The implications of the water contamination and shortages in African nations puts the country in even more of a bind when it comes to feeding their own peoples and in trying to make the continent and its countries self-sufficient. This is due to the need for clean drinking water for its peoples and water for crops, whether exported or kept to feed the peoples. Sources say that in the next 25 years Africa’s crop production will decrease about 20% due to water shortages. This will in turn make the country more reliant on outside sources for food and water. Which in turn may give greater power to the WTO. The WTO, World Bank, or IMF may all be called on, to an even greater degree that currently, to step in and ’solve’ these problems. This is horrifying due to the indecencies of these organizations on every level imaginable.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/11/01/water.shortage.reut/

Next week i will highlight the Rural Community Assistance Programs in the United States, which focuses largely on Native Americans.

http://www.rcac.org/doc.aspx?50

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Washington State area officials have been trying to acquire water (water is a commodity you know) from the area Native American Tribes around Eastern Washington for use in other areas (mainly industrial, a little farming, and for a few fish) for quite sometime now, and it seems the plan is working. As of Feb. 6, 2008 the Spokane Indians and the Colville Tribe have agree to. let the state pump water at the total cost of about 8.1 million dollars the first year and more money per year after that, split between the two tribes and boating areas that will be effected by the 132,500 that is to be removed ‘in drought years’. Does this mean good things for the area and the local Indigenous people? Many think not. The acquifer that lies under Roosevelt is not replenishing fast enough to keep up with current demands on the lake, and more water would surely put it in peril. Furthermore, are there not alternative ‘healthier for the environment’ methods other than to simply keep using more? What’s to say that the water will be put to clean effective use, and that the tribes will always recieve their money, and the state not swindle them out of even more of their property??

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=13513

 Katie Neis CES 440 Spring ‘08
My goal with this project is to explore water shortage and contamination in different areas of the world, due to the fact that the need for clean water is universal. The primary focus will be about water shortages and contamination in African Nations as comparedt to Indigenous Peoples of the United States. All in an effort to draw parallel betweeen these two nations which on the surface seem so different , yet sadly have the same problems.

Websites include:

www.h20africa.com

www.thirstaidlive.com

www.ienearth.org/water_campaign.html

www.water.usgs.gov