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10 Global Water Wars Facts – WMNews Ep. 56


it can be described as the most

it can be described as the most important resource on earth but with

important resource on earth but with

important resource on earth but with supply dwindling on some parts of the

supply dwindling on some parts of the

supply dwindling on some parts of the planet it’s also providing inspiration

planet it’s also providing inspiration

planet it’s also providing inspiration for conflict in the 21st century

for conflict in the 21st century

for conflict in the 21st century welcome to watchmojo.com 10 crucial

welcome to watchmojo.com 10 crucial

welcome to watchmojo.com 10 crucial facts you should know about global water

facts you should know about global water

facts you should know about global water wars

wars

wars number 10 what does the term water war

number 10 what does the term water war

number 10 what does the term water war mean basic science says it’s imperative

mean basic science says it’s imperative

mean basic science says it’s imperative for humankind to have regular access to

for humankind to have regular access to

for humankind to have regular access to clean water in order to survive but

clean water in order to survive but

clean water in order to survive but clean water is becoming increasingly

clean water is becoming increasingly

clean water is becoming increasingly difficult to find in some parts of the

difficult to find in some parts of the

difficult to find in some parts of the world which provokes political tension

world which provokes political tension

world which provokes political tension and can ignite a so called water war

and can ignite a so called water war

and can ignite a so called water war experts and analysts remain skeptical

experts and analysts remain skeptical

experts and analysts remain skeptical that problems over water will bring

that problems over water will bring

that problems over water will bring about a world war but there is evidence

about a world war but there is evidence

about a world war but there is evidence that regional conflicts are rising and

that regional conflicts are rising and

that regional conflicts are rising and that they will continue to increase

that they will continue to increase

that they will continue to increase unless the situation changes as leading

unless the situation changes as leading

unless the situation changes as leading hydrologist James family Ettie observes

hydrologist James family Ettie observes

hydrologist James family Ettie observes in terms of the world water supply quote

in terms of the world water supply quote

in terms of the world water supply quote we are standing on a precipice number

we are standing on a precipice number

we are standing on a precipice number nine who controls the water for areas

nine who controls the water for areas

nine who controls the water for areas less directly affected by shortages it

less directly affected by shortages it

less directly affected by shortages it can be easy to take water for granted

can be easy to take water for granted

can be easy to take water for granted however when in 2008 investment-banking

however when in 2008 investment-banking

however when in 2008 investment-banking leader goldman sachs referred to water

leader goldman sachs referred to water

leader goldman sachs referred to water as quote the petroleum for the next

as quote the petroleum for the next

as quote the petroleum for the next century they underlined a financially

century they underlined a financially

century they underlined a financially clinical nature to its regulation and

clinical nature to its regulation and

clinical nature to its regulation and distribution it might be assumed that

distribution it might be assumed that

distribution it might be assumed that local governments control water supply

local governments control water supply

local governments control water supply and in many cases that remains true but

and in many cases that remains true but

and in many cases that remains true but there is an increasing trend for local

there is an increasing trend for local

there is an increasing trend for local authorities to sell off water utilities

authorities to sell off water utilities

authorities to sell off water utilities the big businesses stumping up the cash

the big businesses stumping up the cash

the big businesses stumping up the cash are now known as water barons as the

are now known as water barons as the

are now known as water barons as the industry becomes increasingly privatized

industry becomes increasingly privatized

industry becomes increasingly privatized number eight which areas are at the

number eight which areas are at the

number eight which areas are at the greatest risk North Africa South Asia

greatest risk North Africa South Asia

greatest risk North Africa South Asia and the Middle East are considered the

and the Middle East are considered the

and the Middle East are considered the most likely areas to experience severe

most likely areas to experience severe

most likely areas to experience severe shortages over the coming decades making

shortages over the coming decades making

shortages over the coming decades making them most susceptible to water wars as

them most susceptible to water wars as

them most susceptible to water wars as an example according to the Guardian

an example according to the Guardian

an example according to the Guardian newspaper between the years 2003 and

newspaper between the years 2003 and

newspaper between the years 2003 and 2010 Turkey Syria Iraq and Iran jointly

2010 Turkey Syria Iraq and Iran jointly

2010 Turkey Syria Iraq and Iran jointly lost over 35 cubic miles of stored fresh

lost over 35 cubic miles of stored fresh

lost over 35 cubic miles of stored fresh water along the Tigris and Euphrates

water along the Tigris and Euphrates

water along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers mostly due to poor past

rivers mostly due to poor past

rivers mostly due to poor past management and overuse Family Eddie says

management and overuse Family Eddie says

management and overuse Family Eddie says that middle latitude regions do and will

that middle latitude regions do and will

that middle latitude regions do and will struggle most he says quote arid and

struggle most he says quote arid and

struggle most he says quote arid and semi-arid parts of the world are getting

semi-arid parts of the world are getting

semi-arid parts of the world are getting drier while quote countries at northern

drier while quote countries at northern

drier while quote countries at northern latitudes and in the tropics are getting

latitudes and in the tropics are getting

latitudes and in the tropics are getting wetter number seven

wetter number seven

wetter number seven how will water be used as a tool as

how will water be used as a tool as

how will water be used as a tool as water becomes a rarer commodity it

water becomes a rarer commodity it

water becomes a rarer commodity it inevitably becomes more valuable

inevitably becomes more valuable

inevitably becomes more valuable particularly if privatization increases

particularly if privatization increases

particularly if privatization increases to that end a recent American

to that end a recent American

to that end a recent American intelligence investigation has

intelligence investigation has

intelligence investigation has identified water as a future tool for

identified water as a future tool for

identified water as a future tool for political leverage wielded especially

political leverage wielded especially

political leverage wielded especially between nations states and territories

between nations states and territories

between nations states and territories that have shared a water source the

that have shared a water source the

that have shared a water source the Office of the Director of National

Office of the Director of National

Office of the Director of National Intelligence or odni report predicts

Intelligence or odni report predicts

Intelligence or odni report predicts that States will quote support major

that States will quote support major

that States will quote support major water projects to obtain regional

water projects to obtain regional

water projects to obtain regional influence and that upstream nations may

influence and that upstream nations may

influence and that upstream nations may quote impede or cut off downstream flow

quote impede or cut off downstream flow

quote impede or cut off downstream flow even more concerning though is the

even more concerning though is the

even more concerning though is the suggestion that water terrorism will

suggestion that water terrorism will

suggestion that water terrorism will naturally follow with physical

naturally follow with physical

naturally follow with physical infrastructure and dams becoming major

infrastructure and dams becoming major

infrastructure and dams becoming major targets for attacks that could affect

targets for attacks that could affect

targets for attacks that could affect millions of lives number six what is the

millions of lives number six what is the

millions of lives number six what is the impact of climate change while water

impact of climate change while water

impact of climate change while water disputes have occurred throughout

disputes have occurred throughout

disputes have occurred throughout history the modern-day situation is

history the modern-day situation is

history the modern-day situation is greatly intensified by the ever-present

greatly intensified by the ever-present

greatly intensified by the ever-present threat of climate change in the area’s

threat of climate change in the area’s

threat of climate change in the area’s most under threat droughts are happening

most under threat droughts are happening

most under threat droughts are happening more often their lasting longer carrying

more often their lasting longer carrying

more often their lasting longer carrying greater severity and they prompt

greater severity and they prompt

greater severity and they prompt increasingly desperate drilling for

increasingly desperate drilling for

increasingly desperate drilling for groundwater the scramble for water

groundwater the scramble for water

groundwater the scramble for water leaves thousands of families displaced

leaves thousands of families displaced

leaves thousands of families displaced and angry breeding a section of society

and angry breeding a section of society

and angry breeding a section of society which analysts believe

which analysts believe

which analysts believe is more likely to enter into a dispute

is more likely to enter into a dispute

is more likely to enter into a dispute or be swayed by rebel mentalities number

or be swayed by rebel mentalities number

or be swayed by rebel mentalities number 5 how important is desalination

5 how important is desalination

5 how important is desalination desalination is the process by which

desalination is the process by which

desalination is the process by which salt is removed from water to create a

salt is removed from water to create a

salt is removed from water to create a fresh drinkable supply moving forward

fresh drinkable supply moving forward

fresh drinkable supply moving forward the technique could become crucial also

the technique could become crucial also

the technique could become crucial also used to purify wastewater desalination

used to purify wastewater desalination

used to purify wastewater desalination allows humankind to turn to the oceans

allows humankind to turn to the oceans

allows humankind to turn to the oceans in order to quench its increasing thirst

in order to quench its increasing thirst

in order to quench its increasing thirst especially as demand for fresh water is

especially as demand for fresh water is

especially as demand for fresh water is set to be rising by over 160 billion

set to be rising by over 160 billion

set to be rising by over 160 billion gallons a year

gallons a year

gallons a year despite initial concerns regarding high

despite initial concerns regarding high

despite initial concerns regarding high energy use these salination techniques

energy use these salination techniques

energy use these salination techniques are now being adopted the world over in

are now being adopted the world over in

are now being adopted the world over in some places such as Britain plants are

some places such as Britain plants are

some places such as Britain plants are built largely as a precautionary measure

built largely as a precautionary measure

built largely as a precautionary measure but in Saudi Arabia and the u.s. the

but in Saudi Arabia and the u.s. the

but in Saudi Arabia and the u.s. the world’s two most prominent users the

world’s two most prominent users the

world’s two most prominent users the reliance on desalinated water is growing

reliance on desalinated water is growing

reliance on desalinated water is growing China is expected to emerge as a

China is expected to emerge as a

China is expected to emerge as a desalination leader within the next

desalination leader within the next

desalination leader within the next decade though a country which holds

decade though a country which holds

decade though a country which holds around 1/5 of the world’s population but

around 1/5 of the world’s population but

around 1/5 of the world’s population but just 7% of its fresh water China aims to

just 7% of its fresh water China aims to

just 7% of its fresh water China aims to quadruple at sea water desalination by

quadruple at sea water desalination by

quadruple at sea water desalination by 2020 producing 940 million gallons a day

2020 producing 940 million gallons a day

2020 producing 940 million gallons a day number 4 what is the current state of

number 4 what is the current state of

number 4 what is the current state of drinkable water current statistics are a

drinkable water current statistics are a

drinkable water current statistics are a source for major concern according to

source for major concern according to

source for major concern according to the water project one in nine people

the water project one in nine people

the water project one in nine people worldwide do not have access to clean

worldwide do not have access to clean

worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water and 37% of those people

drinking water and 37% of those people

drinking water and 37% of those people live in sub-saharan Africa

live in sub-saharan Africa

live in sub-saharan Africa internationally half of all hospital

internationally half of all hospital

internationally half of all hospital beds are filled with people suffering a

beds are filled with people suffering a

beds are filled with people suffering a water related disease and in developing

water related disease and in developing

water related disease and in developing countries around 80% of illness can be

countries around 80% of illness can be

countries around 80% of illness can be linked to poor water conditions the

linked to poor water conditions the

linked to poor water conditions the Global Water partnership says that only

Global Water partnership says that only

Global Water partnership says that only two and a half percent of the total

two and a half percent of the total

two and a half percent of the total volume of water on earth is drinkable

volume of water on earth is drinkable

volume of water on earth is drinkable and that only 0.3 percent of that is

and that only 0.3 percent of that is

and that only 0.3 percent of that is located in rivers and lakes finally

located in rivers and lakes finally

located in rivers and lakes finally National Geographic predicts that by

National Geographic predicts that by

National Geographic predicts that by 2025 about 66 of the world population

2025 about 66 of the world population

2025 about 66 of the world population will live in water stressed regions as a

will live in water stressed regions as a

will live in water stressed regions as a result of overuse and climate change

result of overuse and climate change

result of overuse and climate change number three what issues have arisen so

number three what issues have arisen so

number three what issues have arisen so far

far

far UNESCO says that the majority of water

UNESCO says that the majority of water

UNESCO says that the majority of water conflicts occur in the already

conflicts occur in the already

conflicts occur in the already politically tense Middle East Syria

politically tense Middle East Syria

politically tense Middle East Syria Turkey and Iraq dispute use of shared

Turkey and Iraq dispute use of shared

Turkey and Iraq dispute use of shared rivers while the Jordan River conflict

rivers while the Jordan River conflict

rivers while the Jordan River conflict involves Israel Lebanon Jordan and

involves Israel Lebanon Jordan and

involves Israel Lebanon Jordan and Palestine the Nile River is also

Palestine the Nile River is also

Palestine the Nile River is also contested between Egypt Sudan and

contested between Egypt Sudan and

contested between Egypt Sudan and Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Ethiopia while the Aral Sea is a source of

while the Aral Sea is a source of

while the Aral Sea is a source of tension for surrounding nations in

tension for surrounding nations in

tension for surrounding nations in Central Asia in East Asia political

Central Asia in East Asia political

Central Asia in East Asia political pressure is predicted to rise over the

pressure is predicted to rise over the

pressure is predicted to rise over the Mekong River as well China is expected

Mekong River as well China is expected

Mekong River as well China is expected to Dam parts of the water source which

to Dam parts of the water source which

to Dam parts of the water source which will impact downstream supply to Burma

will impact downstream supply to Burma

will impact downstream supply to Burma Laos Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia India

Laos Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia India

Laos Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia India and Pakistan also have a hostile history

and Pakistan also have a hostile history

and Pakistan also have a hostile history that’s expected to continue regarding

that’s expected to continue regarding

that’s expected to continue regarding their shared use of the Indus River

their shared use of the Indus River

their shared use of the Indus River number two what factors have contributed

number two what factors have contributed

number two what factors have contributed to this situation a leading reason for

to this situation a leading reason for

to this situation a leading reason for water shortage and the subsequent water

water shortage and the subsequent water

water shortage and the subsequent water wars

wars

wars is rising population in a February 2015

is rising population in a February 2015

is rising population in a February 2015 article The New Yorker highlights how

article The New Yorker highlights how

article The New Yorker highlights how quote water never technically disappears

quote water never technically disappears

quote water never technically disappears when it leaves one place it goes

when it leaves one place it goes

when it leaves one place it goes somewhere else and that quote the amount

somewhere else and that quote the amount

somewhere else and that quote the amount of fresh water on earth has not changed

of fresh water on earth has not changed

of fresh water on earth has not changed significantly in millions of years

significantly in millions of years

significantly in millions of years however population growth means that

however population growth means that

however population growth means that what was once an adequate supply has

what was once an adequate supply has

what was once an adequate supply has become inadequate water shortage is also

become inadequate water shortage is also

become inadequate water shortage is also a result of rising prosperity as

a result of rising prosperity as

a result of rising prosperity as successful families ditch less

successful families ditch less

successful families ditch less environmentally demanding vegetarian

environmentally demanding vegetarian

environmentally demanding vegetarian lifestyles in favor of protein rich meat

lifestyles in favor of protein rich meat

lifestyles in favor of protein rich meat based diets which require much more

based diets which require much more

based diets which require much more water to maintain in the past century

water to maintain in the past century

water to maintain in the past century the population has tripled but water use

the population has tripled but water use

the population has tripled but water use has grown six-fold in short we have more

has grown six-fold in short we have more

has grown six-fold in short we have more people using more water per person

people using more water per person

people using more water per person number one how will this end

number one how will this end

number one how will this end if the threat of water wars emphasizes

if the threat of water wars emphasizes

if the threat of water wars emphasizes one thing it’s the importance of rain

one thing it’s the importance of rain

one thing it’s the importance of rain water if rains were regular and reliable

water if rains were regular and reliable

water if rains were regular and reliable tensions would not run so high but the

tensions would not run so high but the

tensions would not run so high but the modern world reality is that drought is

modern world reality is that drought is

modern world reality is that drought is in

in

in climate change accelerating and the

climate change accelerating and the

climate change accelerating and the population rising while there’s clearly

population rising while there’s clearly

population rising while there’s clearly money to be made by private water firms

money to be made by private water firms

money to be made by private water firms in the 21st century the onus is on local

in the 21st century the onus is on local

in the 21st century the onus is on local governments and international bodies to

governments and international bodies to

governments and international bodies to regulate water supply fairly branded by

regulate water supply fairly branded by

regulate water supply fairly branded by analysts as the oil of our time the

analysts as the oil of our time the

analysts as the oil of our time the water rush will continue to provoke

water rush will continue to provoke

water rush will continue to provoke conflict until systems are installed to

conflict until systems are installed to

conflict until systems are installed to suit all sides the first step involves

suit all sides the first step involves

suit all sides the first step involves finalizing a definition of water is it a

finalizing a definition of water is it a

finalizing a definition of water is it a regional luxury or an international

regional luxury or an international

regional luxury or an international right did these facts get you thinking

right did these facts get you thinking

right did these facts get you thinking to vote for which news story is covered

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