To a large extent, what happens to our water is dependent on what decisions and activities are made in other sectors. Trade and economic integration, for instance, can stimulate the use of water and can either deplete or rejuvenate the supply of this global resource. Political decisions can alter the geographical landscape or the accessibility to water. As a result this week long examination of water, in all its facets, will attempt to examine the problem and determine solutions that take into consideration the role of the scientific, business, civil and political communities.
However, a couple of high-profile members of civil society are already coming out with alarming reports and protest-motivated action, in an effort to draw attention to the looming water crisis the world now faces.
The first is a rather depressing report released by the World Wildlife Federation. This report warns that climate change and poor resource management have combined to produce water shortages even in developed countries.
The report states:
"In Europe, countries on the Atlantic are suffering recurring droughts,while water-intensive tourism and irrigated agriculture are endangering water resources in the Mediterranean. In Australia, the world’s driest continent, salinity is a major threat to a large proportion of its key agricultural areas. Despite high rainfall in Japan, contamination of water supplies is an extremely serious issue in many areas. In the United States, large areas are already using substantially more water than can be naturally replenished. This situation will only be exacerbated as global warming brings lower rainfall, increased evaporation and changed nowmelt patterns. Some of the world’s thirstiest cities, such as Houston and Sydney, are using more water than can be replenished. In
London, leakage and loss is estimated at 300 Olympic-size swimming pools daily due to ageing water mains. It is however notable that cities with less severe water issues such as New York tend to have a longer tradition of conserving catchment areas and expansive green areas within their boundaries."
While the report attempts to alert us to how we must rethink our global and local use of water, the United Church of Canada is choosing to focus on another aspect of water. In an effort to protest the commodification of water, the United Church Board is discussing a motion to ask its members to stop buying bottled water. The request is part of a resolution against the privatization of water supplies -- a mandate that is being discussed at the church's general council in Thunder Bay this week.
The rational behind the intended boycott is that water is a human right and that no one should profit from it.
In an interview with CBC News, Richard Chambers, the social policy co-ordinator with the church's national office, said, "We're against the commodification -- privatization is another way to say it -- of water and bottled water, that we see being sold in Canada, is just an example of that. The thin edge of the wedge of the privatization of water."
By calling on United Church members to boycott bottled water, the church hopes to raise awareness that water should be made safe and accessible for all. The church also hopes to pressure corporate and governmental entities to examine the treatment of water as a RIGHT rather than just as a resource.
Delegates are scheduled to vote on the private water resolution tomorrow (Thursday).
For more information on World Water Week go to: http://www.worldwaterweek.org/worldwaterweek/WWWstrategy.asp
For more information on the WWF report go to: http://www.panda.org/index.cfm?uNewsID=77900
For more information on the United Church proposed boycott of bottled water go to:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/08/16/unitedchurch-bottledwater.html
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