Carrying capacity and water - y2k to the rescue???

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Let me preface the article with the following:-

I just read this article and it got me thinking (ouch)... Whenever I read *anything* these days I tend to look at it from a y2k doombrood (I hate that word, but it seems to fit) angle, of course mixed in with my own take on a host of other subjects.

When I hear predictions like this from one of the top guns at the UN, I take notice. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but reading between the lines of the following statements gives one pause for wonder - remember what Infomagic said about carrying capacity???

"Everybody knows that we have an increase in population, but we do not have a corresponding increase in drinking water,"

Where does y2k fit in here? The UN *IS OBSESSED* with population.

"Predicting dramatic global population growth in the future, Toepfer cites the need for an "efficiency revolution."

Where does y2k fit in here? Global population growth? Really? Next year? Agribusiness? Famine? Distribution?

"War Over Water Predicted By UN Environment Chief"

ScienceDaily News Release

Source: American Chemical Society

Link at

1-6-99

A future war over water is a distinct possibility, according to Klaus Toepfer, director-general of the United Nations Environment Programme. Toepfer made his prediction during an interview that appears in the Jan. 1 issue of the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology. The journal is published by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. Echoing a view he says is shared by former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali, Toepfer is "completely convinced" there will be a conflict over natural resources, particularly water. "Everybody knows that we have an increase in population, but we do not have a corresponding increase in drinking water, so the result in the regional dimension is conflict," he says. In the interview, Toepfer advocates monitoring worldwide reserves of drinking water and establishing cooperative agreements for the use of bodies of water, including groundwater. He also calls for "economic instruments to stimulate use of new technologies" to promote water conservation. Predicting dramatic global population growth in the future, Toepfer cites the need for an "efficiency revolution." Any solution for addressing this growth must be linked with "new technologies that concentrate more on efficient use of limited natural resources," he says. These technologies must be available, he insists, "on preferential terms, to developing countries." Calling the export of hazardous waste to developing countries "neocolonial," Toepfer says in addition to banning this practice, cooperation is needed from the chemical industry to adopt production methods that will avoid waste generation. Toepfer, who assumed his current position with the U.N. in February 1998, is a former minister of the environment for Germany. P.S.

"Carrying capacity and water" - sorry :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 09, 1999

Answers

Link at

http://www.sightings.com/earthchanges/warwater.htm

A future war over water is a distinct possibility, according to Klaus Toepfer, director-general of the United Nations Environment Programme. Toepfer made his prediction during an interview that appears in the Jan. 1 issue of the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology. The journal is published by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

Echoing a view he says is shared by former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali, Toepfer is "completely convinced" there will be a conflict over natural resources, particularly water. "Everybody knows that we have an increase in population, but we do not have a corresponding increase in drinking water, so the result in the regional dimension is conflict," he says.

In the interview, Toepfer advocates monitoring worldwide reserves of drinking water and establishing cooperative agreements for the use of bodies of water, including groundwater. He also calls for "economic instruments to stimulate use of new technologies" to promote water conservation. Predicting dramatic global population growth in the future, Toepfer cites the need for an "efficiency revolution." Any solution for addressing this growth must be linked with "new technologies that concentrate more on efficient use of limited natural resources," he says. These technologies must be available, he insists, "on preferential terms, to developing countries."

Calling the export of hazardous waste to developing countries "neocolonial," Toepfer says in addition to banning this practice, cooperation is needed from the chemical industry to adopt production methods that will avoid waste generation.

Toepfer, who assumed his current position with the U.N. in February 1998, is a former minister of the environment for Germany.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 09, 1999.


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