Coping with Water Scarcity

Coping with water scarcity

Q&A with FAO Director-General Dr Jacques Diouf

How serious is the problem of water scarcity?

Global water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population growth in the last century.

Water scarcity already affects every continent and more than 40 percent of the people on our planet. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water stressed conditions.

In order to really understand how serious the problem is we first must take stock of the immense impact water has on our daily lives and our ability to provide for a better future.

Lack of access to adequate, safe water limits our ability to produce enough food to eat or earn enough income. It limits our ability to operate industries and provide energy. Without access to water for drinking and proper hygiene it is more difficult to reduce the spread and impact of life-threatening diseases like HIV/AIDS. Every day, 3 800 children die from diseases associated with a lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation.

Is water scarcity being caused by climate change?

The water scarcity situation is being exacerbated by climate change, especially in the driest areas of the world, which are home to more than 2 billion people and to half of all poor people. The human impact on the earth's environment and climate must be addressed in order to protect the world's water resources. But there are other factors involved, such as increases in the amount of water needed to grow the food for a growing population. Agriculture is the number-one user of freshwater worldwide. Also, the trend towards urbanization and increases in domestic and industrial water use by people who live in more developed areas are factors that lead to growing water use.

Full story:
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/focus/2007/1000521/index.html

Facts:
70% of the earth's surface is water, 97,5% of it is salty, ocean water. Of the remaining 2,5% of freshwater, 68.7% is frozen in icecaps and glaciers.

The agriculture sector use nearly 70% of world's freshwater, within which the heaviest water use is by the animals we raise for meat.

20,000-40,000 liters of water to produce 1 kg of beef

Scientists have calculated that we would actually save more water by forgoing one pound of beef, or four hamburgers, than by not showering for at least six months.

1 serving of BEEF Over 1,200 gallons of water used
1 serving of CHICKEN 330 gallonsof water used
1 Complete VEGAN meal with TOFU, RICE, and VEGETABLES 98 gallons of water used

http://www.suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=sos&wr_id=516&goto_url=&sca=sos_8&url=link1_0&#v

"A vegetarian diet will stop 80% of global warming, stop all the cruelty, beginning on our plate. Generating loving, kind energy around the world, stop water shortage and water pollution, stop food shortages, stop world hunger and war, prevent deadly diseases, save enormous tax and medical bills to build a better world, and support new useful inventions and good people's organizations."
- An Interview with Supreme Master Ching Hai by James Bean of Spiritual Awakening Radio -July 29, 2008 - USA (video)

Earth Care News Group

One single solution for all to cope
global warming, food shortage, water scarcity and most of the diseases:

EAT LESS MEAT - BE VEGETARIAN - GO VEGAN