According
to a new study by US researchers Professor Peter McIntyre of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison and City College of New York modeler
Charles Vörösmarty, river systems and the lives they support are in a
“crisis state” on a global scale. This analysis for the first time
evaluated the world’s major rivers based on two main criteria: the
stability of water supplies and the preservation of biodiversity.
Overall,
the scientists found that water supplies for nearly 80% of the world’s
populations are highly threatened, with over 30 of the 47 largest rivers
in the world facing at least moderate jeopardy in terms of water
security. Fourteen of these 47, or nearly a third, are also under very
high threat of biodiversity loss. This is due in part projects such as
dams, which have secured water supplies for humans but have also placed
thousands of plant and animal species in danger.
To their
surprise, the scientists also found that rivers in the developed world
are among the most highly threatened. Moreover, the researchers stated
that their findings were likely conservative, as this study did not
account for pollution effects from activities such as mining, or
contaminants affecting wildlife such as increasing levels of
pharmaceutical substances in the water.
However, the scientists
plan to use the analytical framework of the report to present the
information more specifically to decision makers and provide them with
recommendations for improvingthis potentially life-threatening
situation.
We are grateful for this study, Drs. McIntyre and
Vörösmarty, with its insights on the major water security problems we
are facing in virtually every part of the planet.
May our urgent
counter actions restore our precious rivers so that all beings
depending on them may survive. During a July 2009 international seminar
with our Association members, Supreme Master Ching Hai expressed deep
concern regarding the spreading water crisis while identifying a way
that both this and other environmental problems could be addressed.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
Oh my God, many countries in the world are short of water. In India and
China, even America, many places became short of water. Basic necessity
only. Why? Because they use up all the water from the river to divert
it into big farms, factories, like animal farm factories. They have to
use a lot of water to give the animals to drink. And then, use water to
grow the crops for the animals to eat. And when they kill the animals,
or before they kill the animals they have to use water to clean their
pens every day and wash it down into the stream.
There was
enough water for all of us, plus over for everyone! We began this
industry of meat diet, then everything got worse – more shortage of any
kind, more temperature rise, and more suffering, more disasters, more
hunger, more war.
So I don’t know why people don’t just become all vegetarian?
http://www.physorg.com/news204985121.html http://www.france24.com/en/20100929-river-crisis-worsens-threat-water-scarcity-study
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