The Ocean's Greatest Gift Analysis
“1.4 billion people now lack sufficient clean drinking water, and seven million a year die from the disease linked to unsanitary water. The problem is getting worse: an estimated 20 percent more water than is now available will be needed to supply the needs of the three billion additional human beings who will be alive by 2025” (Geddes). Recently the drought issue is becoming worse. In the article, “The Ocean’s Greatest Gift” by Kurt Stehling, he claims the world should use the nearby ocean to solve the drought problem. From a broader perspective, John Geddes, author of the article, “Water Wars,” state water can also be considered a commodity, the same as goods for trading purposes. In the debate around the drought, one controversial proposal
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Stehling states, “Developing countries have neither the money or the political infrastructure to establish large desalinization facilities” (Stehling). With the increasing population and the needs of developed countries, desalination technology is a better choice, but not for developing countries. A cheaper heat source have been used in North Africa and India, but desalination won’t work in these cheap solar energy sources. Stehling writes, “However, these are small efforts because water requires so much heat to evaporate that very large ponds” (Stehling). Cheap technologies are not supporting the needs of desalination. Desalination was created by advanced technology and it provides standard water quality. In order to operate the system, it requires high costs. Likewise, Bulk water delivery won’t work in poor places. In Geddes’s view, “Bulk exports are unlikely to matter much in such poor places” (Geddes). Shady, a Canadian International Development Agency, claims shipping water to some poor countries, such as Central Asia or the Nile basin where floods and dust bowls occur, are complicated and more importantly, poor countries are not able to pay the expense. Geddes comments, “So, in the end, if Canada is to play a part in solving the world’s water woes, tankers filled from Newfoundland lakes or B.C rivers are unlikely to matter much” (Geddes). Exporting water from Newfoundland could hold the drought issue, but it will not solve the issue in long term. Water resources are limited, and tanker trucks do not work in poor countries. Although the world is targeting the Canada’s most valuable natural water resources, eventually, Canada’s water resources alone can not save the
Stehling states, “Developing countries have neither the money or the political infrastructure to establish large desalinization facilities” (Stehling). With the increasing population and the needs of developed countries, desalination technology is a better choice, but not for developing countries. A cheaper heat source have been used in North Africa and India, but desalination won’t work in these cheap solar energy sources. Stehling writes, “However, these are small efforts because water requires so much heat to evaporate that very large ponds” (Stehling). Cheap technologies are not supporting the needs of desalination. Desalination was created by advanced technology and it provides standard water quality. In order to operate the system, it requires high costs. Likewise, Bulk water delivery won’t work in poor places. In Geddes’s view, “Bulk exports are unlikely to matter much in such poor places” (Geddes). Shady, a Canadian International Development Agency, claims shipping water to some poor countries, such as Central Asia or the Nile basin where floods and dust bowls occur, are complicated and more importantly, poor countries are not able to pay the expense. Geddes comments, “So, in the end, if Canada is to play a part in solving the world’s water woes, tankers filled from Newfoundland lakes or B.C rivers are unlikely to matter much” (Geddes). Exporting water from Newfoundland could hold the drought issue, but it will not solve the issue in long term. Water resources are limited, and tanker trucks do not work in poor countries. Although the world is targeting the Canada’s most valuable natural water resources, eventually, Canada’s water resources alone can not save the