Mulday Mondays: Water Forums and Fukushima

JAPAN

“Fake it till you make it....
”

— The philosophy of Japan since the sun

…JAPAN WILL ALWAYS HAVE ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON EVERYTHING

The rest of the world sees this image if you say “Fukoshima Daiichi”

AP Photo

THREE YEARS AGO: THE PERCEPTION OF THE JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN

“Yes, Water from the same area......

I would like to try some. ”

— Buddha be a fence and filtration system on kidneys.

TODAY: GREENPEACE REPORT ON FUKUSHIMA

“ There are 16,280,000,000,000,000,000,000 Bq of potassium-40, rubidium-87 and many more radionuclides already in the world’s oceans and anything from Fukushima won’t affect these levels at all.”

— Scientist, James Conca

The plan is to slowly release the TREATED water into the pacific ocean. The pacific ocean has some other pressing issues and this will not be the reason for massive fish death or “disruption” to the ecosystem.
By the way, for massive fish deaths, just take a look at Australia. We have an interesting video below on the reasons behind these catastrophic deaths.

“Great Britain’s National Radiological Protection Board
(NRPB) predicts that there will be up to 1,000 additional
cancers over the next 70 years among the population of Western Europe exposed to fallout from the accident at Chernobyl. ”

— U.S EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

LET us PLAY the ADVOCATE for the DEVIL…

Increasingly, we notice that international organizations are becoming stronger non state actors in state affairs. However, there is a pick and choose attitude towards this “care for the environment and people”.

Where is the Greenpeace outrage on the United States Pacific Ocean States constantly recycling the pacific? As you filter the pacific, it gets saltier and can you guess the damage to the ecosystem?

The Mekong River and the South China Sea did not exactly blossom from the U.S administration’s use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War or “Conflict”

RESPONSE FROM JAPAN

WATER FORUMS IN AFRICA AND ASIA…

UGANDA

Kampala will host the 20th Congress of the African Water Association with over 2000 actors expected to discuss and provide solutions on WASH concerns from a scientific and technical lens.

KOREA INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK
Daegu, September 4-7

Just another example of South Korea displaying middle power behavior. The title is not just earned because a state is geographically in the middle of two different size states or on paper(economically speaking). The state must invest in forums and conferences that invite the world to deal with security matters such as water.

Korea International Water Week

Cape Verde-1st International Forum on Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Praia, March 19-22

This small island state is becoming more active in engagement through small state niche diplomacy. This forum will focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and West African States. The aim is to understand water scarcity in agriculture and capitalize on it for sustainable development, food and nutrition security, and tackling climate change. They will focus on six core areas: Water and Migration, Drought Preparedness, Mechanisms, Water and Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture Water Use and Saline Agriculture. 

South Africa- Transforming Sanitation in Africa
Capetown, February 18-22

The Regional power will be hosting a water related conference. AfricanSan5 and FSM5 are the organizations behind this event of looking at Sustainability, Policies,Funding, Practices of Sanitation.

SIDEBAR

The focus of this blog is always on Africa and Asia but every now and then we get alarming news from our neighboring continents.

Australia is experiencing a very bipolar version of mother nature and a combination of human stupidity. There are mass fish deaths in some rivers with reports of over 1 million in a few weeks. Another concern is the raising temperatures in Australia with temperatures ranging from 1130°C (113°F) to 50°C (122°F) .

See you next Mulday!

Mulday Mondays: Iceberg Towing as a Solution for South Africa’s Water Shortage??

South Africa

To recap from last year…..

Three S’s in Water: Security, Scarcity and Stress 

“Lack of fresh water resources to meet water demand. ”

— Water Scarcity

“Difficulty of obtaining sources of fresh water for use during a period of time and may result in further depletion and deterioration of available water resources. ”

— Water Stress

In water related topics, it is the norm to use all three words interchangeably. It is best to have an exact understanding on the terminology to appreciate the gravity of the problem.

GODFATHER OF TOWING ICEBERGS

Mr. John Issacs- His solution to the California Drought in the 40’s ….Tow an Iceberg to San Diego

While he is credited as the modern day godfather, he was not the first to appreciate the utilization of Icebergs.

“August 22, 1863- A genius in New Bedford is fitting up a steamer for the purpose of towing icebergs to India, where they sell for six cents a pound..”

— 1863-Scientific American, Volume 9, pg 114

Mid 1800’s - Iceberg Utilization

“A Chilean researcher said, The icebergs were towed by ships of the conventional type. Sometimes the icebergs were supplied with sails to utilize the prevailing winds. The ice was used for refrigerating purposes in the breweries and was generally substituted for artificial ice.”

— Encyclopedia of the Antarctic, Volume 1- Beau Riffenburgh

June 1977- New York Times Article about Prince Mohamed Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia’s consideration to tow 100 million tons of Iceberg to Jeddah. The return for such an investment back then was 25 million gallons of fresh water. A grand total cost of a cool $1-$2 billion dollars.

One thing about the sons of the Royal Saudi Family, they do know how to put on a show. Is it always effective or productive, I don’t know. However, it always ends with one scratching their head, while either screaming or mummering

“The Prince had a two-tonne Alaskan berg hoisted by helicopter to a conference in Iowa, where some of it found its way into delegates’ drinks. ”

Needless to say that was the end of that project or so…..

Introducing South African Zambian marine salvage expert… We so often advocate for Africans providing solutions for African problems

IAN SLOANE- TOWING ICEBERGS TO SOLVE SOUTH AFRICA WATER CONCERNS

A marine salvage expert says he has the solution to Cape Town's water shortage problems. He wants to tow a 100 million tonne iceberg from Antarctica to the city in South Africa. Usmaan Lone has more.

QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

• What could possibly go wrong with TOWING an iceberg for about 1,200 miles?
  Minus the strong currents and the unclear logistics. How do you preserve and break apart the Iceberg? How do you mine the water out without any ecological damages?

• How much will this cost?
  Fiscally: It is estimated that a single trip will cost $100 million. This does not include the process of removing the salt from the melted Iceberg. Our African brother says private investors are willing to invest without government assistance.
  
  Environmentally: This completely contradicts the Antarctic Treaty which prohibits such ventures because of the harm that it would cause to the environment and the ecological system.

• Who is paying for this?

  As mentioned the Government has declined this has a solution. However, It has not firmly stated that the private sector of South Africa may not consider this a solution.

• Do we really want private investors playing monopoly on water supply?

“Blue Wars... Research that Term. ”

— You are welcome

“ At this stage it appears to us that in fact the groundwater or desalination options are cheaper or at least equal cost price”

— Capetown Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson

  THE ANTARCTIC TREATY

Antarctica is the only continent without a government. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientist had maintained a base from 1957-1958. Those countries include: Argentina,Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa,United Kingdom, United States and then former USSR.

“HOWEVER...
The United States and Russia maintain a “basis of claim”. ”

The United States and Russia have enough hard power to discourage anyone or government wanting to use this space for “free water”. Rest assure with a expanding population, unpredictable weather and good ‘ol capitalism… The United States and Russia will determine the Iceberg Water Market.

To know more about the Antarctic Treaty

Saudi Arabia is also considering this an option

 See you next Mulday,

Mulday Mondays: Day Zero in Cape Town, South Africa

This is an oldie but goodie in explaining Water Security. 

CAPE TOWN 

In the beginning of the month, we touched on just how close Cape Town, SA was to Day Zero of having no water supply. The imbalance in distribution of water across the region including weak water policies have contributed to the water shortage in Cape Town. Other issues such as failing waste water plants and poor water system infrastructure to treat sewage that needed a major upgrade also made this situation worse. South Africa is the largest food producer for Southern Africa, the agriculture sector consumes about 60% of all water use in the country. This water shortage crisis in Cape Town will result to water stress towards neighboring countries that will also lead to Food, Water, and Energy security towards the entire region.

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS WITH A POINT SYSTEM

Cape Town has officially announced that each person in the city will be given an allowance of 25 liters a day (6 gallons) of water. Yet the public has heard no immediate solutions from the government on making sure this catastrophe does not repeat itself years later. Cape Town has failed to look at the other dangers that come with hygiene and water access.  

This is repeated so often in discussions with water access and challenges that face women in global south spaces, Menstrual Hygiene. The inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene for women brings more challenges than solutions and should never be gambled or minimized.

Put aside that poor menstrual hygiene leads to a host of health issues such as: UTI’s (ask any woman in your life just how great this feels), Constipation and a Range of infections.

What do you think school attendance will look like for girls attending school in the region compared to boys?

“Do you know that washing your hands can prevent over half of the water borne related illnesses? Granted the WATER IS CLEAN.
”

— Handwashing

Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. The Cape Town government has been reactive and not proactive even at this moment. While Citizens are being asked to sacrifice their health and wellness, the government is still not working on the real issues.

The city recommends people take no more than 2 showers a week

The city also encourages using the ocean for washing. However, if people cannot flush often, care to guess how quickly Open Defecation might be an issue?

How much water do you use daily? Try this Water Calculator out!

                         TOURISM TAKES A HIT

It is reported that numbers of tourists are cancelling their trips to Cape Town. You can imagine tourists might not be okay with one flush a day, personal hygiene in the ocean or showering twice a week.
 

   CAPITALIST SEES ONLY SOLUTIONS 

RAINBOW GASTRONOMY WITH NO WATER

Cape Town Food Designers, are making the best of no water in Cape Town, by making sure to use only salt tolerant vegetables. This is the type of unique ingenuity expected from Chefs of the “Rainbow Cuisine”. Rainbow Cuisine is the term used to describe South African Gastronomy. This ingenuity makes South African chefs, cooks, and food designers important players in the overall narrative of African Gastronomy. This is also a tool that can be used for their niche Gastrodiplomacy in interacting with other countries that are experiencing similar water shortage issues.

DRY BATH-BATHING WITH NO WATER BY MR. MARISHANE

If you had to walk a mile for a jug of water every day, as millions of people do, it's unlikely you'd use that precious water to bathe. Young entrepreneur Ludwick Marishane tells the amazing, funny story of how he invented a cheap, clean and convenient solution: DryBath, the world's first bath-substituting lotion.

Want to know more about his products?

See you next  Mulday

.

Mulday Monday: Blue News & Robot Technology

COCA COLA IS REALLY LIKE THIS...

How can we the kick the coke habit?

Leigh Melanson

This is not my content, but a great tool in understanding the role Coca-Cola has played in Blue Economics of South Countries. 

HOW  COCA COLA MARKETS THE BRAND TO YOU?

We are Coca-Cola, and so much more. We're an organic tea company. A coconut water company. A water company working to replenish every drop we use through our efforts, combined with charitable grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation, to support conservation and restoration projects across every corner of the country.

“Coke returned an estimated 191.9 billion liters of water to the Earth through community water projects,”

— CNN Money 2016

RESPONSE FROM NORTH AFRICA AND WEST ASIA

The Coca Cola Company will be returning 1.75 biillion liters of water to MENA (Middle East North Africa)communites that includes the countries of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco and Pakistan.

Last year, Coca Cola was blamed for depleting the water supply and polluting Plachimada, Kerala Sate in India. The local people blame the corporation for the drought in village. The company was ordered to shut down the plant.
 

SINGAPORE

Singaporeans are using robot swans to monitor and report on water quality of the reservoirs. Can you guess the name of the robot swan? SWAN ( Smart Water Assessment Network). They are designed to look like a real swan and blend in their new environment. SWAN was developed by: The Tropical Marine Science, National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Environmental Research Institute and the National Water Agency (PUB). 

LANCANG-MEKONG RIVER DRAMA 

Remember the Nile Drama, I present to you the Asian version.

China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos are in a Water Battle

China and Laos are building excessive amount of dams to create hydroelectric power around the Mekong River. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar are worried since we are speaking of the security of 60 million people and a $5 trillion economy that directly impacts all countries. 

See you next Mulday !

MULDAY MONDAYS: WATERPLOMACY-TURKEY TO AFRICA & WATER SCARCITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

TURKEY'S SOFT POWER IN AFRICA:- WATERPLOMACY  AND SO MUCH MORE

“Waterplomacy: The use of water as a tool in diplomacy. ”

— Water & Cassava

“Santa Clause, Father Christmas or St. Nicholas is not from the North Pole. Our Brother is from Turkey.
Stop leaving him cookies, leave him some Turkish Delights or Keebabs
HO! HO! HO! ”

— Water & Cassava is here to decolonize your mind.

Get a Turk in your life so you can find an Auntie. All shall be right in your life. 

“Turkish Delight also known as DRUGS, you cannot stop with just one. On a Turkish Airlines heading to Morocco, I asked four times for just a bit more. The flight attendant gave me the whole box, and everyone laughed at me. Listen, I ate that whole box from London to Morocco and I did not share with my neighbors that found my addiction to be funny. #Haters ”

— Baraka allahu bika

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

The Republic of Turkey. 

“Did you know in 2016, Turkey ranked second for donor countries providing humanitarian assistance?”

TURKEY MAKING THE WORLD GREAT AGAIN!!! SOMEONE SHOULD TELL THE FOLKS IN D.C WITHOUT THE STATES, THESE STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. 

President Erdoğan of Turkey made more visits to Africa in 2017, than any other head of state. The relationship between Turkey and Africa goes back to the Ottoman Empire Era. Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has dug drinking water wells in Somalia for the consumption of  20,000 people daily. In addition to water, Turkey has built schools, hospitals and roads in the country of Somalia.
 

“The Ottoman Empire ruled parts of North Africa for over five centuries”

President Erdogan is very vocal of the exploitation of Africa and the role colonialism played in destabilizing African states. This is the seduction of Soft Power, you must have policies and a culture that is attractive to folk. On that culture piece, never forget that Intercultural Relations is the thread that holds the cloth of International Relations. 

““We see that the future is in Africa. We cannot put this future aside, we cannot miss it. We didn’t come here with colonial plans. Our history does not have any trace of imperialism. Our sole aim, which I also told the Chadian President, is to ensure that Africa can stand on its own two feet.””

— President Erdogan of Turkey

what does turkey get for such SOFT efforts AND BOLD STATEMENTS?

The Jeopardy Theme.

somalia (MILITARY POLICIES)

Turkey will be joining the United States, U.A.E in having its biggest overseas military base in Mogadishu, Somalia. This base cost our Turk friends a delightful $50 million. 

CHAD (ECONOMIC POLICIES)

Several trade deals and agreements are signed between Turkey and Chad, including technical development, investment and the fight against terror. TRT World's Kim Vinnell reports.

TURKEY & SUDAN WATERPLOMACY
(6 YEARS AGO-"CULTURAL VALUES")

Turkey supports Sudan's water development projects. The Turkish government has donated over US$3.5 million for implementing more modern water technologies to help provide drinking water to the people of Sudan. With the funds going toward the construction of over 40 wells throughout eight states, the project is being implemented by the Africa City of Technology together with the Turkish Development and Cooperation Foundation and Turkish Development Bank.

TURKEY & SUDAN (PRESENT)

-SOFT POWER FROM TURKEY TO AFRICA

Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erodogan, is in Sudan. He arrived in Khartoum on Sunday. It's the first time a Turkish leader is visiting the country. He's accompanied by an impressive business delegation, and has been focusing on investment opportunities.

WATER SCARCITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

What happens when a city runs out of municipal water? Models are clear on the severity: the tanking of the economy, the destruction of sewerage infrastructure, outbreaks of violence, the spreading of disease. As Day Zero threatens to approach the City of Cape Town, public consumption isn't the only problem.

Officially, as of yesterday, in Cape Town the water crisis has been upgraded to Level 6 restrictions. This translates to a reduction of over 60% water use of agricultural operations and 45% in the urban business sector. The drought in South Africa is concerning since it appears to be getting worse and if you pay attention to the graphs below, it looks quite grim.

Meteorologist can calculate rainfalls by looking at El Nino and La Nina patterns. The norm is El-Niño brings drought to South Africa, while La Niña brings wet conditions. The rain patterns are so inconsistent in SA, that both Nina and Nino are quite weak, so you do not get the expected rainfall.

STRICTLY INFROMATIONAL, REMEMBER SPARADIC IS THE WEATHER TODAY

THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL AND DAM STORAGE

NO CLEAN WATER IN  HARARE, ZIMBABWE???

“The chemicals needed to make water clean are no longer available in the city or are extremely low in quantity: Activated Carbon, Chlorine, Sulphuric Acid and
Aluminium Sulphate”

— The more you know??

Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni of Harare, capital of Zimbabwe has released official statements on the consumption of water in the city.

““We think we are providing you with water that is good for you and your family to drink,” he said. “We have seen experiences of water that does not look good, water that looks greenish and brownish, water that froths or foams. Let’s share the responsibility. While we assume and claim that our water is clean and safe to drink; we ask you to exercise caution wherever you are and make your own personal decisions about what you see, what you smell. Is it good enough for you to drink?”

— Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni of Harare, Zimbabwe

Let’s hope the new President of Zimbabwe, Bernard Manyenyeni will do something on the Public Health sector. Preferabbly starting with firing Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni immediately.
 

See you next Mulday!