Arab World in Water Crisis (really bad news)

[ensho]

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/40895


There are people in over 17 Arab countries living well below the water poverty line of 500 cubic metres annually, said Arab decision makers from around the Arab world, meeting on water insecurity this past Monday, in Jordan, reports the Jordan Times. They recognized climate change in the Middle East as an issue that will further impact their poorly-available water resources, noting that 75% of the surface water in the Arab world, originates from outside its borders.

Jordan is one of the most water poor countries in the Arab world, and its residents rely on bi-weekly water deliveries to their homes, that fill up tanks located on roofs or in underground wells.

-snip-

Strategies are needed to bridge the gap between supply and demand. Meanwhile, Jordan’s Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar said that Arab countries need to band together to protect their resources, while raising public awareness to the issue. He also encouraged sharing water resources, according to the article.
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there will be more and more water refugees. countries need to consider how to deal with the more and more refugees arriving.

more and more of less and less.

[terrell9584]

1. This could be our way out of the economic shithole

Per capita, we have some of the greatest water reserves and production ability in the world. We would need to secure our national water future first but water could very truly become for America what oil is for Middle Eastern countries and what diamonds are for South Africa. It could be our saving grace.

[Mari333]

10. Great Lakes wont be touched

there is already legislation passed to make sure of that.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. The Israeli settlement controversy is based on water control and ownership

on a significant basis.

[jwirr]

3. Is part of the problem that they are now using water to get the last

oil out of the oil wells?

[dysfunctional press]

8. they use seawater for that.

so....no.

[jwirr]

14. Thank you.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. I'd like to fuck them over water the same way they fuck us over oil.

Sorry, just how I feel. Flame away.

[JCMach1]

7. Ummm, Dude, Jordan doesn't have oil...

Not to mention there millions and millions in the Arab world that have had 0 benefit from the oil wealth...

:(

I am just glad most people over here in the Middle East don't blame America for the stupid actions of our government. We should think about returning the same.

[hlthe2b]

5. I am in no way downplaying the seriousness of this... But the irony

that climate change is leading to catastrophic water shortages, with an epicenter in the very countries whose oil "riches" has propelled the rate of climate change, strikes me as perversely ironic.

That said, I can only hope that this causes the neighsayers to finally stop hindering progress on global warming

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Good Catch

It is ironic, indeed. If not for the fossil fuels that generate their wealth, they would have a far lesser problem.
GAC

[Possumpoint]

6. Sell Them Water

With the cost per barrel keyed to the price of oil.

[Mari333]

9. The Great Lakes Compact will never allow the great lakes of the USA to be touched

Im in Michigan. No way will Canada or the US Great Lakes states ever allow the water here to go anywhere.

[ensho]

12. hope not - wonder if that property ruling that they can take your

property for just about any reason - will begin to apply to water?

[Mari333]

13. hopefully that wont happen, ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes_Compact

so far the legislation is very protective of the Great Lakes.

[jwirr]

15. I'm in Minnesota and I agree.

[wuushew]

16. The Middle East is beyond carrying capacity nearly everywhere

people are the problem. Instead of guns and bombs we should have been providing condoms.

[NoSheep]

17. WHY is it so hard for people to understand this?