Posted on 04/24/2007 6:57:48 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer
prominent environmentalist is sounding the alarm about a closed-door trilateral meeting to discuss, among other things, large-scale water transfers to combat future shortages in the United States and Mexico despite Canada's standing objection to such a plan.
Next week, government officials and academics from the three countries will gather in Calgary for the two-day North American Future 2025 Project where they'll brainstorm ideas on how the continent should implement policies to deal with various challenges - including security, energy and labour.
But it's the agenda on water that has activists concerned, given that the discussions will be held behind closed doors without public scrutiny, said Maude Barlow, national chairwoman of the Council of Canadians.
''We want this out in the light of day. We tried contacting them and they said this meeting is private,'' Barlow said. ''How could it be private if it is setting up the political and policy framework for the future of North America?''
An outline of the proceedings states that climate change is expected to greatly exacerbate water shortages in the United States and Mexico while Canada, which has the world's largest supply of fresh water in the Great Lakes and elsewhere, is not expected to suffer to the same extent.
It goes on to state that ''creative'' solutions - such as water transfers and artificial diversions of fresh water - may be needed to address the ''profound changes'' that are bound to occur south of the border.
The idea that other countries aren't getting the message about Canada's refusal to allow transfers of its fresh water is scary considering the gravity of the looming crisis, Barlow said.
''The Americans are really getting thirsty. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says there are 36 states that are in peril now, that are in water stress,'' she said.
''There's crisis in the U.S. and the issue of water has moved right up to the top of the national security political ladder - it's big, big, big.''
Federal Environment Minister John Baird, in a statement reacting to the council's concerns, said Canada strictly prohibits transfers of water and that policy isn't going to change.
''The Government of Canada has no intention of entering into negotiations, behind closed doors or otherwise, regarding the issue of bulk water exports,'' Baird said.
Armand Peschard-Sverdrup of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the American think-tank that organized next week's meeting, said that no government decisions are expected to come out of the talks and it's simply a way to discuss different ideas.
''We're not just looking at bulk water transfers, we're looking at the whole gambit of issues and policy options,'' Peschard-Sverdrup said.
''We are a think-tank and what we do is we look at a whole range of issues, no matter how sensitive they may be, or no matter whether they are politically viable or not.''
A spokesman for Baird said he had no plans to attend the meeting.
When we went to Aruba, we learned that the island has no drinking water and so they have the 2nd largest desalinization plant in the world. Aruba is one of the only islands down there were you can drink the tap water - and it tasted great!
Rainwater harvesting is much, much cheaper.....
What happened to Algore’s melting glaciers? Aren’t they fresh water? Just chase the polar bears off and lasso one of those icebergs when it goes by.
The government is and has been interfereing for decades
They have used the UN global initiative called Agenda 21 to kill all sorts of water projects so the USA would ration water.
Then our government has allowed, through legal and illegal immigration for our population to double in the last 20 years, so there is real population pressure on our resources, and this shows no signs of letting up.
My water availability is just fine.
Maps look to me like “Water Scarce” areas are in what we used to call DESERTS. Maybe Sunkist will have to build desalinization plants if they want to keep the California orange groves in operation.
You have a well?
A water crises is imminent in some of the south western states, most notably Nevada. Las Vegas cannot possibly sustain the growth it has experienced for much longer before water simply run out ... it’s not a matter of if, only a matter of time.
These are good questions. An institution might arise naturally or it might result from a brainstorm by a small group. The UN itself is an NGO and is populated by NGOs. State governments (more institutions) are also represented.
There is a partnership, but government iself is an institution of the state, as are corporations, schools, and the press.
“looming water crisis, big, big, big”
crisis?
last time i heard the word crisis it was a ploy to grab power through scaring the populace a la bill, hillary! and the democrats (aka international left wing movement)
We owned a timeshare on Bonaire from 1987—2003. Over a 16-year period we also stayed at several other resorts there at various times. Every resort on Bonaire, at one time or another, irrigated the resort plantings with what they called *gray water*. From the odor, it was actually black water.
At several different times over several different years, children of resort guests were hospitalized with severe GI symptoms and we also experienced reactions. The water used for the resort plantings ultimately drained into the pool. While we observed the staff adding chlorine to the pool, it evidently wasn’t enough. Children also picked up bacteria just by playing on the grass in front of their units.
Overall, Bonaire is fairly hygenic and the Dutch medicine available on the island is First World quality. However, if you had a chance to visit local homes, many were served by very old cesspools. The drinking water there is good, as it does come from desalination.
To the credit of the resorts in question (several of which were American-owned), they stopped the black water irrigation during the day after receiving complaints. To their detriment, however, they just reverted to night-time use of blackwater.
Water is very expensive for locals and for the resorts on Bonaire. I must add that we experienced no such blackwater use when we stayed on Aruba.
I surfed down Aruba way a few times. I used to chuckle when I whizzed in the water.
How, indeed?
I've been saying for years that if we think the oil wars are hot, wait 'til we start witht the water wars! Of course we couldn't do anything practical, like control immigration and our population.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.