Food Security Requires New Approach to Water

Saving water by looking at food consumption. The Stockholm International Water Institute has published a new report called “Saving Water from Field to Fork.” Its findings were presented to the United Nations to explain the need to save water in order to meet the organization’s Millennium Development Goal of reducing world hunger.

Jan Lundqvist, co-author of report, Stockholm International Water Institute: We have to look more at what’s happening from field to fork. So from the place where food is produced to the place that we eat it, there are so many things happening. And there are lot of losses and wastage along that road.

VOICE: Jan Lundqvist of the Stockholm International Water Institute co-authored the report, which says that 70% of all water goes to producing food, compared to just 10% for household use and 20% by industries. Moreover, the average city dweller consumes up to 3,000 liters of water per day for food alone.

Jan Lundqvist: On a per capita basis, with growing income and improvements in standard of living, people will demand food which is more water intensive.

VOICE: It takes up to 2,000 liters of water to produce 1 kg of wheat and up to 20,000 liters to produce 1 kg of beef. Consumers can help save water by curbing their demand for water intensive foods such as meat.

Jan Lundqvist: The main implication is from the fodder, from the feed, because it takes a lot of water to grow the crops or the grass or the feed that they (cows) are eating.

VOICE: Avoiding food waste, which ends up causing pollution in landfills, is another easy way to conserve a lot of water. We thank the Stockholm International Water Institute and all involved for this informative report. May we each do our part to make wise use of the world’s precious water supply, both in our homes and in the supermarket.


Santa Cruz wildfire partly contained

Firefighters and volunteers save homes and rescue animals from California wildfire. Climate change is being registered across the US state of California in the form of less rainfall, regional drought and wildfires.

This year’s fire season started early, due to rainfall levels being 70% below normal. Thousands of firefighters and volunteers have been working day and night to contain a fire that is sweeping through the Santa Cruz Mountains, near Morgan Hill Field

Reporter: We’re reporting for Supreme Master Television at the fire zone. The fires have been 50% contained, but 40,000 acres have burned already. Joe Marcigan: We have helicopter air support all day keeping good control of the fires. The winds have died down now. The firefighters should get a good grip on it tonight.

HOST: In the state of California, it is not only people who are given shelter from the blaze.

Stacey Daines: Just recently in the last few years since Katrina, it’s now a state mandate that animals have to be considered in any disaster planning.

HOST: The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds have been set up as a shelter for rescued animals, including goats, horses, cows, llamas and alpacas.

Stacey Daines: Over several hundred people have been evacuated with their animals. Thankfully, animals have been a major part of the evacuation effort.

HOST: Some volunteers have even risked their own safety to bring animals out of danger.

Stacey Daines: Misty, who is a certified large animal evacuation person through FEMA, came down just as a volunteer and said, "Hey, how can I help?" And there were four alpacas that needed rescue. They actually had to park their trailer and hike two miles into the mountains to get these alpacas. So they rounded up these animals, these four alpacas; they walked them the two miles back down the mountain. All of the animals have received care, all of the owners know there is a place for them to go and I know I feel very fortunate to live in this county.

HOST: We express our deep gratitude, California and all those working to extinguish the fire and ensure that people and animals are brought to safety. May all those affected by and fighting the fires remain safe, with a soon return to their everyday lives. We meanwhile pray for more comprehensive safeguarding actions that restore our climate to its balanced state
 
Pioneers show Americans how to live

Living “off-grid” a growing trend. With the drastic increase of energy prices, there is a growing trend toward power sources provided off the grid. Todd Bogatay, an American architect who was one of the first to settle into an Arizona-based solar and wind powered home 20 years ago, now helps his 15 neighbors build and install their own sustainable energy options. Nick Rosen, author of “How to Live Off-Grid” estimated that houses meeting their own power needs are increasing at a rate of 30% a year.

A developer in Iowa, Lonnie Gamble, has created a subdivision called Abundance Ecovillage, with plots for home building that include free wind and solar power as well as recycling, secondary rainwater collection and access to a local farm. Bravo all green pioneers who are helping bring sustainable living to the public. May we all find ways in our daily living to tread evermore lightly on the planet.
 
Birds at risk due to climate change

More birds at risk due to climate change. As the largest environmental association in the world, the International Union for Conservation (IUCN), has reported that the disruptive effects of climate change are causing more bird species to be threatened and at a faster rate than expected. Countries with the highest number of affected species include Brazil, Chili, Peru, China and India. Presently, one in every eight bird species is at risk of extinction. This translates to over one thousand species whose survival is now in jeopardy. We sincerely thank you IUCN for this informative report. May we all take action toward sustainable living to ensure a future for our beautiful feathered co-inhabitants.
 
Melting Glaciers May Release DDT And Contaminate Antarctic Environment

New study finds that DDT is released as glaciers melt. US researchers Heidi N. Geisz and colleagues have found that the long-banned pesticide DDT, which migrated to the Antarctic ice and was frozen some 40 years ago, is now being released into the waters due to global warming-related ice melts. The presence of DDT in the Antarctic food chain is a cause for concern, as the substance is known to cause egg thinning, which could have very adverse effects on wildlife populations such as the Adelie penguin. Dr. Geisz and associates, we are most appreciative of this information. We pray that steps taken now can halt the damaging effects of climate change so that all beings on our Earth may flourish in health. 
 
Tree planting campaign launched

Switzerland plants trees in Âu Lạc (Vietnam). Swiss NGO, Caritas Switzerland, has raised sufficient funds to launch a campaign for planting 1,400 trees in different parts of Âu Lạc, to raise awareness on issues such as air pollution and climate change. This event was inspired by Vietnam Green Week and the World Environment Day. Caritas Switzerland will be providing the saplings and fertilizer to local farmers who are going to plant and look after the trees. God bless your noble cooperation, Switzerland and Âu Lạc. May such green collaboration on reforestation help our planet to once again thrive in verdant and pristine beauty.
 
Bill Berry: It's the meat-eating, stupid

Article in USA newspaper links global food scarcity to meat eating. Journalist Bill Berry’s article in Wisconsin’s “The Capital Times” focuses on both the moral and environmental implications of eating meat. He points out that rising food prices and global hunger have more to do with feeding a large portion of global grain stocks to animals than converting food crops to biofuel.

Mr. Berry concluded with a quote from the US Department of Agriculture: “The types and amounts of food an individual chooses to eat not only affect his or her well-being, but also have implications for society as a whole." Hats off to you, Mr. Berry and The Capital Times, for raising awareness about the effect of eating meat on our society and environment. May we adopt a plant-based diet for our health as well as the planet’s.