Global Water Crisis Worsening

[gulfcoastliberal]

Glaciers are melting, aquifers are drying out, droughts are worsening...and what's worse, the world's population keeps on growing…

For years, experts have been warning that the world is facing a freshwater crisis of unprecedented proportions. As populations grow, demand for fresh water is soaring, yet there is less water on earth now than there was 2,000 years ago, when the population was 3 percent of what it is today.

While the crisis is already well underway in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the freshwater shortage isn't just confined to a particular region—it's a worldwide issue. The World Bank has said that the scarcity of freshwater is likely to be one of the major factors interfering with economic development in the coming decades.

A third of the world's population lives in "water-stressed" countries. Cities such as Bangkok, Jakarta, and Mexico City have heavily overdrawn from their groundwater aquifers. Hydrologists say large areas of northern China and Africa, and parts of the Middle East, India, Mexico, and North America are on the brink of severe water shortages.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-12-2/48886.html

[RC]

1. The human population is already past the tipping point.

The best we can hope for is postpone the inevitable while working to get our population down to something sensible.

[XemaSab]

2. Hey, I thought we were about to see a 900% increase

in global freshwater availability with the total implosion of the Antarctic ice sheet. What gives? :shrug:

[NNadir]

3. There's that nasty business of passing through the ocean.

Maybe though we should built a giant pipeline from Antarctica to Arizona.

Why has no one thought of this?

[Gregorian]

6. You aren't far from an idea that was being considered.

I recall from a thermodynamics course there was a story of someone who was trying to get an iceberg the size of Rhode Island floated down to the states. And right now I'm at a loss for the reasoning. I don't think it was water, though. I believe it was a temperature differential that was going to be used as a source of energy conversion.


I'll spare everyone with the rest of my stories. I'm tired. Everything feels like a fog right now. Surreal. Like six years of battling. And repeating. And being angry and frustrated. And that's just politics. This population thing is something that bothers me in my sleep. At least i know I'm not alone now. A few people see it. Every drop of water that has ever been on the planet earth is still here right now. It isn't the water. We should say what it really is. There isn't a water problem...

[StClone]

4. Surely you jest

Was sarcasm implied?

[XemaSab]

5. What is this sarcasm you speak of?

:shrug:

[StClone]

8. Any melt off

Will end up as water vapor in a warmer atmosphere or as diluted sea water -- neither of which are drinkable. Computer models indicate increased desert areas regardless glacier melt off. When rain does fall it will be as erratic as Red Crossbill movements and in torrential downpours that will quickly run off and not replenish groundwaters. If glacier melt off is captured from remote locations and tanked/ piped to populated areas that would be a desperate and costly interpretation of your post.

P.S. I recently got the Sabine's Gull on my County list, great fall for inland B.-l. Kittiwakes and Jaegers.

[XemaSab]

9. That post was total sarcasm

and Sabine's Gull is an awesome county bird! Cool of you to recognize the source for the name! You recognize the birds in the sig line?

My latest triumph was a 6 hour chase to get the Ross' two weeks ago. I am currently at 593 for US/Canada. I still need Iceland Gull, Ivory Gull, and Slaty-Backed Gull. :D

Have you checked out the birding forum? It's a little lackluster but we need more hardcore people to spice it up.

[StClone]

10. I thought so

But wanted to make sure!

As for Slaty-backed it appeared twice this fall not far from my home on Lake Superior.

Great birding!

[Gregorian]

7. It isn't the water.

Every drop of water that has ever been on the planet earth is still here right now. It isn't the water. We should say what it really is. There isn't a water problem...