Global+Issue+-+Group+44

The top section is the one that I have used for the students.

toc 1. Do **not** give out your email on this wiki - pass it onto your teacher's spreadsheet to share with others 2. Contribute to the **__discussion tab__** above each time you add to the wiki - let others know what you have done and get to know them 3. Information on this page **MUST** be your own work and **not** copied from books, articles, websites or any other sources of information. 4. Make sure you give **examples** and specific information as **evidence** to support your ideas. 5. **Reference** any sources of information including websites **AND** hyperlink back to sites where you have gained information from. This is **not** a competition to see who write the most. We are looking for your ability to **collaborate** on and **summerise** the global issue. Again - **use hyperlinks** to external sites that help explain information in more depth. = =
 * __Please note:__**

=Creators=

Ting r. of class 8-1 Here is my blog url: http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=112895

=Global Issue-Water Scarcity= Do you want this to be our future?

1. Brief description of the issue. What if our clean water supply just ceased to exist one day?

What if the pollution from fertilizers increased dramatically? Then what if the rain washes that into lakes and oceans, which gets evaporated into the air? What if the evaporated acid water becomes percipitation, thus poisening plant life?

What if water pollution continues to escalate and leaves thousands of people and sea life dying?

Global water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population growth in the last century.

Just how important is water scarcity with respect to the world around us? Extensive research has concluded to the fact that water scarcity currently takes a toll on every single continent. In fact, more than 40% of the people on this earth is effected. Within the next 18 years, scientists have estimated that around 1.8 billion people will have to live in regions with absolute scarcity of water. Not only that, but 2/3 of the human population will suffer under stressful water conditions. Without water, the basic necessity, that will definately affect our chances of providing ourselves with a better future. It would be impossible to provide enough food, or earn a livable income if this continues. Personal hygiene will be more difficult to reduce, and thus increases bacteria and dangerous viruses. With each passing day, 3,800 children dies from diseases due to lack of clean water. It's quite obvious that water scarcity, amongst many of the other global issues, is a key element for our survival.

By: Ting

2. Why do you consider this a global issue? //(Who does it affect? Where is it occurring? What proportion of the world is affected or will be affected in the future?)// Water scarcity, in my opinion, is considered to be a global issue since this situation effects doesn't only affect a small portion of the populaiton. In fact, it's the whole world's problem, thus giving this the name of global issue. Sure mostly under-developed countries are suffereing the most, yet is that really true? Water pollutions and such are also located in places like Canada, and it's getting worse and worse. So the question is, can we really chnage our ways in time? This problem is occurring throughout the world. Water pollution, lack of a safe drinking supply, and many others are everywhere. Why, just look around your community. Do you live near a polluted lake or ocean? Does your neighbour use fertilizers to grow a grassy green lawn? Currently, on television, there's a ton of documentries on porr starving children in under-developed countries such as Africa, yet privilaged countries are suffering too. In the future, privilaged countries will continue to suffer at a great exent. With all the water pollution and acid rain, people who rely on water or forestry will lose their jobs or basic necessities. It may not seem likely now, but wait until the future, where forest areas dissappear, and small towns with a river or lake will be so polluted, that it dangers the public's safety. This is why water scarcity can be considered, a global issue.

By: Ting

3. What are some of the different opinions/perspectives on the issue? There are many different perspectives when it comes to this issue. In my theory, because of the character of the person, some chose to acknowledge it but yet they act as ignorant as possible. Others truely take this into the their minds, and they choose to accept this as a global issue, and choose to protest as well. For example, look at these two pictures below: Do you think that this person cares at all about the issue? Probably not. This person probably is aware of the consequences, but chooses not to care. Why? Perhaps it's because of the fact that when fertilizers are washed away to poisen our underwater wildlife, it's too far from home to really see the impact. This is one perspective on the issue at hand. Others, as you can see, choose to hit the problem right at the source. Whether it's their character that provides them with extra courage and strength or not, this is another person's view on water scarcity. They accept it as a their problem and choose to think that the only solution is to protest, which isn't exactly right or wrong. This person chooses to make a direct impact by cleaning up the river itself. This is another viewpoint on how people not only react, but how their view this problem's solution. It shows that character does indeed play a important role in perspectives.

By: Ting

4. Why are there different opinion/perspectives on the issue? //(Give examples, evidence and pictures to support your answers above)// There might be different opinons or perspectives based on the issue due to the variables. Some people are simply ignorant, they have little knownledge really, so how can they really express their opinion? Others choose to be ignorant, disguarding the whole issue as something that is overlooked to much. Some are well-informed, and choose to accept this fact, and do something. There are many other variables such as that, it depends really on the person's knowledge of water scarcity being an actual issue, and the character of the person-whether they choose to believe the evidence presented, or note. People can often think the right thought, but choose to focus their attention on other things. For example; Off-shore drilling operations contribute a large share of pollution. One estimate is that one ton of oil is spilled for every million tons of oil transported. Not only does oil pollute water, but it destroys any wildlife nearby. as you can see fromt he picture bellow, these group of people recognize the situation at hand, whereas the drillers continue to drill. They represent the two very different ways in how a person can react.

By: Ting

5. What are your individual opinions on the issue? //(each group memeber comments about this)// In my opinion, water scarcity isn't taken into account as much as thing such as aids, or burning coal. Water is the basic key element to our survival, as well as other animals. Without water, how could be survive? I'm not suggesting the idea of directing all your attention on just water. But, it is an important detail that we can't over look. Not only are humans affected, but animal life as well. As we've all learned, we need animals to play their part in life, like a web. Cut one part out of the web, and the whole thing is unbalanced. That's why I think that we should take this issue to consideration, more so than we've done in the past. Currently, it's not too big of a deal to some, but then again, we can always change that can't we?

By: Ting

6. What are some of the solutions to solve this global issue? Judging by the current situation of this world, it seems more practical that there needs to be more than one solution for this. **Of course there’s always the most obvious two solutions, stop pollution/wasting water, and clean up the water that we have. As we live within the 20th century, technology can play a role by helping to purify water. Plants, which dwell in drought conditions, can also help. Desalinisation can also help us make use of seawater, yet it requires a lot of energy and leaves excess brine. Transporting vegetables, which contain a sufficient amount of water to other countries could work, yet the energy required to do such a thing would take quite a toll. In fact, useable energy might become a bigger problem than water scarcity will.** By: Ting

7. Who should carry out the solution(s)? Though the majority automatically persumes that the burden of striving for the solution falls upon those who have more of an advantage, it shouldn't be that way. Sure if politicains made some effort at least to beneifit our situation, it would be of great help, yet there's only a small handful who are willing to do just that. In this world, there's billions of inhabitants, perhaps only half who can make a difference considering those who are already living in water scarcity conditions, e.g. Ethiopia. If all those people just acted ingorant towards the entire situation, then how will our salvation even come? Even if it's one small thing, if everyone can do one samll thing in this world to help the issue at hand, then it would make a difference. That's why not only the people who have certain access to the media should carry out the solutions. Normal, everyday people such as yourself can help. It doesn't have to beneifit right away, in fact, it'll just help if you pass on the message. We can all help; from fundraisers to petitions, or from websites to public speeches, any one can make a diference.

By: Ting

8. Imagine your group is in charge of deciding what the world should do about the issue. Brainstorm the ways that you would solve your global issue. Justify your choice. //(You will need to work together on this)// There are quite a lot of solutions to put forth. Even though they are small and don't solve the problem right away, it still makes a difference: -3 rs, reduce, reuse, and recycle -put funding in water salvation researches -put funding in water-aid to other countries -Make websites or commericals, or documentries based on this crisis -put forth anti-pollution laws There are many other solutions, that could lead into one big change in our future.

By: Ting =References=

= = = =
 * http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/waterpollution.htm**

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3747724.stm http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section9group6/solutions http://www.worldpress.org/images/20061023-water.jpg http://www.uprct.nsw.gov.au/HTML/Info%20Sheets/Enviro%20Issues/E7%20Water%20Pollution_files/creek%20grate.jpg http://www.freewebs.com/hoseo_environmental_club/Dead%20Fish%20Afloat.JPG