want. This has happened in Ghana (see pg. 118 of Blue Covenant) for one example. Governments should also select, by tender, qualified, responsible companies on their own to manage these water services abroad.

[gerrit]

Originally Posted by screener

It seems to me that there is plenty of water in the great lakes, what is the difference between that and any other body of water?

I think Canada can help people in desperate regions with appropriate technologies for making better use of and resolving the safety of water issues. Foreign companies working within such areas should be subject to the same kind of water usage regulations as at home, in accordance with local availability.

Exporting our water is a poorer idea than exporting our oil and gas. At least with them it's only going to be us that suffers the lack later.

It's okay to use water from lakes and rivers; afterall humanity cannot survive without it. The problem begins when we take out more water than can be renewed.

Each day four trillion liters of water are pumped from the Great Lakes for consumption ( see Blue Covenant ). According to Freshwater Website - Environment Canada / Site Web sur l'eau douce - Environnement Canada, only 1% of the waters of the Great Lakes are renewed each year by snowmelt and rain. This is why parts of the Great Lakes have record low water levels..

[William Djubin]

Decisions are being made daily regarding water, with very important questions still on the table.
How much inland water can we pollute without killing all water bodies?
How much water should we sequester for our Energy ambitions?
Many governments are plowing ahead with Agriculture for Energy initiatives and increased Nuclear power alternatives without researching the affects on their water bodies.

Bottom line is we are facing a severe global water shortage, and our Oceans are in trouble.
-a quote from Vikki Spriull, President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy.
"The ocean is sick, and we have a personal responsibility to help sustain the life support system that sustains us. There are things we can do every day to fight for healthy, thriving waters."

Just today my local government (Palm Beach County Florida) proclaimed its commitment to funding and expanding Ethanol and Biomass production while continuing to disregard Wind as an alternative. Another Wind spill missed in Florida.

[screener]

Originally Posted by gerrit

It's okay to use water from lakes and rivers; afterall humanity cannot survive without it. The problem begins when we take out more water than can be renewed.

Each day four trillion liters of water are pumped from the Great Lakes for consumption ( see Blue Covenant ). According to Freshwater Website - Environment Canada / Site Web sur l'eau douce - Environnement Canada, only 1% of the waters of the Great Lakes are renewed each year by snowmelt and rain. This is why parts of the Great Lakes have record low water levels..

Hey, gerrit, If you add in uncertainty about what the future holds for renewal each year due to global warming the Great Lakes have a very serious problem. I agree that any water use pact within the States or between the states and Canada should be re-evaluated given lower snowfalls, changing jet streams, more erratic rainfall patterns.

What I was saying is that it isn't just humans who use the water in our lakes and streams. This is pretty obvious. How do you determine what is surplus if all the water in the Mackenzie for example is used to support the ecosystems presently evolving along its banks and in its waters.

[gerrit]

Originally Posted by screener

Hey, gerrit, If you add in uncertainty about what the future holds for renewal each year due to global warming the Great Lakes have a very serious problem. I agree that any water use pact within the States or between the states and Canada should be re-evaluated given lower snowfalls, changing jet streams, more erratic rainfall patterns.

What I was saying is that it isn't just humans who use the water in our lakes and streams. This is pretty obvious. How do you determine what is surplus if all the water in the Mackenzie for example is used to support the ecosystems presently evolving along its banks and in its waters.

I still believe that there is more than enough water to sustain humanity's core needs. The Nile, for example, has sustained the people in Egypt for eons.

The sale of large volumes of water by large corporations, whether it be soda pop or bottled water, is at the root cause of many of the world's water shortages. Many aren't aware, I don't think, that these expropriating lechers are set up all over the world like in Africa and Asia; not just North America and Europe.

[gerrit]

I think Canada can help people in desperate regions with appropriate technologies for making better use of and resolving the safety of water issues. QUOTE]


How does technology create water where there isn't any?

Often, where there was sufficient water to sustain the locals; it's been stolen by western corporations driven by their greed.

[Richard]

My hamster died yesterday. It's the fault of evil corporations if you ask me!