Based on a review of the government’s recently proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, New Zealand author Elizabeth Chambers notes that quality freshwater sources across the nation are becoming scarcer due to unsustainable water management, increasing climate change-related droughts, pollution from the widespread use of fertilizers and, most significantly, the large dairy industry which not only requires immense amounts of fresh water but causes waterway pollution from farm runoff.

The New Zealand government is developing a number of regulations to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of safe freshwater across the nation. At the same time it is recognizing that dairy production is a major part of the problem, with one cow requiring between 2000 and 4000 liters of water for every liter of milk, according to British journalist Fred Pearce.

Ms. Chambers, we appreciate this candid report describing the imminent scarcity of fresh water across the nation. May the wise government of New Zealand recommend such practices such as the vegan diet to secure the future abundance of this precious resource.

In an interview with James Bean of Spiritual Awakening Radio in the United States in July 2008, Supreme Master Ching Hai pointed out that rampant water shortages and waterway pollution worldwide are both largely the result of using animal products.

Interview with Supreme Master Master Ching Hai
by James Bean of Spiritual Awakening Radio
July 29, 2008 - USA

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Now concerning water: one serving of beef is 1200 gallons; one serving of chicken, 330 gallons and one complete vegan meal including tofu, rice, vegetables etc. is only 98 gallons. Now everybody was talking a lot about food shortage and water shortage, the main cause is again, livestock raising. That is not including the contamination of most world bodies of water and related usages.

We cannot afford it forever like this. We have to stop the meat consumption. We have to stop the meat, in order to even survive.