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Water on the Global Level
Written By: Dr. Peter L. Kopko, D.C.
Our planet's drinkable water is quickly disappearing. The mismanagement of our natural water reserves through its misplacement and displacement is contributing to climate change as well. Industrialized nations have polluted the surface water to the point that we are now taking water from the ground, the wilderness and watersheds and moving it to where we need it. It is moved to big cities and then dumped into the ocean. Furthermore, we pave over water retentive lands, frustrating the hydrologic cycle to fulfill its responsibility and bring the water back.
This global water problem is further complicated by what is termed the "virtual water trade." The virtual water trade is the process where one country uses vast amounts of water to produce commodities that are exported to other countries. Everyday in the U.S., 1/3 of all domestic water use is for the production of exportable commodities. This is taxing our drinkable water reserves. In fact, Australia, another country involved in the virtual water trade, has hit the "water wall." They are running out of drinkable water.
It was believed until recently that the hydrologic cycle could not be interrupted but we now know that it can and has been dramatically and deeply affected by our abuse and displacement of water.
A global water cartel is forming throughout the world. The future may be more about water and less about oil. Corporations are actively engaging in the water business. Further proof of this is the privatization of municipal water supplies. Large corporations now survey the globe looking for aquifers much like they did in the past looking for oil or mineral reserves. There are huge aquifers in Latin America that are being surveyed.
As with global warming, the global water crisis is often written off as a cyclical event in nature. Global warming is not the result of cyclical temperature changes and the global water issue is not a result of cyclical draught.
Some startling facts:
- Lake Meade at its present rate of drying up will be gone in 13 years.
- 50 billion bottles of water are sold each year and 95% of the plastic bottles are not recycled.
- The average American uses about 150 gallons of water a day, this includes private and domestic use.
- The average British citizen uses 30 gallons per day, private and domestic.
- Kenyans use 3 gallons per day period.
- It takes 74 gallons of water to produce one cup of coffee.
- It takes 600 gallons of water to produce the corn that is then fed to the cow to produce 1/3 of a pound of hamburger.
- In conclusion, geophysicists have recently determined that from damming up water in huge dams, redirecting streams, rivers and lakes, the speed of the earth's orbit has been altered and has shifted the tilt of axis and the shape of the gravitational field.
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