Looming water crisis 'big, big, big'

Daily Herald -Tribune ^ | April 23, 2007

[hedgetrimmer]

North American Future 2025 Project

Produced in part by the CSIS, one of the architects of the Department of Homeland Security

[pnh102]

Uhh... the USA has thousands of miles of coastline. If the price of water rises due to shortages, then eventually private industry will simply invest in some desalinization plants and piping to supply the free market with drinking water... provided the government does not interfere with such efforts.

[meowmeow]

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!

[Thermalseeker]

Rainwater harvesting is much, much cheaper.....

[hedgetrimmer]

One of the authors of this document proposes that the Nation-State is dead and through his "Seven Revolutions" global fascist government can be achieved.

Revolution 7 governance

1) We live in a world in which 13 of the top 50 economies in the world are companies, not countries. How does this change the responsibility companies now maintain for providing for social needs and addressing big ticket challenges of the future? How can companies ensure their own future prosperity by beginning to engage looming issues of concern—from energy needs to public health to income inequity? governance 2

2) If we have truly crossed the bridge from the Westphalian nation-state model, then what is the next step in the evolution of our societies? Will governments around the world continue to be overwhelmed by this new environment? Will they adapt to meet the constellation of new challenges and opportunities? Will authority become increasingly decentralized? What importance does leadership play in this new system and how can it help guide countries, corporations, organizations and institutions to necessary reform?

3) Is the proliferation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) the result of a lack of capacity on the part of governments? Or are NGOs an innovation in human social organization and a leap forward in the diversity of participation in addressing global and local challenges? How can NGOs and governments work together to complement one another? How should the private sector involve itself in such coalitions?

The CSIS Hills Program on Governance (http://www.hillsgovernance.org/) focuses on the need for multinational companies and governments to work jointly to promote good governance, especially in emerging markets. Its central task is to develop an actionable agenda that promotes good governance at the intersection of the private and public sectors through dialogue and training at the mid career and university levels.

[bikerMD]

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.

[Ragnar54]

Yes, they claim to have the best water in the world, and they started brewing beer based on that claim a few years ago. However, the safety of the water has more to do with their Dutch heritage: unlike the citizens of “Latin” America, the Arubans (and the citizens of Bonaire) understand the concept of “sanitation”.

[hedgetrimmer]

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.

[hedgetrimmer]

You might be interested in this:

Global Water Futures

[Badeye]

My water availability is just fine.

[bikerMD]

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.

[hedgetrimmer]

You have a well?

[BluH2o]

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.

[RightWhale]

proliferation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

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.

[hedgetrimmer]

NGOs didn't arise naturally in this country. They were promoted by tax breaks and government grants in the 1990's as a method of fomenting the 'reform' of constitutional government into this quasi- or soft fascist partnership between the government and institutions.

You remember Al Gore's government 'reform' initiaitive that resulted in the massive proliferations of public-private partnerships don't you?

Whenever a politician talks about 'reform' they mean the elimination of constitutional controls.

[RightWhale]

partnership between the government and institutions

There is a partnership, but government iself is an institution of the state, as are corporations, schools, and the press.

[ripley]

“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)

[reformedliberal]

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.

[ExpatGator]

I surfed down Aruba way a few times. I used to chuckle when I whizzed in the water.

[AuntB]

''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?''

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.