Study 3: Ecodestruction and the Right to Food: The Cases of Water ...

Starving the Future Study 3
water is a renewable source of energy and already plays a key role throughout the world providing
hydroelectricity. Due to huge dams projects, Asia and in particular China rely increasingly on
waterpower. In China, the share of renewable energy (mostly hydro) amounts to 20% of the total
national energy production. This share amounts to 28% in South America: In countries like Brazil
hydroelectricity plays a major role. 7
Last but not least, human beings need water for curative (thermal cures, etc…) and recreational
purposes (water sports and hobbies such as fishing).
iv. Essential services for the balance of ecosystems
In addition to the provision of water for domestic use, freshwater ecosystems fulfil many other functions
which are fundamental for the various ecosystems and for the environment in general. Freshwater
systems have the major role to feed aquifers which in turn supply ground water sources. They are also
responsible for insuring water quality, as well as regulating floods. Moreover, well functioning freshwater
systems are a precondition for maintaining biodiversity. Indeed, freshwater systems are the habitat of a
great variety of species with 12% of all animal species living in them and many more depending on them
for their survival. The richness of these ecosystems is especially important considering that they only
cover a tiny part of the global surface. 8
v. A special look at wetlands
Wetlands play an essential role in freshwater ecosystems. They help to regulate water levels within
watersheds. They also provide carbon storage, water purification, and goods such as food, timber, etc.
They are important spawning and nursery areas and provide plants for food and medicinal needs. They
serve as filter against pollution improving water quality. They help control floods and damages caused
by storms.
3. Damage to Freshwater systems due to human activities
Overuse and pollution of surface and groundwater threaten the prospects for human living conditions.
Moreover they restrict diversity and productivity in the ecosystems to an increasing degree. Water
consumption has strongly increased mainly owing to agricultural overuse, but also because of the
growing population – in particular in the urban centres. Severe conflicts over water use are already
appearing on the horizon the regions presently lacking water. Experts have identified water as a major
challenge of the 21 st century, with new conflicts emerging for control over water supplies, and because
of increasing demographic pressure on scarce water resources.
i. Stress on water supplies
Water is vital to human beings as drinking water and in food production. Water resources, however, are
not unlimited. Human activities have largely contributed to endanger world water supplies as to quantity
and quality.
Both surface and ground water supplies are threatened. Reasons for the alarming state of freshwater
resources are various and numerous. One of the main reason is population growth and the other is
increasing per capita consumption through the proliferation of water-intense life-styles. The quantity and
quality of water available from freshwater systems is deeply altered by the modifications which humans
operate in the landscapes. Building of human settlements including cities, industrial facilities, dams and
roads, as well as agriculture have a great influence on the water supplies and on water cycles.
ii. Threats to water quantity
Each year, human beings withdraw about 4,000 km 3 of water, which represents about 20% of the
normal (nonflood) flow of the world’s rivers. 9 The situation is all the more alarming since human
withdrawals increase very fast, faster than the demographic growth. 10
FIAN International 105
June 2002