World Water Day: A forceful reminder that the U.S. is
running out of fresh water
By Steve Tracton, Published: March
22, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Today
marks the 20th anniversary of the first World Water
Day, a day established by the United Nations to focus attention on the
importance of fresh water around the globe. Globally, fresh water is
increasingly becoming an endangered resource. According to a U.S. State
Department document
released on World Water Day last year, the need for fresh water will exceed the
supply by 40 percent by the year 2030.
The
entire year (2013) has been designated the U.N. International Year of Water Cooperation. It reflects the “multi-dimensional
mandate in the realm of natural and social sciences, culture, education and
communication, and its significant and long-standing contribution to the
management of the world’s freshwater resources.” Celebrations and events
across the globe, aimed at raising awareness of fresh water issues and
concerns, are concentrated (but not limited to) World Water Day. (A listing of
events in the DC Metro region is provided at the end of this post.)
We’re
probably all aware to some extent of water shortages and their implications
that continually plague the predominately poor inhabitants of undeveloped
countries. The sight of young children or forsaken mothers scrounging daily for
limited sources of clean water for drinking and cooking appear often on TV
documentaries and the like. For more information:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/03/22/world-water-day-a-forceful-reminder-that-the-u-s-is-running-out-of-fresh-water/
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