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 !