According to the CIA World Factbook, bacterial diarrhea is a very high risk of death to citizens of Togo. Lack of clean drinking water, hygiene regimens, and adequate sanitation systems are all linked to the spread of diarrhea in Togo.
Giving the gift of clean water is equivalent to giving a child, a mother, even a family, a chance at life in rural villages of West Africa.
BCB is at work building solar powered water pumps in Koussougba and surrounding villages in Togo. Part of BCB’s work includes educating women on proper hygiene methods that women can share with families and other villagers.
Bringing clean drinking water to a rural village in West Africa or elsewhere is not the answer to reducing mortality rates from water-borne diseases in developing countries.
Clean water projects must be supplemented by a comprehensive hygienic and sanitation framework that addresses underlying causes of infection.
Without a water source, farmers cannot grow food. Mothers cannot cook balanced meals for their families. And perhaps the worst casualty that results from a lack of clean drinking water is the lose of time.
Walking to the next village or to the local water well takes hours away from women who could otherwise invest their time in entrepreneurial ventures that generate income for the family.
Instead, women in rural villages that do not have a clean water source are forced to walk miles for water. Of course, treks for water outside of her local village are very dangerous for women.
Women are exposed to innumerable dangers, simply for the sake of retrieving water for their families. Sadly, the water that she fetches may still be infected with microorganisms that cause diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.
Investing in clean water for rural villages in Africa and beyond is an investment in public health, gender equality, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
Access to safe water touches upon every level of human existence. Training women on effective methods to prevent the spread of communicable and life-threatening diseases is also a fundamental element to ending poverty in Togo and other parts of West Africa.
For every $50 that BCB raises for clean water projects in Togo, the Segal Foundation will match that gift up to $10,000.
There are still seven days, 189 hours, 11, 340 minutes, 680, 400 seconds to help BCB raise as much money as possible to improve the lives of women, children, and families in Togo.
The positive outcomes from investments in water and women in Togo are immeasurable. It takes a village to raise a child. But it also takes a healthy mother, a clean water source, and a sustainable solution to raise a healthy child.
Will you help BCB raise $5,000 by Friday, April 15, 2011?
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]]>According to a press release by the EPA, “ENLACE has established and implemented a land use and comprehensive development plan that works to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions for 8 communities in the Cano Martin Pen Special Planning District.”
Poverty has been a threat to environmental sustainability in San Juan since the early twentieth century. Mass migrations of individuals and families to San Juan resulted in settlements being erected in the mangroves along the canal.
The Cano Martin Pena is a 3.5 mile long canal located in the San Juan Bay (SJB). The San Juan Bay is part of the National Estuary Program of the EPA. The Cano Martin Pena is so important because it connects the San Juan Bay and the San Jose Lagoon.
Toxins, pollution, and sedimentation in the Cano Martin Pena would have grave implications for the SJB and the San Jose Lagoon. Instituting policies and effective plans to mitigate the adverse affects of urbanization and lack of infrastructural development in the canal is key to controlling for damages in the region.
ENLACE is working toward water quality improvement in the Cano Martin Pena in several ways. Firstly, ENLACE partnered with the SJB National Estuary to test water quality in the canal. They are also working with the Ponce School of Medicine to study epidemiological data on the effects of residents’ repeated exposure to water polluted by sewage.
In terms of the Cano Martin Pena, private and public entities must cooperate on an immediate action plan for change in the canal. Protecting human health and ensuring economic development by conserving the environment is integral to seeing a more sustainable Puerto Rico in the twenty-first century.
Environmental justice is unique. It is difficult to enforce and almost impossible to incriminate. Yet, environmental injustice arguably puts more people at health, social, and economic risks than other crimes with more temporary affects.
Until effective systems are in place to punish those who obstruct environmental justice, rewards for those who uphold it are crucial to protecting natural resources.
With the work of ENLACE, lives of local residents and inhabitants affected by poor quality water in the Cano Martin Pena will be changed for the better. And isn’t it by saving lives that we save the world?
The photo above is a picture of La Fortaleza in San Juan Bay
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A Long Time Coming: Coastal Access in Bolivia
]]>Within the first minute of Superwoman, Keys is adorned in traditional garb walking across the Saharan desert to fetch water at a well. On her head rests a basin to collect enough water for either herself or her family.
Trailing behind Keys is a row of other women who are on the same journey to fetch clean water for themselves and loved ones. On their hips they carry infants or toddlers. And on their heads, they too balance an empty basin for water.
In this evocative scene, Keys bends over a water hole and pours water from her basin into the basin of another woman directly behind her at the well.
Without words, Keys captivates viewers and conveys a compelling message. Water must be shared by those who have it, with those who need it most.
Key’s connects the significance of water for superwomen around the world. Empowering women in developing nations is next to impossible without providing them with clean drinking water.
Artistically, the water shared by Keys in the Saharan desert morphs into water poured into a glass by a female executive in corporate America.
In a split second, one witnesses how water connects women from around the globe. Despite social class, education level, or national identity, all superwomen are refreshed by a glass of clean drinking water.
According to looktothestars.org, Keys is also involved with a water charity called Raising Malawi (RW). RW boasts of providing 57,000 villagers in Malawi with piped clean drinking water.
In nations such as Malawi, access to clean drinking water can reduce mortality rates from water-borne diseases. It can provide women with more time to devote to entrepreneurship, thereby decreasing rates of poverty. Clean water provision can have a ripple effect for the development sphere in Malawi and beyond.
Directly and indirectly, Keys continues to open doors for clean water initiatives. She uses her talent, influence, and resources, to make a world of difference in the lives of the world’s superwomen.
Is there a celebrity that you would like to nominate for WaterWideWeb’s Water Celebrity of the Week?
Email us at [email protected]
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The War of the Pacific between Bolivia and Peru in the late 19th century led to major geopolitical, diplomatic, and economic restructuring that still negatively affects the region today.
In the early 1880s, Chile annexed the Peruvian province of Tarapacá and the Bolivian province of Litoral, both substantially mineral-rich territories. Bolivia was stripped of coastal access to the Pacific Ocean and became a landlocked country.
Since the 1884 Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Chile, Bolivian politicians including President Evo Morales, have consistently sought to reclaim access to the Pacific coastline in order to promote economic development and increase Bolivia’s international trade.
Recently, recovering maritime rights in Bolivia has made some headway. Last October, Peru granted La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia, access to a three-mile long strip of land, south of Peru’s Port of Ilo and 100 miles north of Tacna, a Peruvian city close to the northern Chilean border.
The agreement, called the Boliviamar secures a 99-year lease of the Port of Ilo and for a free-trade zone, which includes exemptions in the areas of customs duties, taxes, and labor law for Bolivia.
Bolivian President Evo Morales insisted this pact was an opportunity to open the intercontinental door to Bolivians. “The sea is for world trade, the sea is so that the products of our peoples can circulate and have access to these ports.”
The Boliviamar also requires construction of 245 miles of highway to connect Bolivia with the port facilities in southern Peru. According to Viviana Caro, the Bolivian Minister for Planning and Development, this will reduce goods transport from Bolivia into important Asian markets by some 40 per cent.
The Bolivian government also intends to invest $400 million in the development of the Port of Ilo to facilitate the import and export of goods, and to promote tourism.
Bolivia’s free access to its own international port is more than a mere diplomatic break-through. It represents a unique opportunity to boost Bolivia’s economy in several ways. Increased exports in Bolivian goods will generate more revenue for the country and strengthen its competitiveness on the global market.
Sustaining Bolivia’s economic development at a local and international level requires the cultivation of the country’s natural resources, including oil, gas, and other minerals. Trading these goods with neighboring countries and other entities will revolutionize marine trade in the region.
Providing marine access to Bolivia and developing its marine trade will promote economic growth and decrease rates of poverty by providing new employment opportunities for local residents. Marine trade will ultimately generate income for local artisans, farmers, and other small business owners who depend on mercantile trade for survival.
President Evo Morales stated, “Ninety-nine years, that gives us confidence to make significant investments in the Port of Ilo,” as the country seeks to encourage private companies to financially support that effort.”
By reducing duty payments to Chile, increasing exports, developing the tourism industry, and creating new jobs for Bolivians, coastal access will dramatically improve the lives of Bolivians and the economy of Bolivia.
Submitted by Guest Writer: Alice Jobard
The photo above is a picture of the Port of Ilo in Peru, taken by Bruno Moretti
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Despite ethnic and religious clashes, agricultural production is a common denominator in a region split by other irreconcilable differences. Agricultural production is a major source of income for farmers in the South Caucasus. Easing competition for water supply and crop production is a fundamental way of securing peace between the countries.
The NATO Science for Peace and Security Program (SPS) launched an initiative to manage water use in agro-systems in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This project is implemented by the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) , under which NATO coordinates its environmental security activities with five other international organizations.
Gerrit Hoogenboom, Professor of Agrometerology and Project Director of the SPS project in the South Caucasus told WaterWideWeb, “Water resource management is a politically hot issue that you need to negotiate. Right now, there are very strong ethnic differences between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.”
Consequently, lack of regional cooperation and historical disagreements are contributing to soi degradation and high salinity in the local water supply. If the environment that supports agricultural production continues to erode, there is a potential for future unrest as agricultural production is compromised by mismanagement of natural resources.
“Water is thought of as an unlimited resource by local farmers. There is an extremely high amount of water use and water is being wasted,” continued Hoogenboom.
Flood irrigation is still the main method for watering crops in the South Caucasus. Hoogenboom’s team is implementing a series of technological advancements that will reduce water use, improve crop production, and prevent even more negative environmental impacts on the region’s agricultural sector.
The first step in promoting sustainable use of water supplies in this region is to educate farmers on their specific water needs for a given crop. Establishing a system that provides farmers with information about their water needs based on scientific data contributes to a collaborative effort to conserve natural resources by end users at the local level.
Hoogenboom’s team introduced an automated weather station to calculate farmers’ water needs based on daily meteorological data. Farmers are then provided information such as the evaporative demand, enabling them to schedule irrigation in appropriate quantities.
Introducing new technological methods of measuring the amount of water needed for crop irrigation can reduce competition for scarce resources, while simultaneously improving the socio-economic structure that exists in the region.
The team also implemented a drip irrigation system in place of flood irrigation. The former was proven effective in Israel, another area that requires a best-practices approach to water resource management.
Drip irrigation on high value vegetable crops in the South Caucasus can significantly increase a farmer’s ability to demand a higher price for his agricultural output. Hoogenboom’s team also replaced seeds used by local farmers with a higher quality seed.
Improving the process of agricultural cultivation has immediate positive effects on environmental sustainability, economic development, and provides a potential for regional cooperation between the South Caucasus countries.
“In terms of sustainability, you have a multi-pronged effect. With respect to economic development, you increase the income of local farmers, making them more secure. There’s sustainability of soil systems, salinity reduction, and decreased soil degradation,” noted Hoogenboom.
Technology transfer and capacity building do not discriminate against any specific groups race or ethnic origin. Working toward a sustainable development agenda and enhancing the quality of life for individuals who are otherwise divided by political differences have very tangible effects on regional cooperation.
“There is competition for water in the region. You can only use the water once and then it’s gone. Better water management means more water is available for people to share at the end,” concluded Hoogenboom.
Please watch the NATO Video “Fruits of Peace”, which details this endeavor or more depth, here
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]]>Kristin Stroup, energy specialist in the Africa Energy Department of the World Bank, told WaterWideWeb, “The 35 kilowatt micro-hydropower plant in Yandohun was built in the 1970’s. During its few years of operation, it contributed significantly to the local community, and facilitated operation of a 24-hour health-care facility there that served many surrounding communities.”
Yandohun is a village of 2,000 people in the remote area of Lofa County in northwestern Liberia. The micro-hydropower plant that generated power for the community was in part constructed and operated by local residents. The micro-hydropower plant was the sole source of reliable energy for the community since Yandohun is outside of the electrical grid of the capital city of Monrovia.
With financing from the Dutch Trustfund under its AFREA program, the World Bank is launching a rehabilitation project for Yandohun’s micro-hydropower plant. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
“Rehabilitation of the plant at 60 kilowatts will allow for meeting basic needs and will also allow for improved educational facilities, including adult education which is extremely important in the post-conflict setting,” continued Stroup.
In Yandohun, the capacity to manage an improved micro-hydropower facility already exists since community members who operated the first hydropower plant still live there. Thus, the World Bank is investing in the community’s existing skill sets while implementing a low-cost renewable energy approach. “The community has a very strong organizational structure and cooperative approach, including rebuilding the town hall with pooled funds and labor,” noted Stroup.
Agricultural production is significant to the local economy of Yanhodun. Rice farming, milling, cultivation of coffee and cocoa are all part of the agricultural output of the area. Mechanized processes powered by the future micro-hydropower facility have the potential to increase revenues generated by the sale of agricultural products by local farmers.
World Bank funding for the energy plant includes hands-on training for additional local community members who will learn to manage and operate the facility. Engaging local residents in the development process and use of local natural resources empowers the community. Dependability on foreign assistance for medium and long-term progress is diminished, which is especially crucial to post-conflict settings as well.
“The micro-hydropower plant rehabilitation project at Yandohun is part of the World Bank’s commitment to the expansion of energy access in rural areas and an emphasis on renewable, sustainable technologies as part of a least-cost expansion plan,” Stroup added.
The pilot operation in Yandohun offers a prime example of how an investment in a renewable energy source can truly revitalize a community that was once destroyed by war. Before encounters with rebel troops, Yandohun had operational educational facilities, a health facility, and a thriving fish farm.
Decreasing rates of poverty, improving access to healthcare, and promoting childhood and adult education is implicated in the successful rehabilitation of Yandohun’s hydropower facility. Solutions to Liberia’s systemic post-conflict issues should be cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
Technology transfer and capacity building in rural communities that are not in close proximity to the capital city of Monrovia are crucial to including all levels of Liberia’s population in the energy plan. “Using hydropower for the benefit of communities should facilitate the sustainable development of a key piece of Liberia’s rural electrification agenda,” concluded Stroup.
The photo above is of school children in Liberia. It is a UN Photo taken by John Issac.
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]]>In a previous article published on 08 December 2010, nautical archaeologist Shelley Wachsmann told WaterWideWeb, “Shipwrecks are important because in any given society, a ship is the most developed or technologically advanced piece of equipment that the society has.”
In the case of China’s Nan Hai No. 1, information about ship building will unveil details about the society’s capacity to construct intricate naval vessels. Clues about the way China conducted marine trade with the Middle East and the rest of the world over 800 years ago could perhaps write a new chapter in the country’s history.
Zhang Wei, director of the Underwater Archaeology Center of China, discovered the Nan Hai No. 1 site. in 1987. At the time, the field of nautical archaeology was still a relatively new discipline in China. A state funded organization to protect and preserve findings from submerged sites in Chinese waters was not in place in China.
Nevertheless, Wei assembled a team of nautical archaeologists and experts to excavate the Nan Hai No. 1 ship in 1988. Unfortunately, funding for research was not available for Wei to continue his excavation. The project was temporarily put on hold until additional financial resources could be obtained.
In 2001, Wei was granted money from Hong Kong’s Underwater Archaeology Association to support his efforts. Now, the Nan Hai No. 1 exhibit is displayed as an aquarium in Guangdong Province. The shipwreck is housed in a water palace that is filled with water of the same quality, temperature, and environment as the site where it was first discovered.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Nan Hai No. 1 Museum is “to become certainly one of the most important museums of underwater cultural heritage worldwide.”
Rescuing this shipwreck by Wei’s archaeology team was also a fascinating venture and contribution to nautical archaeology projects. A team of experts first covered the shipwreck with a bottomless steel container.
The end pieces of the steel encasement were sharpened and driven into the seabed using weights that were placed on the steel covering. Then, team members dug around the encasement and placed steel sheets underneath the vessel. Finally, the wreck was raised to the surface.
This approach was almost a way of saying that the site was the exclusive property of the China’s government. Treasure hunters and other potential intruders were not welcome at the site of the shipwreck.
Sadly, China has lost similar opportunities to examine their history by the sea because of treasure hunters like Mike Hatcher and Luc Heymans. Hatcher and Heymans robbed China of its underwater cultural heritage via nefarious and barely legal means, auctioning precious artifacts of sunken Chinese cargo for personal gain.
Furthermore, international law to protect submerged treasures off a country’s shores did not stipulate that said nations had direct rights to these finds.
The Nan Hai No. 1 Museum is significant for of its role in preserving cultural posterity and contributing to economic development in China. Revenue generated from ticket sales and tourists’ visits to Hailing Island in Guangdong Province will certainly have a positive financial impact on the country. Increased profits from museum visits will potentially support an effort to allocate more government funding for research and excavation of other sunken Chinese heritage.
On 22 October 2010, a report published by China.org indicated that the first freshwater nautical excavation in China will take place in the Poyang Lake. This endeavor is evidence that the interest and urgency in extending China’s nautical archaeology discipline are at hand.
Occurrences like these are just a couple of the myriad examples of sea exploitation on a sovereign nation’s submerged cultural property. Too often, developing and emerging countries are at risk for such tragedies due to a lack of expertise, resources or policing and legal protection.
The U.N. Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, together with the Underwater Cultural Heritage Division of UNESCO works to prevent this and other exploitation, from endangering underwater heritage. But China’s nautical archaeology field is emerging and the country is firmly grasping this initiative with steel encasements and a tight fist.
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]]>Erika Berlinghof, Director of Government Relations at the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) told WaterWideWeb, “Water infrastructure is the ‘out of sight’ and ‘out of mind infrastructure that no one wants to deal with.”
NAWC‘s Water is Your Business campaign started as an effort to raise awareness about the economic value of water. Investment in water infrastructure prevents major events such as pipes bursting causing small businesses to shut down because they don’t have access to water after the incident.
“One reason why investments in water infrastructure aren’t happening is because local communities don’t appreciate this reinvestment,” continued Berlinghof. If the public is not interested in water infrastructure issues, engaging private sector constituents in the water dialogue needs to occur. Supplementing funds for water infrastructure projects by private investors can mitigate deficits in public spending while increasing overall operational efficiency.
Leveraging public-private partnerships for water infrastructure improvement can be a symbiotic exchange between the two entities. Private sector investors will operate on budget in a timely manner while the public sector can provide oversight and engage the local community. Undoubtedly, oversight on such projects is a necessary component in protecting public interest with respect to water supply in the United States.
Involving private investors in such a project requires pricing water appropriately, a topic that is rather sensitive. To attract private investors, one must price water accurately in order to repay the debt to investors. Pricing water for scarcity is far off. Experts such as Piet Klop, Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute, advocate for pricing the treatment and delivery of water. If water is priced, then it will increase efficiency by end users and attract investments in technology by the private sector.
“The challenge found right now is either political unwillingness to invest in infrastructure or there are some challenges to private capital,” concluded Berlinghof. Ultimately, promoting access to sustainable water sources is the first step toward interesting local communities in the need for additional investment in infrastructure.
Water policy is predominately controlled at the state level. Once local communities are informed about the impacts of faulty infrastructure, they can mobilize efforts for water policy. Investing in water infrastructure is investing in the public health of end users, promoting economic development of business owners, and providing jobs.
Discussions about sustainable water resources and infrastructural development are typically associated with the struggle for clean water in developing countries. However, issues of water in the United States are politically sensitive and intricate as well.
The question that policy makers and local governments should ask themselves is “Can we afford not to invest in water infrastructure?” After all, hospitals and small businesses in their jurisdiction will not to be able to function if pipes continue bursting and reliable sources of water are not provided. Then, the public outcry will resound and the policy makers will be anxious to act.
Should we wait to create jobs for the American people, or potentially compromise the revenue generated by small businesses that fuel local communities, simply because our infrastructure needs to be updated? Or, will public-private partnerships be the answer to the lingering issue of domestic water management in the United States?
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]]>The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is working in Tanzania through one of its University Twinning Networks (UNITWIN) to enhance socio-economic development in the field of marine resources.
The UNITWIN program is designed to cultivate scientific inquiry and advance knowledge in academic disciplines. In 2009, the UNITWIN Cooperation Program in Marine Biology and Sustainable Development for East Africa was established at the University of Dar Es-Salaam in the Republic of Tanzania, in collaboration with the Bangor University of Wales, United Kingdom.
Dr. Ntahondi Nyandui, Associate Director of IMS told WaterWideWeb, “Tanzania needs to promote the sustainable use of these resources.” Over the past two years, the IMS has worked in Tanzania to promote a sustainable agenda for marine resources. Please read the complete interview with Nyandui below.
EAB: What are some of the most immediate threats to marine biology and sustainable development in East Africa?
NN: Marine and coastal ecosystems are degrading due to unsustainable use, pollution, and effects of global climate change. Degradation of these marine and coastal ecosystems risks loss in livelihoods and a rise in poverty. Unsustainable exploitation of marine and coastal resources is threatening biodiversity. Poverty in the region hinders sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.
EAB: How does UNESCO and most specifically the UNITWIN Cooperation Program in Marine Biology and Sustainable Development aim to mitigate adverse effects from those threats?
NN: We’re focusing on capacity building for Tanzanians. Obtaining quality scientific information and developing skills would contribute to better management of coastal resources and the marine environment.
EAB: Please detail the capacity building practices that you hope to implement in Tanzania.
NN: Training marine scientists at the postgraduate level with required skills. IMS will be assisted in improving the delivery of existing MSc courses, the development of a new MSc in marine environmental science and climate change, the development of decision support tools for management of marine and coastal resources and environment, and the development of products and outreach services for public use.
EAB: Can you describe how the program will achieve its objective specifically in reference to cultural and societal development of communities sharing the coast?
NN: We already have other programs and projects that deal with outreach and community services. For the current project, research for some of the post-graduate students will touch on issues of societal development.
EAB: What marine resources are unique to this area and why is preserving them a top agenda item for UNESCO?
NN: Coral reefs, sea grass beds, and mangroves are high in biodiversity and productivity in this area. These resources attract fisheries which is vitally important to coastal livelihood in Tanzania. Generating revenue for the coastal communities of Tanzania is largely contingent upon the condition of marine coastal resources.
EAB: Have you established the “Regional Pole of Excellence in Marine Sciences and Technology” yet? If so, please describe it here.
NN: The goal is to build the IMS into a center of excellence in marine sciences in East Africa. The IMS is expected to become unique in the region. Already, its capacity to provide postgraduate training in marine sciences and to undertake quality research has established the IMS as a viable center of study.
EAB: What Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is this project helping to achieve?
NN: The project works on several MDGs including environmental sustainability, alleviating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality in higher education, and global partnerships in information sharing, training for development.
EAB: Thank you for your time interviewing with WaterWideWeb.org.
NN: You’re welcome.
Advancing the academic study of marine coastal environments in Tanzania will supports members of the local community to effectively engage policy makers in decisions about marine conservation. The erosion of marine environments has immediate ramifications for residents of the area. Lobbying for national policy on marine conservation is possible if policy makers are presented with timely and quantifiable data about marine coastal environments.
Establishing a center of information that can assess marine sustainability in Tanzania is the first step to restoring compromised marine environments along the coast of East Africa. Statistics and analytic data will provide the information necessary for implementing effective conservation strategies in the region.
The photo above is a UN Photo taken by Milton Grant.
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]]>Australia’s coal and mining industry are suspended and farming operations are at a standstill. Damages incurred by the floods could total up to $5 billion.The economy of Australia, which is largely contingent upon agriculture, has been completely compromised by the floods.
Eight people were reported dead and seventy-two others are missing because of the torrential rain. Over 200,000 people have been affected by the floods. Civilians livelihoods have been washed away with the overwhelming amounts of rain that have swept the countryside.
Water management policy in Australia is mostly geared toward stewarding resources efficiently. However, the water world will witness a complete shift in Australian natural resource policy as officials respond to the floods.
The tricky part of managing water resources appropriately, is that unexpected natural events occur. Timely revisions in Australia’s national water management policy must be implemented to address the crisis. Of course, the rising water level is just the first consequence of the floods. The real trouble for Australia lies ahead.
Crops from irrigated farming will undoubtedly be compromised due to the flooding rains. Other deleterious affects brought on by the disaster will only compound the socio-economic problem that the country now grapples with. One has to wonder if an impending food shortage will follow the floods, since harvests may not yield the same output as prior years. Public health and safety, and the spread of communicable diseases is a major concern in the flood equation as well.
The international community will surely have to invest and intervene in relief efforts for Australia. A formal “meeting of the minds” to discuss short and long term consequences of the flooding is required to mitigate the devastation before it gets any worse.
At present, the country exists in a perpetual state of water crisis. Unfortunately, Australia now faces the other side of the water crisis coin. Infrastructure to deal with an event such as flash flooding was not in place. And consequently, civilians are suffering more because of it.
Water reform policy will be in interesting outcome of Australia’s unfortunate tragedy. Adapting to the exact antithesis of what has plagued the nation for a decade, will prove arduous yet interesting. Moderating existing policy and planning for future legislation must be tackled systematically such that short term needs of civilians are satisfied while long term investments in the economy are secured.
The floods in Australia undermine sustainable development on several fronts. The country has suffered a serious blow to the economy, infrastructure is toppled, and people have been internally displaced from their homes and livelihood.
Cyclic drought and flooding is typically common in Least Developed Countries. However, seeing such an event wipe out an industrialized nation puts issues like global climate change and water resource management at the top of the international agenda.
For everything that remains out of human control, officials must grab the reigns on what is in our control. Organizing a comprehensive water management agenda that prioritizes an enforceable global climate change policy and includes a budget for disaster relief needs to be agreed upon by developing and industrialized countries. Because the floods are not just Australia’s problem, they are the world’s problem. And the world must join in solidarity to implement a reasonable solution.
The photo above is credited to Business Insider.
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