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information for the concerned consumer
Water
Predicted world water crisis needs urgent action, says UN
The recent UN report “Water in a Changing World” has warned that urgent action is necessary to prevent a global water crisis. Factors which will contribute to the crisis include biofuel production, increasing meat consumption, increasing populations and migration of country dwellers to the city. The report says governments need to boost investment in water infrastructure and better management in a sector which has been badly neglected considering its vital importance.
Monsanto? Sustainable? Water bully, I'd say
The agricultural giant Monsanto may well still be the world's most hated company. The company that brought the world Agent Orange, the defoliant of choice in the Vietnam War, followed up a decade ago with a strident push to flood the world with genetically modified crops. It alienated millions – and even its friends and rivals among GM supporters blamed Monsanto's belligerence for putting back the cause by many years. But I'm going to ignore GMs and talk about water. And belligerence.
Read more here.
Is transport of 'virtual' water causing drought?
The global volume of freshwater is estimated to be 39 million cubic km and currently around 70% of this is used in agriculture. The UK uses 189 million cubic metres of 'virtual' African water per year as a result of importing green beans. The issue of 'virtual' water is set to become increasingly important in food and trade debates as the impacts of climate change are felt.
Billions of plastic bottles are languishing in landfill sites, and each will take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. The Manchester Evening News is backing a campaign to encourage people to drink tap water.
New Internationalist recently ran an investigation into the role of plastics in modern life. It explored the toxicity of plastics in everyday products and food packaging, their persistance in the oceans and effect on wildlife.
Two other important issues emerged:
- The bottled water industry. Its use of oil to produce PET releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year in the US alone. On top of this is the environmental cost of transporting water, and the ethical implications of undermining public trust in and support of tap water.
- The future of plastic in the food system. Bioplastics; polymers made from plants instead of petroleum, are mainly made from food sugars and divert yet more crops from food production. As well as concerns over the degradability of these products, bioplastics, like biofuels, face serious questions in the light of the global food crisis.
