For more material on why water is such a key element in human biological, social and symbolic affairs see also: Water -- Symbol and Substance of Life - a list of sources on material and spiritual aspects of water in various cultures.

    In addition, you may wish to refer to a year-long series of presentations in the Harvard Seminar on Environmental Values during 1997-1998 devoted to the theme, Water -- Symbol and Substance of Life: Toward a New Environmental Ethic.

Some Background Global News:
World water crisis. BBC Report
The world's supply of fresh water is running out. Already one person in five has no access to safe drinking water.
Dawn of a thirsty century
Friday, 2 June, 2000, 10:30 GMT 11:30 UK By Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby
The amount of water in the world is limited. The human race, and the other species which share the planet, cannot expect an infinite supply. Water covers about two-thirds of the Earth's surface, admittedly. But most is too salty for use. Only 2.5% of the world's water is not salty, and two-thirds of that is locked up in the icecaps and glaciers.
Case Studies

• Africa's water crisis
• The Middle East
• Dams in Turkey
• Aral Sea tragedy
• The Ganges
  

Recent Overview Synthesis Studies of Global Water Issues:

The World's Water - WorldWater.Org - Peter H. Gleick, Pacific Institute
     Links
             Water data from:
                Peter H. Gleick, "Introduction," The World's Water 2000-2001.
                Peter H. Gleick, "Introduction,"The World's Water 1998-1999

Recent Scientific Assessments:

Extreme Weather & Climate Concerns

FRESH WATER IN SHORT SUPPLY
Morning Edition
Monday, May 18, 1998
-- NPR's Anne Garrels begins a series of reports on the precarious balance between the supply and demand for fresh water around the world. With populations increasing and the amount of available water staying the same, scarcity is causing disputes, both within and between countries. At stake are the livelihoods of individuals and the economic and political stability of entire countries. (8:29)
WATER RESOURCES II
Morning Edition
Tuesday, May 19, 1998
-- NPR's Anne Garrels reports on part two of a five-part series focusing on fresh water shortages. She reports from Yemen, where a population explosion and modern developments have greatly endangered the ground water supply. (8:08)
WATER SHORTAGES III
Morning Edition
Wednesday, May 20, 1998
-- NPR's Anne Garrels reports in part three of a five-part series on fresh water shortages. She reports on the intensifying dispute among countries bordering the Nile River over access to its resources. (8:45)
  WATER USAGE IV
Morning Edition
Thursday, May 21, 1998
-- In part four of a week-long series on global water usage, Anne Garrels reports on a program in Pakistan to improve the sewage system. Sewers once were either non-existent, or plagued by governmental mismanagement. Now residents are building and maintaining their own inexpensive sewer systems. (8:23)
  WATER USAGE V
Morning Edition
Friday, May 22, 1998
-- In the last of a five-part series on fresh water shortages, NPR's Anne Garrels reports from Uzbekistan, where one of the largest inland seas -- the Aral of Central Asia -- is suffering massive degradation. (8:32)

Water Issues in Agriculture:

AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF
All Things Considered
Monday, October 20, 1997
NPR's John Nielsen talks to Robert from the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay about a new plan to battle water pollution that arises from agricultural runoff. The federal government would create a buffer zone where all agriculture is prohibited. The zone would affect all the lakes, rivers, and streams that flow into the Bay -- an area that extends from central New York State to southern Virginia. Vice President Gore announced the plan at Maryland farm late this afternoon. (3:30)
PFIESTERIA & CHICKENS
All Things Considered
Wednesday, September 17, 1997
NPR's John Nielsen examines the factors that maybe involved in the fish kills reported along the Chesapeake Bay. In the past six weeks, three rivers have been closed to commercial fishing after the discovery of parasite-infested fish. Nutrients in the water appear to be encouraging the proliferation of the parasite -- nutrients that may come from agricultural runoff or other forms of water pollution. At the moment, investigators are focusing on manure flowing into the rivers from the scores of chicken farms along the Bay. But it's not clear that this is the cause of the infestation. (6:00)
POLLUTED WATERS FOSTER TOXIC ALGAE
Morning Edition
Thursday, May 07, 1998
-- In the final part of our series, NPR's John Nielsen reports that water pollution is to blame for most toxic algae blooms. Enviromentalists say tougher standards are needed to decrease polluted runoff from hog and poultry farms and other sources. Some experts warn that farmers may relocate rather than comply with the new rules. (8:21)

Groundwater Pollution - Public Health & Safety: The Case of MTBE
CONTAMINATED WATER & DEFORMITIES
Morning Edition
Friday, January 02, 1998
-- Mary Losure of Minnesota Public Radio reports that scientists have linked the frequency of deformed frogs to contaminated well and ground water. Health experts are now investigating whether those same contaminants pose a risk to humans. (7:19)

GAS ADDITIVE MTBE
All Things Considered
Wednesday, November 25, 1998
What began as a program to fight air pollution has now necessitated dozens of costly studies and created a public health concern. The gas additive MTBE helps to lower tail-pipe emissions-- but it also contaminates ground-water. As the state of California looks for ways to cleanup its water supplies, the governor of Maine is also asking the EPA to let his state get out of the reformulated gas program that mandates the use of gas oxygenates like MTBE. Some activists say it's possible to meet clean air standards without using MTBE or any other oxygen additive... and they have gas suppliers ready to deliver the new product. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports.(5:30)

Water and the Market:
Should water be privately owned and "priced" as a commodity?
or is water a service? or a human "right?"

        A heated international debate is emerging about how the human community might best come to value the water upon which it so dearly depends.  In market integrated societies many argue that the only way to value water is to give it a "price."   Costly goods are valued, it is argued, therefore if you want people to value something you must give it a price and preferably a high price.

       Others argue that any "price" cannot ever capture "value."  Further, they argue that every known pricing mechanism merely works to strengthen those already strong in the market place, victimizing those with little purchasing power.  In short, they argue that pricing water will victimize the very poor even more than they are currently exploited.

        Consider the following stories. Then develop an assessment and an opinion on whether or how water should be priced.  What do you think local or regional changes in the hydrological cycle might imply for the evolving debate on the "ownership" of water?

  WATER - Price of Water is highest for the poor
Weekend Edition - Saturday
Saturday, May 09, 1998
NPR''s Anne Garrels reports from Karachi, Pakistan, on the too high price of water, especially for the poor. (5:30)
CHINA WATER
All Things Considered
Tuesday, April 07, 1998
NPR's Mary Kay Magistad visits the Huai (HWIGH) River basin in eastern China, where the government has ordered the cleanup of some of the country's worst water pollution. Small factories and businesses have dumped so many pollutants into the river that residents say even pigs sometimes won't drink the water. People living downstream have had to depend on trucks to bring them water each day because their own water supply is unusable. One problem with the cleanup is enforcing the edicts of the central government, but area residents are starting to report violations; they know what it's like to live with contaminated water. (7:00)

Pricing Water: Case Study -- The Canadian Controversy
Provincial government reverses ban on bulk water

Natalie Clancy report.
ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. - The Newfoundland government has reversed its position on bulk water shipments from Gisborne Lake, much to the shock of opposition leaders and the federal government.

The Blue Planet Project - Council of Canadians
    Indigenous Declaration on Water July 8th, 2001 Musqueam Territory
    Publications
    Links


Vancouver Meeting, 5 July 2001 - Council of Canadians overview of Topic

Global Water Partnership