One statement can be seen as the premise for National Geographic’s Water: Global Challenges & Policy of Freshwater Use (2013): “Water is life” (p.8). The book discusses how access to clean freshwater is not only essential to our survival, but shows it is also a contested resource. With much freshwater being unavailable due to location, sustainable water management decisions are an important part of supporting regions across the globe. National Geographic’s book elaborates on multiple freshwater issues and highlights how important water is to our survival. Providing regional, water-related examples of conflict, critical challenges, mitigation efforts, and economic importance it reveals many common themes regarding freshwater and its global importance.
According to the International Water Management Institute environmental research organisation global water stress is increasing, and a third of all people face some sort of water scarcity. Where demand exceeds supply and no effective management operates, there will be conflicts between the various players involved.
The author of "Water" develops their claim by giving their argument, stating water-related challenges, arguing the right to water, setting goals, and lastly, explaining the importance of water to hygiene and sanitation. In order to raise awareness, the author gives staggering facts about the issue and possible solutions. This author uses informative yet convincing language pointing his article at an audience who is researching the problem or those who would like to contribute to the
Different societies around the world have different moral codes, but the importance of water is valued and respected everywhere. Most if not all societies agree with the principles of human dignity and equality for all people. Water is the basis for human survival, which can unite and create solidarity between civilizations. Instead, water is dividing civilizations, causing tension over the precious resource.
The goal of this paper is intended to provide the legal, political, social, economic, ecological dimensions of water resource policy
Water, like food, is a necessity for human life that is used for many purposes such as agricultural, industrial, and domestic systems. While water is a common element around the world not all of it is clean and able to be consumed or used by humans. With only a percentage of the world’s water being clean and the use of water increasing, the availability of water around the world has become a common issue in the developing and even the developed world. This may be a smaller problem in areas close to clean water sources compared to areas far from a clean water source but, the availability of water is not strictly based on location, it also depends on the specific political and social needs and issues of the area as well. These all become issues that must be accounted for when deciphering whether water is a basic human right or a commodity and what action must be taken to aid the developing water systems in community’s that lack them.
Among all of the resources in the world, there is one that we do not often consider to be diminishing. The masses take this resource, water, for granted. When the average person takes a single look at a world map, they see multiple blue oceans covering the Earth. But, although we are surrounded by water, our clean water reserves dwindle rapidly. In her article, “Water Works”, Cynthia Barnett attempts to bring this issue to greater light and offers her own solutions. While I agree with many of Barnett’s points, she fails to look at the arguments of her detractors to the detriment of her already flawed case.
The water crisis in the world is increasing, and it will continue to increase if something is not done. Water makes up approximately seventy-one percent of Earth’s surface. This does not include the water underground. Everyday water is being taken more than it is being put in, and people have a large role in this. Climate change, the number of people in the world, and water wasted is among the uppermost causes of the water crisis. It is simple, if you do not have water, you will eventually die. The water crisis is a health crisis for everyone globally.
The world’s population is growing. The need for water is rising with the birth of every child. Sooner than most people would want to admit, the water resources available in the world would be inadequate to cater for the needs of humanity. As developing countries seek to become industrialized, more water will be needed for their industries. The developed world is also not slowing down its water usage in its industries. Given the important part it plays in growth, the world is well in its path to facing its worse season yet: living without water. When one goes to a country where water problems are real, they find businesses have made water a prominent factor in determining whether or not to set up and run their businesses there. No one can afford to bury their head in the sand anymore. The water problem that is not far away in the future must be addressed now.
Earlier this year, an obscure United Nations document, the World Water Development Report, unexpectedly made headlines around the world. The report made the startling claim that the world would face a 40 percent shortfall in freshwater in as soon as 15 years. Crops would fail. Businesses dependent on water would fail. Illness would spread. A financial crash was likely, as was deepening poverty for those just getting by.
Unfortunately, the management of water in the political sphere does not generally met this criteria. This creates an injustice in the framework for moral and pragmatic dilemmas in how to handle water worldwide.
Many countries are also highly dependent on water that originates outside their borders; the water diversion provided by dams for countries that are downstream exacerbates an already serious problem. The diversion of river systems is an area of international concern, the nature and extent of such interdependency is already extensive: 145 countries share over 261 international river basin. As demand increases, and as indigenous sources of water become fully utilized or exhausted, the only alternatives are likely to be international (Dolatyar, 2006). Ironically, the very solution of one country's scarcity, plunges another into water shortage, this is the reason why water security is one of the most crucial foreign policy considerations of a globally connected economic and political atmosphere.
Water, essential to human life as much as the air we breathe, is becoming a more valuable resource as areas once with abundant water are now running low and nations must make choices on how to provide and share this resource not only with their citizens but with their neighboring countries as well. Asia, with 65 percent of the world’s population but with only 47 percent of the global average of fresh water per person must work with its neighbors to develop sustainable and share sustainable water resources. The Middle East’s ongoing water crisis could lead to government instability, civil war, and failed states. Over Sixty percent of the regions surface water flows from
Freshwater resources are being overused by us humans. A rarely known fact is that only 2.5% of water on earth is freshwater (Powers, par 12). Just to add to the problem, most of the freshwater resources we do have are not readily accessible. When a freshwater source is found, it is quickly used up by our ever growing need for water. A common estimate for the average amount of water used per day by each person is 80-100 gallons (USGS, par 1). Take into consideration that we have about 320
The fact that water is a finite resource is no longer debatable. Multiple global conferences, summits, and forums have stated that it is an essential commodity and a human right (Sohil and Cavil 13). Water should be treated not as an economic good, but rather as a resource as precious as life itself, following from a principle to ensure water equality for all. Water is symbolic of life, and life should never have a price. While it may be difficult to establish concrete regulations, these will have to play a role in the establishment of water as an invaluable good. Despite this, it is abundantly clear that the ethical principal of water
Roughly two-thirds of the world’s population is expected to face water shortages within the next nine years (Hanjra & Qureshi, 2010). This is likely to be the cause of conflicts and tensions between many nations, especially with the growing population, as water is a basic life necessity. To put the situation in perspective, a mere 2.5 percent of the world’s water supply is actually freshwater, and only about one percent is accessible for human use (Postel, Daily & Ehrlich, 1996). In addition, this water is not evenly distributed, with some countries possessing significantly more than others. Canada is extremely fortunate in this matter, as it holds roughly 20 percent of the world’s total freshwater (Environment Canada, 2015). This puts it at a huge advantage in the coming years. Not all countries are as lucky. For instance, many states in America, such as California, are experiencing serious drought. Many believe that this puts Canadians in a good position to sell freshwater for profit. Arguably, it would be a huge financial advantage for Canada, while simultaneously ending the American water crisis. Despite the possible economic benefits, Canada should not sell its freshwater to the United States, as it ignores Canadians in similar situations, supports unsustainable American practices, has negative implications for the surrounding ecosystems, and ignores the impact of climate change.