Scientists warn that Earth faces severe water shortages within a generation

Hi all..
Some not so good news. If we do not make a serious change in the way we take resources from Mother Earth pretty damn soon the joke will certainly be on us.. Surely the governments of the world should take heed of this warning. Otherwise I am sure there will be a lot more conflict created between nations due to the water shortage. But if we listen and actually do something about it. Then hopefully we can prevent or at least stave off the water shortage for awhile...

The majority of people on Earth will face severe water shortages within a generation or two if pollution and waste continues unabated, scientists warned at a conference in Bonn Friday.

“This handicap will be self-inflicted and is, we believe, entirely avoidable,” read a document entitled The Bonn Declaration issued at the close of the four-day international huddle.

The declaration points out that humanity uses an area the size of South America to grow crops and another the size of Africa to raise livestock.

Two-thirds of major river deltas are sinking due to groundwater extraction, and tens of thousands of large dams are distorting natural river flows on which ecosystems have depended for millennia.

Much damage is being done by river pollution from sewer drainage or agricultural fertiliser and pesticide use.

www.rawstory.com...

It can be avoided. But whether we take steps and measures to avoid it is another kettle of fish entirely.

Peace
Fluff

Whilst I agree we need to stop wasting water, 2/3 of the Earth is covered in the stuff. Building more desalination plants is the answer, using renewable energy to power them.

I seriously doubt the oceans will run out for a few million years.

reply to post by woogleuk


Relying on salt-water doesn't sound like a very good spot to be in, regardless of if we achieve that "merit" or not.

reply to post by woogleuk

Whilst I agree we need to stop wasting water, 2/3 of the Earth is covered in the stuff. Building more desalination plants is the answer, using renewable energy to power them.

I seriously doubt the oceans will run out for a few million years.

Oh I totally agree with you on that. But the fact is that desalination plants are just 'too expensive'. I have been wondering for a long time why there is not more research and funding put in to create a simple and affordable way to desalinate sea water.
There are desalination plants throughout the world. But there is not many and they cost an awful lot to build. But you would have thought with the technology we have available to us these days surely there is a simple solution..

The largest desalination plant is the sun and it's free. If we can use solar energy to heat water and turn steam turbines we surely can use it to do the same with desalination of salt water. Doubtful that they would do this as it might work too well and then there wouldn't be any money in it.

Pollution is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately but as long as it's cheaper to pollute and hide it under a rug in some remote area or third world country it's simply business as usual. China has a serious pollution problem but that's not going to be solved as long as some RMB in an envelope can cause the local government inspector to have vision problems. That's how they do business and it's not about to change anytime soon.

The only time the government cares about pollution is when they can tax it. It's not about the populations health or some noble cause to save the earth. It's only about the money. There will always be plenty of water for those that can pay for it and you can bet your bottom dollar it will be taxed.

reply to post by pstrron

The largest desalination plant is the sun and it's free. If we can use solar energy to heat water and turn steam turbines we surely can use it to do the same with desalination of salt water. Doubtful that they would do this as it might work too well and then there wouldn't be any money in it.

Exactly..! I agree with your entire post. If it does not make them money they do not care. And that is very very disturbing and sad.

There are simple methods of desalination with systems that are home made and use solar energy. But I very much doubt they will put any research or funding into making a simple system with is easily affordable and uses the power of the sun...

It is a totally backwards world that we live in..

reply to post by fluff007

It is a totally backwards world that we live in..

This is the truth that many fail to see. We have all seen the good deed done and the person doing the good deed is the one punished. You would be surprised what a couple of cartons of the proper brand of cigarettes will solve going through the canal. Yet if you try to do things the proper way...well lets just say you've got problems.

Nano tech has already provided the solution to provide super fast charging batteries and higher capacity not to mention reduced size, weight and without the polluting properties. This could provide the power for electric cars, motorcycles, buses, taxis and other items that use fossil fuels while reducing air and water pollution. But all we hear is drill baby drill. The oceans continue to be polluted by big oil and covered up.

As it has been said; it is hard to get a man to understand when his paycheck depends upon him not understanding.

Obviously those scientists have never heard of graphene before...

Lockhead Martin - Graphene water filter

n addition, the film is super thin — just a single atom thick — so that the water simply “pops through the very very small holes that we make in the graphene and leaves the salt behind,” John Stetson, the chief technologist at Lockheed for this initiative told Business Insider. Lockheed anticipates that their filters will be able to provide clean drinking water “at a fraction of the cost of industry-standard reverse osmosis systems,” their press release says. Water-poor regions of the world will be the first to benefit.

reply to post by fluff007


actually we face no water shortage - we face a water supply problem

35 million canadians [ 0.5 percent of the population ] have 20% of the worlds potable water

Well maybe they should fix that Storage tank leaking the Radiation crap so we are not destroying our own water table. Turn off the fountains that are there for nothing more then looks to make Casinos and stuff look all nice.
There would be tons of stuff that should be done immediately and the above only touches on some of the stuff that shouldn't have ever happened to begin with.

Soon we will be drinking our own pee just like the astronauts. And all this because we are the smartest thing on the planet. It doesn't take a scientist to have seen this coming it's already visible in my lifetime. As I sit here typing this I have water running through a filter. Now that's progress folks.

Any water shortage can be solve on a personal level if you know how there is plenty of ways the get water even in the desert.

let see one of the most basic one

survivor-magazine.com...

Or with a a little bit larger wallet

www.wired.co.uk...

No our water here in Canada are ok there !! brb im out gonna pee in each water source i found

**after a generation**

US invades Canada.

Im sure this statement greatly pleases companies like
CocaCola and Pepsi, as they have a chokehold on much of the
water resources around the world.

However,. when my homes well goes dry,. then i will worry
be it that I am at the same watertable level as most of the lakes in my area for
my well. If these local lakes dry up in the next 100 years,. I will be greatly surprised.

humans will die in their own poo!
as it should be.
they have proven the dont deserve to rule earth.

This is a water planet, instead of BS and the war machine, put de-salination plants around the planet. We could be growing food and creating jobs in the driest of places if pipelines were built for water rather than oil.

Originally posted by antar
This is a water planet, instead of BS and the war machine, put de-salination plants around the planet. We could be growing food and creating jobs in the driest of places if pipelines were built for water rather than oil.

Yep, I would imagine the price of modern military equipment like fighter jets, a naval warship, a few nuclear bombs/missiles -- could be used for desalinization.

The problem is that helping people is not good for business, and there are some greedy uncaring leaders in place most everywhere around the world.

Modern "Civilization" is not good for the planet, but no one seems eager to change their lifestyles.

reply to post by Philippines


I'm sure these are the same scientist that pushed that "global warming hoax" a few years ago - until they got caught in their lies.

Well, if they thought they were going to make some money off of "sea levels rising", I'm sure they think they can make some money off "no more water".

Can people believe anything these asshats say anymore?

Of course, if money wasn't involved, I'm sure they could come up with cheap desalination plants.

The elites are complete ----------s.

reply to post by DaRAGE


Thank you for your reply...

I did not know about graphene. Well the prototype for this will not be out until 2014 or 2015. But it is a good start and a step in the right direction..

Thanks again for the info. Star for thee..

reply to post by ignorant_ape


Wow. I did not know that..! I do agree with you on the fact that we face a water supply problem. I think the article in the link is a bit misleading and maybe it has been published so it can be used as scaremongering...

reply to post by Philippines

Yep, I would imagine the price of modern military equipment like fighter jets, a naval warship, a few nuclear bombs/missiles -- could be used for desalinization.

The problem is that helping people is not good for business, and there are some greedy uncaring leaders in place most everywhere around the world.

Yes. I have been saying this for ages. Instead of spending billions on military or weapons. They should do what is right and provide people with the basic human need and right of water...
But like you say they will not do it. Because it does not make them any money.