The Dead Sea is Dying

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
Given the long-standing importance of irrigation in many areas of the world, I'd be sorta surprised if no war had been fought over water yet.

It had a role in the 6 day war. See Michael Oren's history of the same.

[lord of the mark]

"There are two seas in the Land of Israel. One is fresh and fish thrive in its waters. Along its banks verdant trees spread their branches over it and sink their roots into the ground to draw in the life-giving waters. Birds build their nests in the boughs of the trees. Men and women build their homes near to it and along its shores children play. Every kind of life is happier because it is there. The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the mountains. The River Jordan flows on south into another sea. Here there is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no laughter of children. Travelers choose another route unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its waters and neither people nor beast nor fowl will drink. What makes this mighty difference in these seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. This is the difference. The first sea receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The receiving and giving go on in equal measure. The other sea is miserly, hoarding its income. Every drop it gets it keeps. The first sea is the Sea of Galilee. It lives because it gives. The The other sea gives nothing. It is named the Dead Sea. There are two seas in the Land of Israel. There are two kinds of people in the world."

[VetLegion]

What about mediterranean sea?

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
In south america there is no lack of water thanks god.

That rather depends on where you are living. Apart from the deserts, areas of NE Brazil are prone to drought and many parts of the continent are drought susceptible if weather patterns continue to change due to global warming. Also, another global warming effect is on the people relying on glaciers for meltwater throughout the year, but considering the fact that they are rapidly receding there will come a point where they will no longer exist to provide a dependable reservoir of water.

Dont you think when the first world countries start having problems they will invent a cheap way of turning sea water into fresh water?

Indeed

The Island Hydrological Plan of Tenerife is a fine example of somewhere with a limited water resource doing something before it is too late. Since 1997 they have begun a programme of building desalination plants (some wind powered) and charging the tourists a premium to cover the costs of the water they are consuming.

However the caveat is doing something before it is too late, which is why the plan to divert water from the Red Sea should be enacted sooner rather than later...

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Ecthy
It is obviously fed by fresh water sources.

So are the oceans but that doesn't mean their fresh.

[Ecthy]

No, but it means they're dying if all fresh water supply stops

[Apocalypse]

In regards to doing something before it's too late.

The problem there is that it is typically half assed and everyone ends up upset that money is wasted on something that just kinda fixes the problem.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
Dont you think when the first world countries start having problems they will invent a cheap way of turning sea water into fresh water?

Didn't Azreal have a thread on affordable fresh water which can be provided by Israeli desalinizer?? I'm pretty sure he did.

[Dinner]

Maybe if everyone in Israel all flushed their toilets at once they could refill it with "freshish" water.

[MOBIUS]

Interestingly they use seawater to flush their toilets in Hong Kong...

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


Didn't Azreal have a thread on affordable fresh water which can be provided by Israeli desalinizer?? I'm pretty sure he did.

They did just open the world's largest RO (Reverse Osmosis) plant in Israel last year

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by MOBIUS
However the caveat is doing something before it is too late, which is why the plan to divert water from the Red Sea should be enacted sooner rather than later...

Despite all the fresh water flowing into it, the Dead Sea is not fresh water. It's not drinkable. Who cares if it's "too late" to save a worthless body of water?

[MOBIUS]

So what if it's not drinkable. It is still an important tourist destination steeped in history, and a geological phenomenon worth preserving so it is not worthless.

[Kuciwalker]

Re: The Dead Sea is Dying

Then what the **** was the OP about?

Originally posted by MOBIUS
Fresh water supplies are dwindling the world over - just wondering how much longer it will be before the first war on fresh water is fought somewhere in the world...?

Guess I'd better get my skates on and visit Jordan toot sweet, before all the farmers suck it dry!

[Zkribbler]

just wondering how much longer it will be before the first war on fresh water is fought somewhere in the world...?

Already, harsh words have been spoken between California, Arizona and Mexico over use of the Colorado River water.