Thursday, October 05, 2006 Libre: Water By Mel Libre Seriously Now
HISTORY has taught us that most, if not all, great civilizations grew beside great rivers. This was because of the importance of water in the lives of people---for drinking, cleaning, farming, fishing and traveling.
But as man learned more about agriculture, he explored valleys, destroyed forests and conquered mountains, in effect bringing havoc on the ecosystem.
Man’s ingenuity allowed him to dig wells and use dams and pipes to store and bring water to homes. As empires vanished and people freely elected their leaders and administrators, water distribution became an important service of government. But because of the inefficiency of public utility companies, some governments opted to privatize water distribution.
As clean water became accessible, bottled water ended up being part of popular culture. Today, it may be more economical to quench your thirst with soft drink than with mineral water. Through clever advertisement and low-intensity smear campaign on tap water, the bottled water industry is now worth billions of dollars.
Some experts have warned that if the destruction of rainforest continues and the dumping of pollutants in rivers and seas remains unabated, time will come when water will be more valuable than petrol. Already, we have seen the impact of man’s wanton misuse of the earth’s resources in the global weather, with the entry of destructive winters and bad droughts.
No one is spared by the wrath of nature. While Bangladesh and the Philippines are regularly lashed by typhoons, so has the United States suffered from cyclones. While Africa’s rich agricultural lands have become baked and cracked earth, so has Europe experienced heat waves that claimed many lives.
Our politicians have not seriously pondered on the possibility of a world with diminishing water but with increasing population. Limited water means lesser harvests, lesser grazing land for livestock, lesser chances for survival among the creatures that walk on earth. One day, the line, “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink” may become a reality.
We do hear about tree planting and forest reservation programs, but aren’t these just token efforts that do not fully address the threat? Instead of relying on scientists and water experts, politicians depend on technocrats and businessmen for solutions.
These shortsighted “public servants” really think that drinking water is inexhaustible, when in fact it is not. We read about the need for water conservation, but do we really close tightly that dripping faucet in the bathroom?
If water brought about great civilizations, lack of water may bring about mankind’s destruction.
