12:45. Sujung
1:05. Fiona
1:25. Jane
2:05. Neha
2:25. Cassie
2:45. Aspen
3:25. Tomoki
3:45. Stina
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Map of "Blue Gold"
"If the 21st century's wars will be fought over water, rather than oil, it might help to at least know what we're fighting over. UNESCO recently released this world map showing where freshwater aquifers lie:"
In Jamie's class, we talked about the practicality of drawing legal boundaries by understanding the land's watershed (instead of an arbitrary straight line). Aquifers are even less visible than watersheds because they are underground, but we are just as dependent on them as water sources for drinking agricultural irrigation. These aquifers hold 100 times the volume of freshwater that flows down rivers and streams around the world at any time!
The UNESCO map reveals how many of these hidden underground water aquifers cross international borders, each of this crossing is a potential for political conflict or even wars.
In the world where freshwater resources are precious and increasingly contentious, the map is a beginning point for us to discuss ways in which international law should govern how water is shared around the world (and not fought over for). That said, the pastel light green, blue and tan is a misleading choice of color to indicate of 'very low' level of groundwater. It makes the middle eastern dessert seems so watery!
News via FP Blog.
New scientist has the write up about this mapping project.
In Jamie's class, we talked about the practicality of drawing legal boundaries by understanding the land's watershed (instead of an arbitrary straight line). Aquifers are even less visible than watersheds because they are underground, but we are just as dependent on them as water sources for drinking agricultural irrigation. These aquifers hold 100 times the volume of freshwater that flows down rivers and streams around the world at any time!
The UNESCO map reveals how many of these hidden underground water aquifers cross international borders, each of this crossing is a potential for political conflict or even wars.
In the world where freshwater resources are precious and increasingly contentious, the map is a beginning point for us to discuss ways in which international law should govern how water is shared around the world (and not fought over for). That said, the pastel light green, blue and tan is a misleading choice of color to indicate of 'very low' level of groundwater. It makes the middle eastern dessert seems so watery!
News via FP Blog.
New scientist has the write up about this mapping project.
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