Nexus

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Water.  Energy.  Food.  Lacking any one item makes existence pretty tough.  The problem is compounded because all three are related.   That’s why it’s called the water-energy-food nexus.  A century or two ago, this was less obvious, since they were all locally sourced.

But, energy has been traveling distances for a long time.  (You do see those power lines, right?   And, those huge oil tankers?)  And, as our water runs out, we’ve have states (as in the United States) make deals with other states to share water.  And, states (and in nation-states) make deals with other (nation-)states to share water.  We’ve even had countries try to drag polar ice to use for their water needs.  And, our food is no longer locally grown, but comes from different parts of our country- or even from different countries, before we serve it on our tables.

The local shortages (or national ones) are going to get worse.  Because in some 15 years, our food requirements will have increased by 50%.  And, our energy requirements will have increased by 50%.  Oh, and instead of only 8% of the world recognizing their water is virtually non-existent now, more than ½ the world’s population will suffer water shortages in 15 years.

Water Energy Food Nexus
German Federal Government Conference in 2011

It’s why I have been involved in water reuse design and implementation for some 40 years.  It’s why I was involved in alternative energy development, Athabascan tar sands, energy storage and the like since my days at MIT.  And, I’ve used these same technologies to see how we can improve our food supply for just as long.

But, it’s going to get worse faster.  Because now we have terrorists using water and energy as tools in their torment of civilization.   Power supply systems in the West (of the US) have been destroyed, leaving folks short of power.  (Not to mention that our government doesn’t consider our energy infrastructure important enough to spend money for improvements.)

And, if you have been paying attention (too many folks don’t follow the news!), then you know that ISIL or ISIS or whatever those terrorist want to call themselves are going after the energy and water systems in Iraq, Kurdistan, and Syria.  For now- but they plan to extend their control as far as they can.  They use water as a means to control the population, turning if off at will to either terrorize, kill, or punish the local populace.  (They may have garnered control of the Mosul and Haditha dams by the time this sees the light of day- for water supply- or to flood villages who don’t accede to their demands.)

Those dams mean food (from irrigation), water for drinking or displacing communities (via flooding), and electricity.   And, that’s not even considering that water resources in Iraq are not being rapidly depleted- without the help of these terrorists.

Don’t think this is something new.  The Allies bombed German dams, Hussein controlled the water and the marshes to punish his constituents, and China has been diverting water from Southeast Asia for its own uses (and because it can cower the other nations.)

Yup.  That nexus has been well known for a long time.  It’s just getting more critical now.

 

 

[My next post will discuss global warming and how it will lead to flooded shorelines.]

 

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