H2O

In my earlier post about the next big thing I mentioned "water" as one of the burgeoning areas of interest to meet the needs of our expanding population and urbanization.  Here's an excerpt from an Economist article (see below) concerning the topic which might further pique your interest. 

"It takes 2,000 litres (530 American gallons) of water to grow a kilo (2.2lb) of vegetables but 15,000 litres to produce a kilo of beef—and people are eating more meat. The problems also have global implications. Without a new green revolution, farmers will need 60% more water to feed the 2 billion extra people who will be born between now and 2025.

Yet there is, globally, no shortage of water. Unlike other natural resources (such as oil), water cannot be used up. It is recycled endlessly, as rain, snow or evaporation. On average, people are extracting for their own uses less than a tenth of what falls as rain and snow each year.

The central problem is that so much water is wasted, mainly by farmers. Agriculture uses three-quarters of the world’s water (urban use is trivial: most people drink two or three litres a day, on average, but 2,000-5,000 litres are used to make the food they eat). Because water is usually free, thirsty crops like alfalfa are grown in arid California. Wheat in India and Brazil uses twice as much water as wheat in America and China. Dry countries like Pakistan export textiles though a 1kg bolt of cloth requires 11,000 litres of water."

Later on I will post more comprehensively on renewable energy topics.  But today I was motivated to make you aware of these articles regarding the global water problem because I heard Daniel Goleman talk about his new book "Ecological Intelligence" where he speaks in detail about "how knowing the hidden impacts of what we buy can change everything." [listent below]

"Sin Aqua Non," 4-8-09, Economist

"Awash in Waste," 4-8-09, Economist

"Shaved Heads Keep Barbers Idle as Drought Sears CA," 5-6-09, Bloomberg