Water: Recognizing it as a human right. (2021, September 9). Aqua Africa Foundation. https://aqua4all.org/2021/09/09/water-recognizing-it-as-a-human-right/

Kofi Annan of Africa in 2001 stated that “Access to safe water is a basic human need there for a basic human right”. Annan Before his death established goals which included cutting the number of people without water or access to water resources in half, not only in Africa, but in the world. He believes that competition for freshwater would become more of a conflict and an issue in the future. More recently Africa hopes to meet the water opportunities in the 21st century by bringing together researchers and policymakers in order to provide more water and easier access to people in the country and world. The article took a take-out climate change and the variables in hardships it may cost and therefore there will be even more people with less water due to higher rates and severe ness of droughts. Apollo’s Nwafor from African Green Revolution Alliance stated “futurism means that we should be able to consider predictable policies and predict what may happen based on data”. This means the government can determine what actions to take and what policies to enforce in order to reach the goal.

I find it personally interesting that this goal was set or at least stated 21 years ago, however this article talks little about how far Africa and the rest of the country has come in terms of reducing the number of people without access to water. I think the most important part to take away from the article is recognizing that water is a human right and therefore we need to find ways to provide and get people access to it, in order to ensure their rights are being protected. I believe since it is considered a rate that it is in the government’s control and power to help those of their country and grant them their basic needs and rights. This article relates to environmental science considering its discussion among the right people regarding water and their access to water in this case in Africa. I believe a lot more change can be made as so many people still do not have access and water is scarce and climate change is only becoming more prominent therefore these governments need to act fast and make change.

Canada gets serious about water woes. Will Indigenous voices be heard? (2021, August 12). Christian Science Monitor. https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2021/0812/Canada-gets-serious-about-water-woes.-Will-Indigenous-voices-be-heard

This article discusses concerns around Indigenous peoples’ water, on their own land being extracted. A youth activist who is an Indigenous person of this area in Canada, Ontario, believes that “water is life”. Her and her people believe in their religion that it is only right to protect their water and right now they feel as if they do not have any voice among their government. They “are on the front lines of a new water fight in Canada” and hope to have some say upon the CWA which is trying to “modernize the water policy in Canada” due to concerns around climate change. The issue with this is that it opposes the indigenous people and communities beliefs of protecting the water that they have ownership of.

I personally think this is a very tough situation as Canada is trying to modernize and put new policies in place in order to change alongside the climate and to do what’s best for the environment overall. However, I also see how the indigenous people of Canada feel as if they have no voice in due to the fact that they are indigenous their belief is that they should have more power and control over the water that is there that the government is currently taking away from them. I think there’s a way that they can work together to both benefit the environment in order to limit the facts on climate change while also protecting the water for the indigenous people. I believe indigenous people are so set in their ways because it is what they morally believe is right due to their religion, however as are climate changes we need to learn to adapt and do what is best long run which I believe the Canadian government is trying to do.

Water resources across Europe — confronting water stress: an updated assessment — European Environment Agency. (n.d.). Www.eea.europa.eu. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/water-resources-across-europe-confronting

Europe’s government has been deciding on possible solutions in order to manage the impacts of the water stress in the continent. Along with climate change, comes the concern of water scarcity which goes hand in hand with the increasing human population. On page 106 of the document, there are four main solutions presented, being continuing improving technology to have enough water per person, working with other economic sectors, restricting the use of supply in coastal areas with tourism, and lastly addressing the root being overexploitation of the natural resource.

This article expanded on the possible solutions the government can then implement policies and laws on in order to enforce or continue to enforce in order to ensure that the natural resource, water, lasts long enough and for as many people as possible in the future. I am most interested in the last solution being addressing the overexploitation of the resource because I think not only is it super broad, but that is the cause for all of these measures needing to be taken. In order to stop this damage from being done, the government would need to take action extremely quickly in order to stop or lessen the stress surrounding the water in Europe. I think that the rights people hold to have access to the water they want and need will be evaluated at some point considering how much the document talks about wanting to ensure each person and household has the capacity to have enough water for everyone in Europe to stay healthy.

`O’Donnell, E., Langton, P. M., & Jackson, S. (n.d.). Regressive changes to Northern Territory water laws could undermine Indigenous rights. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/regressive-changes-to-northern-territory-water-laws-could-undermine-indigenous-rights-166561

In the Northern Territory of Australia, underground water licenses are being handed to major companies which will then obtain the water that now belongs to the Indigenous people of the area. The Aboriginal people are frustrated saying they “are not being listened to”. New law in the area, due to COVID, granted the government the right to undermine the “standards of water governance” meaning the water that is (was) reserved for the Aboriginal land owners. Water in the Northern Territory is a valuable resource due to the dry climate and the Reservoir that they are letting these companies pull that water from were allocated originally to the Indigenous people only with “recognised rights to land”. The reservoir once the companies begin to pull from it, will dry out. There is little water in the area already, therefore setting the Aboriginal people at a major disadvantage. There are currently many bills being written establishing the government’s ability to keep granting water to companies for trade and for more allocation plans and reducing public feedback on where the water goes.

In my opinion, I think that stripping the Aboriginal people of their rights and access to their water sources is extremely wrong. As the government is more focused on economic advantages, by increasing trade for more profit, they are hurting their own people who are very loyal due to being Indigenous to the land. These people did not do anything wrong and they are already at a disadvantage with the dry climate, and now their main Aboriginal Water Reserve is being drained for more money, which will not go to benefit them in any way. This article relates to environmental science as it discusses the struggle between economic advantage and what’s environmentally right for the area and its people. I believe there is a good middle ground where the government can allocate water to the Indigenous people while only using a certain percentage of the water for profit.

Water action as answer to climate change – collaborative action for resilience. (2021, October 28). UN-Water. https://www.unwater.org/water-action-as-answer-to-climate-change-collaborative-action-for-resilience/

This article by the United Nations Water page, illustrates a program which is offered in Early November of the year. This past year at the UN Climate Change Conference when they hosted the multimedia Water Pavilion, there were demonstrations of “ways that water is enabling transformative climate action”. The demonstrations consisted of ways for adaptation and mitigation and how they can be implemented into national policies around the world. Nations can get involved by integrating these techniques in and around their rivers, lakes and other bodies of water in order to slow the rapidly increasing climate change impact.

I personally think that this article sheds light on not just the United Nations, but how people are searching and trying to promote and integrate new and more beneficial ways to save our planet. I think this conference is trying to promote ways to use and reuse and take care of our water by implementing policies enforcing people to do so. This conference got many organizations and “stakeholders” involved therefore people are trying to get these policies enforced and therefore take action on not only our climate change issue, but in an effective way. We have so much water on our planet that is not necessarily being used to its fullest potential, and my hope is that the UN continues on the track they are on to find great ways to conserve it, and help the environment and climate by getting policies and rules in place.

Russell, K. (2021, August 21). Thousands Of Water Rights Holders Ordered To Stop Pulling Water From Delta. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Thousands-Of-Water-Rights-Holders-Ordered-To-Stop-16401688.php

On Friday, August 20, The State Water Resources control board ordered many California Water rights holders to stop pulling and using water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta source. Around 4,500 out of 6,600 water rights holders were banned from using this source in order to keep a sustainable amount of drinking water available and to keep ecosystems in the water alive and thriving during the drought. The state will be making sure this order is being followed by “investigating water diversions” but will be providing assistance to all these people who are now cut off, because to many this will be a major impact. 

This article is a further step ahead from my first article from July 8. It came to me as a somewhat relief to know that there is now a regulated rule being enforced which is going to help out California’s current situation. I think that this will cause some commotion due to these water rights being basically taken away from thousands of people, but I hope they know that this is only in order to keep the environment thriving and to keep people with resources for a longer amount of time. While I can imagine not all of these people will obey this change, I believe that even if more than half of them do, it will make a positive impact and show others that it is doable. By restricting the amount of water being taken from this natural source, we are protecting the environment and all the species that live in it. Additionally we are allowing more water to be saved rather than wasted on the excess amount of food that was happening previously. Now people are basically being forced to be more resourceful and environmentally friendly.

Fuller, T. (2021, August 4). Battling Drought, California Will Cut Water to Farmers. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/04/us/california-drought-water.html

This article from the New York Times was looking ahead to the steps that the State Water Resources Control Board was going to take. The article was written on August 4, and stated that in around 2 weeks, “the lifeblood of the agricultural Central Valley would be subject to drawing restrictions”. This means that the board was going to finally take action and create either a ban or restriction on many water users’ water supply from their main source, The Delta. There was also another restriction placed in Northern California regarding the Russian River. 

I personally think that it is somewhat crazy to me to think that we are having to take away water rights from so many people that truly rely on this water in order to make a living. Whether they are farmers or drinking water producers, they rely on having this water to make their living. According to the article, this is the 4th time that this has happened somewhat recently and that “experts say climate change is likely to make similar restrictions more regular”. Once I heard this, it really opened my eyes to see that this is a step that I think will need to be taken in order to help our environment and our state, and I hope these people that it will affect will realize it as well. 

Walters, D. (2021, August 9). Opinion: Big Battle Looms Over California Water Rights as Drought Worsens. Times of San Diego. https://timesofsandiego.com/opinion/2021/08/08/big-battle-looms-over-california-water-rights-as-drought-worsens/

About 2 weeks ago, Times of San Diego released an article debating the different sides of the water rights argument that exists among Californians nowadays. As the drought worsens, the question of adjusting California residents’ water rights is up in the air. The debate can be seen as farmers vs. environmentalists. The farmers in California need water in order to produce food, however they use “too much in the eyes of environmental groups”. The article states that if the drought continues and worsens, the water rights in California will have to be reevaluated and regulations may be put in place in order to protect Californians from further damage. 

While water is a necessity to farmers and therefore they may be against the thought of restrictions being put in place, the restrictions would not fully cut off all of their water supply, it would just limit it. Right now, farmers are producing an abundant and excess amount of food, which people may look at as a waste of both food, space and water. Therefore if the water rights were reevaluated and restrictions were placed on the amount of water there is accessible, farmers may not be able to produce as much as they used to, however then we are saving water so we can continue to produce food longer in the future. If we were to continue on the path we are on now, environmentalists say that wildlife, especially fish, will become endangered and we will run out of resources at a much faster rate. This article shows a lot of the legal actions that can and may be acted upon in the future in order to keep a sustainable environment and water amount. 

Freidenrich, D. (2021, July 19). Newsom isn’t doing enough on water use. Blame the recall. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-07-19/newsom-isnt-doing-enough-on-water-use-blame-the-recall

On July 8, 2021, Gavin Newsom made a statement to the state of California, “asking but not requiring Californians to cut their water use by 15%”. California has been facing one of the largest droughts in modern history due to the heating climate and severe lack of rainfall. At this point in time, Newsom was being seen as “not doing enough”, however the article stated that he may be scared of the fact that if he was to force California residents to cut down their water usage, he would be bumped out of his Governor position.His statement also was seen as being “too little too late”.

 This article shows the reader how yes, California has seen severe droughts before, however this political stance is what makes the situation worse and ineffective. If Gavin Newsom just asks California residents to cut down on their water usage, only few people will actually do that. The rest of the people will continue to use the water because it is not forbidden or officially a rule. Relating back to environmental science, if Newsom does not effectively limit these water rights, Californian’s will continue to dip us deeper into this drought which will lead to more fires, less conserved water, and possibly less drinking water in the future. I think Gavin Newsome took the wrong approach to this situation as it is better to attack this problem with a strong front earlier on, rather than trying to reverse the damage that has already been done when it’s too late. 

Water, W. (2021, March 30). California weighs changes for new water rights permits in response to a warmer and drier climate. The Water Desk. https://waterdesk.org/2021/03/california-weighs-changes-for-new-water-rights-permits-in-response-to-a-warmer-and-drier-climate

This source written on March 30, 2021 by The Water Desk evaluates the causes and effects for changing the Water Rights that people in California hold. It shares how the State Water Board needs and will continue to change and align the water rights as the climate grows drier and warmer and water amounts lessen. The main point of this article was to show that there is a chance that curtailments for water use permits will be reevaluated, therefore, “Some water users fear the report could be the beginning of a move to restrict their access”.

Water rights may be a privilege to some, however they do remain a human right to the people who obtain them. This means that they do have the right to access this water and these sources for whatever it may be that they use it for. Thousands and thousands of people rely on this water in order to make a living or to eat or have drinking water, and this article to these water rights holders is most likely very worrisome. The fact that one of their personal rights may be stripped from them is a huge step and really shows that we as Californians must be going down a bad path. The fact that there is no other option than to take away one’s rights in order to help and save our environment is crazy and scary to many. This whole article ties into environmental science because it shows us the effects of not managing or conserving our natural resources well enough. It is extremely difficult if not impossible to reverse the damage that is already done, and we only have one earth. If we use up all of our water or too much of it, we are hurting wildlife ecosystems and species, and we will end up hurting our human selves by not having drinking water or water to grow crops.