Oct
Water in the news
Here’s a round up of this week’s water-related news stories.
First clown in space hosts show to save Earth’s water. The first clown in space, a Canadian guy who founded Cirque du Soleil, has hosted a show complete with singers, dancers, and performers about water scarcity. He has used this $35 million dollar trip as a space tourist to bring this important issue to the forefront.
India faces threats from thieves sabotaging their water supply. In some areas, residents have gone three whole days without water after someone stole the metal pipes. Thieves damage water supply line in Sindri
Jordan’s plan to keep the Dead Sea from dying: The government is working on a conservation plan with World Bank officials and worried environmentalists. Jordan to refill shrinking Dead Sea with salt water
UNICEF publishes a new report about the deadly effects of diarrhea on children world-wide. An excerpt:
“The report, Diarrhea: Why Children are Still Dying and What Can Be Done, which reintroduces grim and widely understood statistics, launches a new 7-part prevention and treatment plan aimed to rekindle the fight against the water-borne disease. Part of the strategy includes distributing a recent WHO-approved vaccine for rotavirus, the number one cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children.” UNICEF, WHO Report Says 1.5 Million Children Die Annually from Diarrhea; New Response Plan Launched
Water shortages in Iraq: According to UNESCO, more than 100,000 Iraqis have been displaced due to drought and excessive well pumping. Read about the effects: Water shortage fueling displacement of people in northern Iraq, UNESCO study finds.
Here’s some interesting reading on global water issues:
When the Rivers Run Dry (2007)
Planet Water: Investing in the World’s Most Valuable Resource (2009)
Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What to do About It (2009)
Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water (2009)
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