In reviewing the major news stories about water and environmentalism in 2010, I ran across one of the most disturbing statistics about the water crisis I have ever read. Get ready…
HALF OF CHINA’S WATER IS TOO POLLUTED TO DRINK
AND ¼ OF IT IS ENTIRELY UNUSABLE, even for industry
Wrap your head around that for a second.
Actual water samples collected from Chinese urban rivers and lakes.
The most populous country on the planet, making up nearly 20% of the world’s population, has undergone an economic makeover of unprecedented proportions in just a few decades. But the environment has all too often been a victim of China’s aggressive development. Case in point- 50% of the water is undrinkable (source: MEP). Not only is there a dangerous shortage of water, what is left is polluted and sometimes deadly.
Most experts will point the blame toward heavy industry for the sorry state of China’s natural resources. The outpouring of pollution from chemical, pharmaceutical, and paper plants paired with pesticide and fertilizer runoff from farms creates a water crisis that cannot be ignored.
Without stronger government controls on industrial and agricultural pollution and without significant investment in a sustainable sewage system, countless millions will suffer from the effects of poor water quality.
Terrible flooding in Machu Picchu, Peru this week has left thousands of tourists stranded.
American helicopters have been airlifting citizens out of danger, but what will happen to Peruvian locals who are now homeless and vulnerable to the elements?
This video outlines the efforts made by the Chinese government to curb the effects of a drought that is effecting three million people in the southwest region.
Newport, Rhode Island, a popular tourist destination, suffers the same problems as many other old cities– water pollution caused by deteriorating sewage systems and urban storm runoff. Watch the video here.
A look back at the tsunami that hit south-east Asia on December 26, 2004. The effects, the progress, and the future.
“A burst of significant announcements in recent weeks reflects an expanded government effort to deal with pharmaceuticals as environmental pollutants.”
New technology in Australia: Making men’s bathrooms cleaner, dryer, and more efficient. *I really recommend this one.* The product is called The Desert. Essentially, it’s a cube that you put at the base of a urinal which absorbs liquid waste without you having to flush, thus reducing water usage by 98%. It also eliminates odors and reduces the amount of bacteria (the kind that originate from fecal matter) which cover surfaces in restrooms.
According to Corporate Accountability International, states in the Northeast have spent between $228,874 and $527,107 a year on bottled water. Why are governments spending taxpayer dollars on unnecessary items in times of financial hardship?
By the way, this article is an interesting add-on to my last post called “Gravity is a theory too”
