It's an obvious but understated issue of the times ... many populated regions of the world are on the verge of running out of water.
If you think the worst-case scenarios for future international entanglements will hinge on economics, oil, or ethnic differences, think again. All of those things are surely emotionally charged and critical, dynamic issues that do stir up strife. But in the end, they are all negotiable.
However, extreme water crises are without realistic solutions when they reach the point of no return. Without water, people die. Within a few days.
There are geographies where water remains clean and plentiful ... where people can eat and drink and take it for granted. While in neighboring regions, cultures, economies, and nation states are painfully withering away. Peak water is near-term life or death.
In the next 10 years, there are going to be major populations at severe existential risk. Quite simply, they will need to migrate in large numbers to areas where water and food supplies are available and at least theoretically sustainable. But the big question--will those mega-migrations strain available resources and put those areas at risk?
Clearly this issue is in the fast lane toward geopolitical catastrophe. How long, if at all, will borders remain open to welcome those migrations?
This is soon to become a top-line global issue--haves and have-nots in one the most far-reaching, basic "us or them" confrontaions the world has ever seen. You may be in an area where water is not in short supply, but do not think for a moment that this issue will not reach out and change your life.
.
1 comment:
It must be remembered that there have been civilisations in the past that have failed simply because their sources of water have dried up either because of rivers altering course due to earthquakes or increased salinity.
Only about 0.5 to 0.6 of 1 percent of the earths total water supply is potable. As the population rises each persons usable amount of water diminishes and until we all get a better understanding of making better use of water as well as all the other resources the earth has to offer we are destined for trouble.
I would like to live long enough to see petroleum products become seriously short in supply as only then do I believe that we will take what the earth has to offer.
Post a Comment