Water Source & Sustainability

There is more than 1. 4 billion cubic kilometres of water on the earth. If divided evenly enough to give every man, woman & child 230 million cubic meters. However 98% of that is saltwater and nearly 1% of it is locked as polar icecaps. Less than 1 percent of the Earth's freshwater is accessible in lakes, rivers, and groundwater aquifers. This vital 1 percent of available freshwater is con- stantly in motion, either flowing in rivers, evaporating and moving around the globe as water vapour, falling from the sky as rain or snow, or filtering slowly through the earth to emerge somewhere else. It is a renewable resource on which we all completely depend upon. It is the genesis and continuing source of all life on earth. The most accessible water is that which flows in river channels or is stored in freshwater lakes and reservoirs. The major portion of the water diverted for human needs is taken from this renewable, readily accessible part of the world's freshwater resources. Although the total volume of water conveyed annually by the world's rivers is about 43,000 km3, most of this occurs as floods. The low river flows (base flows) make up only about 19,000 km3. Of this, about 12,500 km3 can be accessed, and present levels of withdrawal accounts for 4000km3. This withdrawal is expected to reach 5000 Km3 per year by the 2025. The demand for freshwater increased six-fold between 1900 and 1995 nearly twice the rate of population growth. One third of the world's population today already live in countries experiencing medium to high water stress. Water Stress Water stress for a river basin is defined as the water resources available in that basin. The water stress for a country is the summation of water stress for all its river basins. Water stress begins when the withdrawals of water of freshwater rises above 10 percent of renewable resources. Medium to high stress translates as water use that exceeds 20 percent of available water supply. Countries experience high water stress when the ratio of water use to supply exceeds 40 percent. At such levels, their patterns of use may not be sustainable, and water scarcity is likely to become the limiting factor to economic growth. High water stress and unsustainable rates of withdrawal are already being experienced in Central and South Asia, where annual water ithdrawals compared with available water resources are 50 percent or more. In the dry season, water scarcity occurs throughout Asia and the Pacific, and increased rainfall variability as a result of global climate change will worsen this problem. Water scarcity will affect food security throughout Asia and the Pacific. The global population will expand from today's 6 billion people to almost 8 billion in 2025. By then, more than 80 percent of the world's population will be living in developing countries. The World Meteorological Organization estimates, assuming the renewable water resources will remain unchanged, that the number of countries facing water stress will increase from 29 today to 34 in 2025. How these countries manage their water resources, and whether they can produce sufficient food for their growing populations while catering to their water needs and preserving natural environments, have important implications. Nearly 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals are directed toward agriculture, mainly for irrigation. By some estimates (UN 1997), annual irrigation water use will have to increase about 30 percent above present use for annual crop production to double and meet global food requirements by 2025. The industry sector, which accounts for about 22 percent of current freshwater withdrawals globally, is likely to require an increasing share in all regions of the world. In developing countries, where 56 percent of the population will be living in urban areas by 2025, the share of water going toward domestic uses will also need to grow substantially. Asia and Water Asia has the lowest per capita availability of freshwater resources among the world's continents. The contrasts within the region are stark. Annual freshwater resources (in m3 per capita) reach as high as 200,000 in Papua New Guinea and as low as 2,000 in parts of South Asia and the PRC, and are generally below 20,000 in Southeast Asia. The region's weather is largely governed by a monsoon climate, which creates large seasonal variations in addition to spatial variation. The two most populous nations in the world, the PRC and India, will have 1. 5 billion and 1. billion people, respectively, by 2025, by which time the availability of freshwater will have dropped to 1,500 m3 per capita in India and 1,800 m3 in the PRC. Many of countries depend heavily on groundwater exploitation to supplement scarce surface water resources. In Bangladesh, groundwater abstraction already represents 35 percent of total annual water withdrawals; in India, 32 percent; in Pakistan, 30 percent; and in PRC, 11 percent. Groundwater overuse and aquifer depletion are becoming serious problems in the intensively farmed areas of northern PRC, India, and Pakistan. In heavily populated cities land is subsiding as groundwater is withdrawn to serve the needs of their growing urban populations, and saltwater intrusion is rendering much of the groundwater unusable. War for Water International conflicts over water are becoming more frequent as competition for available freshwater resources increases. There are 215 international rivers as well as about 300 groundwater basins and aquifers that are shared by several countries. The 1996 treaty signed by Bangladesh and India for managing flows in the Ganges-Brahmaputra system represents a major breakthrough for rational approaches to shared water resources. However, more than 70 water-related flash points have been identified, mainly in Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. Eight countries in Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam) rely on international rivers to supply more than 30 percent of their annual water resources. Four of these (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam) rely on water from external sources for more than 65 percent of their annual water resources. Making better use of Asia's shared rivers is an unfinished agenda with potentially large benefits to millions of poor people in the region. However, formulating agreements between sub-regions to enable equitable sharing of resources and better control of trans-boundary pollution has proven to be highly controversial and, in some cases, strongly divisive The reliability of water supplies in the face of such dependence is a key issue when seasonal variations, particularly droughts etc enter the equation. Unsustainable rates of groundwater extraction can only make matters worse. The impact of global climate change, which cannot be determined at this time, will be to increase the overall uncertainty within which water planners operate. Floods and droughts Floods and droughts have always been features of life on earth and have produced some of the worst natural disasters in recorded history. Due to inappropriate land use and land management practices, uncoordinated and rapid growth of urban areas, and loss of natural flood storage wetlands, floods are becoming more frequent. Flooding is the hazard that affects more people than any other associated damage to property and is escalating. Destruction of forest cover has altered the hydrologic cycle and reduced water retention in forest soils. Accompanying soil erosion has permanently stripped fertile topsoil from vast areas, leading to further degradation of river basins and threatening the basis for sustainable natural resource management. Global climate change will have unpredictable but potentially devastating consequences for the hydrologic cycle by changing the total amount of precipitation, its annual and seasonal distribution, the onset of snowmelt, the frequency and severity of floods and droughts, and the reliability of existing water supply reservoirs. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the frequency of droughts could rise by 50 percent in certain parts of the world by 2050. Water Pollution Emerging Asia, published by ADB in 1997, identified water pollution as the most serious environmental problem facing the region. Water pollution exacerbates the problem of water scarcity at local and regional levels by reducing the amount of water available for productive purposes. Water pollution comes from many sources, including untreated sewage, chemical discharges, spillage of toxic materials, harmful products leached from land disposal sites, agricultural chemicals, salt from irrigation schemes, and atmospheric pollutants dissolved in rainwater. The direct disposal of domestic and industrial wastewater into watercourses is the major source of pollutants in developing countries. In Asia and the Pacific, faecal pollution is one of the most serious problems, affecting both surface water and groundwater bodies and leading to a tenacious persistence of such waterborne diseases as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. Estimates of the increase in water pollution loads in high growth areas of Asia over the next decades are as high as 16 times for suspended solids, 17 times for total dissolved solids, and 18 times for biological pollution loading. The combined volume of water used and water needed to dilute and flush pollutants is almost equal to the volume of accessible freshwater in the world's river systems. The development of freshwater resources for human uses has compromised natural ecosystems that depend on these resources for their continued integrity. Freshwater ecosystems, comprising lakes, rivers, and wetlands, have already lost a greater proportion of species and habitat than land or ocean ecosystems. Unrestricted development of surface water and groundwater has altered the hydrologic cycle and threatens the natural functions of deltas and wetlands. Wetlands have been converted to cropland, and rivers that channelled water to estuaries and deltas have dried up. Diminished productive potential, loss of vegetation, increased health risks, and irreversible desecration of aquatic biota are the sad legacy. Water Management Traditionally seen as limitless bounty, water has only recently been recognized as a scarce resource, and only since the 1950s have policymakers begun to espouse the economic and environmental values of water. A consensus is growing among scientists, water planners, governments, and civil society that new policies and approaches will have to be adopted within the next two decades to avoid calamity, and that supply, use, and management of water resources will have to be integrated across sectors and between regions sharing the same source. New projects for dams, water storage, irrigation, drainage, flood protection, and water supply will continue to be needed in many countries where the basic water requirements for people have not yet been met. Lack of effective water policies and institutional arrangements is a pressing issue. Sustainability criteria will predominate in decision making and particular emphasis will be given to environmental and social values.

Contributions of Science in Maintaining World Peace Essay

Science has made great progress in recent times. Through science man has been able to conquer nature. He has acquired control over land, air and water. Time and distance have no meaning in this sputnik Age. Some people think that science is responsible for wars. It has placed in the hands of the man extremely destructive weapons. They may ruin the world completely. It may be true to some extent. But science has also contributed a lot towards world peace. Today very fast means of transport and communications are available. Armies can be moved from one place to another in no times. These forces check the advance of an enemy. Thus war is prevented. Big wars break out due to certain causes. Poverty, disease, hunger, etc. , are enemies of mankind. Some countries are rich while others are poor. Scientific inventions have given us valuable machines. With their help production has been increased manifold. Even the backward and poor countries have now begun to enjoy a better standard of living. The contribution of science to medical science is well known to everyone. Wonderful drops like penicillin, streptomycin, Chloromycetin, etc. , have been discovered. They have ensured long and healthy life to the people of the world. By removing such causes of war, science has helped in reducing the chances of a world war to the minimum. Small sparks lead to big conflagrations. Similarly minor internal disturbances within a country sometimes lead to big wars, but now-a-days the police and military can be sent to the spots of trouble within no time. Thus, internal peace is far more secure today than it ever was. Science has given very effective means of propaganda. The Radio, the Television, the News paper and the cinema are very powerful means of propaganda. Through them, the people of the world can easily know the horrible effects of modern warfare. Through cinema, pictures of horrors of war are shown to the people. Thus public opinion is created against war. This also helps in preventing war. Science has not reached the limits of its inventions even now. It is making even more starting inventions. It is now busy in acquiring control over outer space. Furthermore, man is today more conscious of necessity of world peace than ever before. He has begun to use his knowledge of science for peaceful purposes. Let us be optimistic that science enables us to banish war completely in the near future.

External communication method for retailers Essay

External communication method for retailers - Essay Example More importantly, the communication mix will be part of the discussion with major focus on the retail business. The growing market of retailers, increased competition, and their hunger of constantly attracting and retaining their customers has made it important to achieve excellence at communicating the value and the rest of this paper would discuss the same. Since most of the retailers engage in mass marketing, the formula for them remains somewhat low per unit profit, high volume of sales, and board customer base, which in turn result in some handsome gross profit (Bhatia, pp. 161-164, 2008). In addition, high volume of sales means that everyday retailers have to deal with many customers coming from diverse backgrounds. However, life would have become easy if customers would have all the information and they would have perceived the product, prices, and the offer the way retailers wanted. Most of the marketing experts agree to the fact that the external retail communication mixes endeavor for building brand equity and other all other retail communication methods or channels consist of six major modes of communication. These elements namely are advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, public relations, direct marketing and events, and experiences (Reynolds, Cuthbertson & Bell, pp. 69-75, 2004). It is also important to note that retail communication goes far beyond these specific platforms and goes on to include things like packaging, style, price, colours, infrastructure of the store, location, sales person’s outlook and others (Samli, pp. 56-58, 1998). However, since most of these things are internal, therefore, they will not be able to create a place for themselves in this discussion. In this regard, advertising is the most feasible option for any retailer who wants to build a long-term image for its brand. In fact, advertising may be the answer for any retailer who wishes to trigger the sale quickly. However, it is an

Analysis of an Individual Comic Strip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of an Individual Comic Strip - Essay Example The point Franklin is trying to get across is that America is divided and therefore ineffective against enemies unless the colonies unite together. The phrase, â€Å"Join, or Die† means that unless the colonies unite, they will be attacked and wiped out. It is a simple statement that is trying to point out that the only option for the Colonies is to unite. The individual segments of the snake are the American colonies. Franklin chose New England to be the head of the snake. New England, especially the city of Boston, would definitely be considered the â€Å"head of the snake† at this time. Many influential politicians lived in Boston including Sam and John Adams. Boston is also where many pre-revolution events occurred including the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre. Franklin draws the head of the snake with its forked tongue sticking out. The snake is coiled and looks like it is ready to strike. The analogy of America to a coiled snake ready to strike is a very interesting one. But in considering what animal one would use to symbolize a divided America, a snake would be the logical answer. Snake’s have a lot of symbolism surrounding them. Often a snake represents wisdom and healing, even though many people associate snakes with evil.

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Discussion - Assignment Example In this context, power exists in three phases i.e. coercive, reward, and legitimate. In the same way power is often realized when somebody in the organization or military setting has knowledge or ability in a given area over the rest of the people. In a way, the other people depend on such knowledge and this creates a sense of power in the person. Similarly, the ownership of valuable information in a given field is normally a direct source of power that is often exercised by many people. In most situations, it is often realized that power emanates from actions that are geared towards the five bases of power. These include reward, coercive, legitimate, and expert and referent power. Actions in these respects are normally very important sources of power and people are often drawn into situations of influence over the rest. In any case, the extent to which somebody exercises their power and influence over the rest is normally the most important parameter in the context of power dynamics. Power can always be used wrongly by certain people if structures are not in place to control such power. In the same way power has always been used effectively by other people create positive

Integration of Culture and Diversity in an Organization Assignment

Integration of Culture and Diversity in an Organization - Assignment Example Organization culture serves as deeply embedded form of social control, it bonds people together in an organization and makes them feel part of the organization’s experience and corporate culture helps the employee make sense of the workplace. Hewlett Packard Company operates in a highly competitive environment hence it has found to better served with a culture that engenders efficiency. It operates in an environment that require employees to be dedicated so that it can be successful hence it has practiced an employee-oriented culture. Therefore, Hewlett Packard has engaged organization cultures such as hierarchy, market culture, clan culture and adaptive culture in order to succeed in its operation. Hewlett Packard showed hierarchy culture when Bob as the CEO formed sub-companies located throughout its divisions, geographic regions and occupational groups. Formation of these small companies operates under the ‘mother’ company in America with managers who take orde rs from the CEO who heads the whole organization and take formal rules and policies from the main organization. The purposes of forming these many small organizations are to ensure stability, predictability, and efficiency in order to maintain efficient, reliable, fast, smooth-flowing production. Market culture focuses on the market penetration using diverse outside constituencies such as suppliers, customers, contractors, regulators, and licensees. Hewlett Packard Company has become the world’s leading business because it has successfully incorporated market culture by forming mergers. It has actively integrated compatible mergers with individuals with innovative ideas, business people and other related business to ensure it expands large enough to reach customers in diverse locations in order the company can feel that it total own and have the control responsibility of the merchandise.  

Case 8-3 Ikea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Case 8-3 Ikea - Essay Example It can also be defined as the way in which companies manage their business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society (Mallerbaker, 2009). This paper discusses the problems Ikea Corporation faced in the late 1990’s associated with CSR issues particularly child labor accusations. Ikea Corporation create a corporate culture that while it was streamlined and relaxing since the manager did not operate in beaurocratic manner, they also seem to forget about their responsibilities of the activities of the company abroad. Ikea was not well prepared to deal with international issues such as child labor. The company got a wake up call after some of its suppliers were caught involved in child labor practices. The company did not like the negative impact the revelation had on its sales and customer relations. The firm realizes its needs solutions to deal with the issues the company is facing. The company is facing public relations problems due to accusations that the firm is involved in child laborer practices. The child labor violations occurred not directly at Ikea, but as indirect associations since major supplier of Ikea at being accused of such acts. The first reaction of the company was that they were unaware of the child labor activity and they are against that type of illicit activity. The company never before had dealt with these types of issues. The executives of the company were at fault due to their incompetent managerial activity in which they failed to implement any proactive measures that could prevent such circumstances from occurring. The business risk of the company is high regarding its public image. After the public relations issues the company lost 20% of its sales in Denmark (Barlett et. al., 2008). Ikea is a company that has been able to successfully implement an organic growth model during the last 40 years. The

Impact of NAFTA on the US economy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Impact of NAFTA on the US economy - Term Paper Example economy over a period of time with respect to U.S. trade balance, employments, jobs, and wages. NAFTA and its impact of United States Economy According to Teslik (2009) NAFTA, implemented in January 1994, and signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, is a trilateral free trade deal between United States, Canada, and Mexico. The primary objective of the agreement is to eliminate several tariffs on products traded among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Terms of the agreement were aimed to eliminate these tariffs in a gradual manner. The agreement was not fully implemented before 1 January, 2008. The deal phased out export tariffs in several industries, in particular, agriculture, and reduced taxes on textiles and automobiles. NAFTA implemented intellectual property protection, instituted a dispute regulation system, and established regional labor and environmental safeguard. However there is some criticism and lobbying when it comes to establishing regional labor and environme ntal safeguards (What is NATA? para. 2). NAFTA’s impact on trade Since NAFTA’s implementation, trade relation between United States, Mexico, and Canada have diversified substantially. However, there is expert’s disagreement on the extent of such expansion which is directly associated with NAFTA (Teslik, 2009, para.6).According to the data from the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) as Teslik (2009) states: The United States chief negotiator in foreign trade and major booster of NAFTA and other free trade accords, the overall value of intra-North American trade has more than tripled since the agreement inception. The USTR adds that regional business investment in the United States rose 117 percent between 1993 and 2007, as compared to a 45 percent rise in the fourteen years prior period. Trade with NAFTA partners now accounts for more than 80 percent of Canadian and Mexican trade, and more than a third of U.S. trade. (para.6) Trade deficit and unemplo yment NAFTA’s impact on U.S. economy has been subjected to the â€Å"boom-and-bust† cycle that directed domestic consumption, investment, and speculation in the mid- and late 1990s.Between 1994 and 2000, there was rapid increase in employments in the United States which caused substantial decrease in an overall unemployment rate. However, unemployment rise in 2001 resulted in the loss of 2.4 million jobs in domestic economy during March 2001 and October 2003(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003 as cited in Scott, 2003, p.3).The primary sector of these job losses was manufacturing which underwent a total decline of 2.4 million jobs since early 2001.With the dried job growth in the economy, other underlying issues stemming from U.S. trade deficit became more evident, particularly in manufacturing sector (Scott, 2003, p.3). After three decades of steadily growing global trade deficit, United States experienced rapid increase in these deficit after the implementation of NAFTA in1996.In 2002,foreign exports constitute 11.6 percent of total U.S. exports to Mexico and Canada(Scott,2003,p.3).Though, U.S. domestic exports to NAFTA partners experienced a dramatic increase(95.2 percent to Mexico, and 41 percent to Canada), increase in imports of 195.3 percent from Mexico and 61.1 percent from Canada exceeds the exports growth overwhelmingly(EPI analysis of BSL and Census Bureau as cited in Scott,2003,p.3).As a result,$30 billion U.S. net export deficit with Mexico and Canada increased by 281 percent

PLENTY Kitchen Roll Advertising Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PLENTY Kitchen Roll Advertising Campaign - Essay Example These have a wider use widely because their usage is not limited to the kitchens. In case, you have a problem with cleaning your garage equipment’s, plenty kitchen rolls offer a solution. The idea is to make several layers of paper that can absorb grease from equipment leaving them sparkling clean. The product is usable when  wrapping food before putting it in a lunch box  (Crawford & Freedman, 2010). When planning to go for an outing, then one of the items you should not forget to carry is Plenty kitchen rolls. The reason being, it has outdoor usages that other towels cannot be able to meet as they are usable for first aids in case of a nosebleed. During product value proposition, it is imperative to understand the values or services it can deliver or fail to fulfil in the market. Key competencies are important considerations in value proposition. They outline the strategic advantages customers are most likely to derive from the product. Plenty kitchen roll has notable strategic advantages to its users. It has a honeycomb structure that renders it easy to use. They are ultra-absorbent for use on wet surfaces. The product is durable because they can be intact for a long time. They are applicable in cleaning various surfaces including spills and oil and grease blockages in sinks. An outstanding product value proposition should identify and define the target market and customers’ population. It defines the necessities of potential customers most likely to be served by the product (Rafinejad 2007, p. 84). It helps define how best to attain the customers’ demands. The most eligible customers for the product, Plenty kitchen roll, are domestic chefs. Domestic chefs use the product to clean their kitchen and other unclean surfaces. Operators of restaurants, where cleaning of cooking surfaces is important, also find Plenty kitchen roll useful. A compelling value proposition should outline the various competitors that the product faces in