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the-south-asian.com March 2004 |
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March
2004 Wildlife Music Dance Environment Art Books
Books Between
Heaven and Hell
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Page 1 of 2
Water for the Future "Wars will be fought between nations
over water" by Isidore Domnick Mendis
Though lakes, rivers, seas and oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface yet there is an acute shortage of water for human consumption. The United Nations foresees serious water shortages by 2010. ‘World Water Day’ on March 22 is a grim reminder that water is not limitless and it should be conserved. Wise men like Kofi Annan and others have often been warning people that they should now forget about religious and communal wars and get prepared for wars over the most precious commodity in the world---water. Water is one of the most important resources of life. Besides the world being dependent on it both for survival and economic development, it has high religious significance as well. The Hindus consider it sacred and rivers like the Ganges are given the status of a Goddess. People come for a dip in the holy waters to wash their sins. Babies are fed drops of the sacred water and when someone dies the ashes are immersed in these rivers. In Muslim religion, according to the Quran all of the world’s life, including mankind originated from water. According to the Bible, the Lord uses water to wash away the sins of the earth. Even as the God gives water for crops and for quenching mankind’s thirst, floods and droughts are His way of punishing people. In Judaism water is vital for ritual purification. In the ancient world, the Incas believed that Lake Titicaca was the centre of the world. Water was also the essential factor in the Mayan people’s prosperity and wealth. Indeed, water is life itself but the bad news is that it is desperately in short supply. Many countries of the world are facing severe shortages due to droughts, floods and groundwater contamination. According to the BBC World Earth Report almost 70 percent of the water drawn from lakes, rivers and underground reserves is consumed globally by agriculture. However, asks the Earth Report with a rising population and growing water demand, whether there will be enough fresh water to grow sufficient food, let alone provide enough to drink? As of now the answer seems to be a grim no. As it is the failure of crops because of water shortage or floods can translate into starvation for many. Tat is why water is the life soul of all economic activity and development around the world. And that is also the reason why the world is fast realizing the real dimension of the problem it faces due to the shortage of water. To ensure sustainable demand and the use and supply of water to all, the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 declared March 22 of each year as the World Water Day. The respective governments of various countries around the globe have been invited to devote the day to concrete activities such as the promotion of awareness through publication and documentaries and by organizing conferences, round tables, seminars and expositions related to the conservation and development of global water resources. Interestingly, in 2004 the World Water Day coincides with the International Year of Fresh Water and the need for sustained development of water resources would be more in the limelight. As in earlier years, this year too, the United Nations hopes that the World Water Day will help usher in the urgency to conserve water and inspire greater global understanding of the need for more responsible water use.
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