4 ms·

Growth is our end goal now. But fresh water is the key. And our biggest problem. Fresh water is in sorry shape all over the world. Environmental issues will ch

by crag 13y ago

Growth is our end goal now. But fresh water is the key. And our biggest problem. Fresh water is in sorry shape all over the world. Environmental issues will change our course. We'll have no choice really. Hopefully I'm dead when the "water" wars begin.

Crito 13y ago
It does not make much sense to talk about fresh water supply on scales larger than aquifer. Some are strained, and wars may be started over some, but Egypt and the Sudan starting a war over the Nile really doesn't have many implications at all for people who get their fresh water elsewhere. It won't make water more expensive in North Dakota; wells in Australia will still produce fresh water as Egyptian and Sudanese soldiers burn on the battlefield. Fresh water isn't like oil, it is not a traded commodity (and if we consumed it in small enough quantities to ship around like we ship oil, then there would be no shortage concerns). There are plenty of concerns, but they are regional concerns with regional solutions. Some of those solutions may be "Find somewhere else to live", or even "Wait until enough of the population in this area dies, so that the water supply is sufficient for the survivors". These possible resolutions are not pleasant resolutions.. but the world seems to have a knack for being less than pleasant. My point here is that there is no reason for these regional issues and their potentially horrific resolutions to threaten the survival of the species itself. We are too resilient for that. Should that be comforting? Who knows. Probably not.
- bad_user 13y ago
  If you think wells in Australia or North Dakota still have water, just wait until they start foraging shale gas by hydraulic fracturing.
  - Crito 13y ago
    Sure, they have some problems with hydraulic fracturing... a solution to that problem won't help Egypt, and a solution to Egypt's problem won't help North Dakota. Widespread regional issues are still regional issues.
mseebach 13y ago
Nuclear power + desalination. It's expensive, but a whole lot less expensive than war.

by crag 13y ago

Crito 13y ago

It does not make much sense to talk about fresh water supply on scales larger than aquifer. Some are strained, and wars may be started over some, but Egypt and the Sudan starting a war over the Nile really doesn't have many implications at all for people who get their fresh water elsewhere. It won't make water more expensive in North Dakota; wells in Australia will still produce fresh water as Egyptian and Sudanese soldiers burn on the battlefield. Fresh water isn't like oil, it is not a traded commodity (and if we consumed it in small enough quantities to ship around like we ship oil, then there would be no shortage concerns). There are plenty of concerns, but they are regional concerns with regional solutions. Some of those solutions may be "Find somewhere else to live", or even "Wait until enough of the population in this area dies, so that the water supply is sufficient for the survivors". These possible resolutions are not pleasant resolutions.. but the world seems to have a knack for being less than pleasant. My point here is that there is no reason for these regional issues and their potentially horrific resolutions to threaten the survival of the species itself. We are too resilient for that. Should that be comforting? Who knows. Probably not.

bad_user 13y ago
If you think wells in Australia or North Dakota still have water, just wait until they start foraging shale gas by hydraulic fracturing.
- Crito 13y ago
  Sure, they have some problems with hydraulic fracturing... a solution to that problem won't help Egypt, and a solution to Egypt's problem won't help North Dakota. Widespread regional issues are still regional issues.

mseebach 13y ago

Nuclear power + desalination. It's expensive, but a whole lot less expensive than war.