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For decades now we have wasted and mismanaged the world?s water supplies. Today, 27 countries are short of water, a quarter of the world?s population has no safe water, 46 per cent have no proper sanitation and each year four million children die of water-borne diseases. As most of the world?s major river systems cross several national boundaries, the scope disputes and the threat to international security is becoming more and more real.In The Last Oasis, Sandra Postel examines the economic, show more ecological and political factors affecting fresh water supply. She confronts the issues of mismanagement and profligacy and analyses and dangers of confrontation, both between nations and between rural and urban users. She also emphasises that the technology and know-how for effective water husbandry does exist. With methods already in use, farmers could cut their demand for water by 40-90 per cent, and cities by one-third, without sacrificing economic output or quality of life.Investing in water efficiency, recycling and conservation help meet rising demands and stave off disaster. But the priority is a common recognition of the gravity of the position, and with that a widespread push for institutions to manage sustainable use of water. show lessTags
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A Worldwatch book that explains that decades of profligacy and mismanagement of the world's water resources have produced signs of shortages and environmental destruction.
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Author Information
14+ Works 254 Members
Sandra Postel is director of the Global Water Policy Project in Amherst, Massachusetts. In November 2002, she was named one of the "Scientific American 50" by Scientific American magazine, a new award recognizing contributions to science and technology Brian Richter is director of the Freshwater Initiative of The Nature Conservancy and is based in show more Charlottesville, Virginia. In his 16 years with the Conservancy he has provided technical support and strategic advice to more than 80 river conservation projects around the world show less
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity
- First words
- Life could hardly be more different in the east African town of Lodwar, Kenya, and the western U.S. metropolis of Phoenix, Arizona.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)In the end, the time available to adjust may prove as precious as water itself.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Economics, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 333.91 — Society, government, & culture Economics Economics of land and energy Other natural resources Water energy - Hydrologic
- LCC
- TD345 .P67 — Technology Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 86
- Popularity
- 370,661
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (2.88)
- Languages
- English, French, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 2
