Global Water Shortages Grow Worse But Nations Have Few Answers

Global Water Shortages Grow Worse But Nations Have Few Answers

As we have been hearing, global water shortages are poised to exacerbate regional conflict and hobble economic growth. Yet the problem is growing worse, and is threatening to deal devastating blows to health, according to top water officials from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) who spoke before a House panel hearing today.

Ever-rising water demand, and climate change, are expected to boost water problems worldwide, especially in countries that are already experiencing shortages. Globally, the world is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people unable to reach or afford safe drinking water by 2015, but it still must make strides to improve global sanitation, says Aaron Salzberg, the State Department’s Special Coordinator for Water Resources. In addition to supply problems, unclean water causes more than four billion cases of diarrhea a year which lead to roughly 2.2 million deaths, and most are in children under the age of five.

“The magnitude of it is extraordinary.” says Christian Holmes, global water coordinator for USAID.

The hearing comes on the heels of stark reminders of the current water shortages that are apparent across the globe. Pakistan, one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, is on the brink of crisis. A recent report from the Asian Development Bank, highlighted by The Atlantic, states that the country’s emergency water reserve only has enough supply for 30 days – more than 30 times below the 1,000-day recommendation for similar countries. Pakistan, the report states, is “not far from being classified as ‘water scarce,’ with less than 1,000 cubic meters per person per year.” Among other factors, climate change is affecting snowmelt and reducing flows into the Indus River, the area’s main water source.

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Firstly, the title of this is bullocks. There are a plethora of answers to solve the global water crisis, however they all require a change in moral will on the part of humans who do not have it. Therein lies the main reason why we now see our world teetering on catastrophe in more ways than one. It is about US. There was a time when countries like the US and other countries were developing as well. However, over time great and vast water/sanitation systems were built. What is the excuse for not doing so now for those people in countries where we see such misery? In the 21st Century NO ONE should be without a toilet, one of the most basic needs!

It is said that more people in India have a cell phone than a toilet. Something is wrong with this picture and it also goes back to the corrupted corporate- capitalistic state mindset and the predominance of the money/greed paradigm taking precedence over humanity. I would also suggest privatization, class warfare, political corruption and racism are part of this paradigm of greed. We see this same paradigm revealing itself regarding clean energy and the procrastination in implementing it on a vast scale for maximum profit at the expense of human life and the biosphere.



The day is coming when our collective submission to these forces will leave no other solution but worldwide revolt. That is the truth of it. When humanity deems to spend more on war than water we know we are in need of a serious intervention. That is not to say there aren't many on this planet already working to provide water to those who need it. However, to see the total lack of moral and political will on this collectively on a global scale is infuriating. It seems as a species we are really good talkers. We need to be walking a hell of a lot more. People are dying due to lack of water and that includes polluted water which adds to scarcity.

It has been said that a time of higher consciousness is coming. It better hurry because we are running out of time.

No water, no food, no life.