The New York Times. (2022, December 30). In the Pacific, Outcry Over Japan’s Plan to Release Fukushima Wastewater. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/30/world/asia/japan-fukushima-wastewater-pacific-radiation.html?searchResultPosition=29

Since the Fukushima disaster, Japan has been storing radioactive water, the article “In the Pacific, Outcry Over Japan’s Plan to Release Fukushima Wastewater” explains. However, there is no longer enough space to store it, meaning that it needs to be released somehow. Japan promises that they will remove the most radioactive particles from the water before they release it into the Pacific, but activists and countries in the Pacific are still nervous about it and ask that Japan defer the release of the water. 

This is one of those situations in which there seems like there are no good options. Although the wastewater does need to go somewhere, I understand why other countries are so worried, especially because they have been negatively affected by radioactivity while being promised they were safe. I think they should do more testing to see if they can get more conclusive results and release the water slowly if necessary.  

The New York Times. (2023, January 14). Cooperation on Climate Is Emerging in the Middle East. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/14/world/middleeast/climate-middle-east-davos.html?searchResultPosition=11

The article “Cooperation on Climate Is Emerging in the Middle East” discusses how Israel and other countries in the Middle East are working together to combat climate change and get enough clean water. The Middle East is an especially dry area, so water is an important issue. In the past, wealthy countries like the Emirates have created clean drinking water by using desalinating techniques. With the new talks, Israel has made desalinated water available to poorer countries like Jordan by trading it for renewable energy plants. 

Especially in recent months there has been lots of tension and violence between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, so it is nice to see cooperation between them, at least on this issue. Although desalination is an energy intensive process, clean water is definitely a necessary resource, so I think it’s fine that they’re using such techniques. Additionally, they are creating solar energy farms that will hopefully offset some of the energy.

The New York Times. (2023, January 22). In a Nation That Nearly Wiped Out Cholera, the Disease Is Surging Back. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/world/africa/malawi-cholera-outbreak.html?searchResultPosition=6

In the article “In a Nation That Nearly Wiped Out Cholera, the Disease Is Surging Back”, Golden Matonga and John Eligon discuss how cholera cases have been rapidly increasing in the country of Malawi, in southern Africa. Malawi only had two cases of cholera in 2021, but it had more than 900 deaths from the disease in 2022. Cholera spreads with the contamination of drinking water by human waste, and is generally found in countries where large percentages of the population do not have access to clean drinking water. The outbreak was likely caused by a confluence of factors, including few vaccines and healthcare facilities, waning vaccinations, and heavy rains and floods that destroyed bathrooms and hand-washing facilities.

A lot of the time we think that in order to save lives we need to invent new technologies, but most of the time we just need to make existing technologies available to a larger population. Cholera is a preventable disease that people should not continue to die from, and it angers me that people do anyways. Hopefully Malawi and similar countries will be able to restore or implement more water management systems so that further outbreaks of cholera are prevented. 

The Guardian. (2022, August 8). ‘The new normal’: how Europe is being hit by a climate-driven drought crisis. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/08/the-new-normal-how-europe-is-being-hit-by-a-climate-driven-drought-crisis

The article “‘The new normal’: how Europe is being hit by a climate-driven drought crisis” discusses how many countries in Europe were affected by a large drought last summer. The article discussed how the farming and food supply industries were particularly affected. For example, “France’s agriculture minister warned the corn harvest is likely to be more than 18% lower than last year, while farmers’ unions say a shortage of cattle fodder as a result of the drought could lead to significant milk shortages in the autumn and winter.” Despite this, water usage may increase in some places as a result of increased tourism and loose restrictions on water. 

This article really highlighted to me how widespread droughts can be. When a drought is localized to a specific area and time period, authorities can get water from other places or use up emergency stores. However, when drought is widespread and pervasive there is not such an easy solution, and the only way to deal with it is for people to use less water in total, so it scares me when countries are unable to implement strict restrictions and the water usage keeps going up.  

The Guardian. (2022, August 14). Drought in England could carry on into new year, experts warn. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/14/drought-in-england-could-carry-on-into-new-year-experts-warn

The article “Drought in England could carry on into the new year, experts warn” discusses how southeast England may enter a drought without significant rainfall. The article discusses how it is unlikely that there will be enough rainfall to stop the drought. Although this will affect a lot of people, it would especially affect farmers because less water will be diverted to them. It would also negatively affect the environment because the government prioritizes providing people with water. 

This article was a little surprising to me because I think of England as very wet, so I did not expect them to have a drought. However, climate change is changing the weather in a lot of places, and I hope places that are not used to droughts and hot weather will still be able to deal with them. This article also made me think about how we decide who gets water, especially in places where there is not a long history of water struggles to establish precedent, but instead where it was assumed there would be enough water. 

Kravarik, J, & Elam, S. (2022, August 7). Nebraska and Colorado are sparring over water rights. It could be the new norm as rivers dry up. cnn.com. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/06/us/drought-water-canal-colorado-nebraska-climate/index.html 

The South Platte River is the livelihood of people living on the Colorado-Nebraska border. Bringing into effect a century old compact, Nebraska is planning on building a canal in Colorado to divert water to a reservoir. Colorado is not in favor of this plan. The action was spurred by severe drought and proposed developments in Colorado along the river that would significantly reduce the amount of water flowing into Nebraska. Residents worry that the canal would harm the economy and ecosystem supported by the river. Farmers also have concerns about how the drought and canal will continue to affect their businesses. As long as climate change continues in the same way, more and more states will be fighting similar battles on water usage. 

The most troubling thing in this article, besides the drought and decreasing water supply, is how little concern there seems to be surrounding the effects of these planned developments on the ecosystem of the river. However vital water is to human life, disturbing the natural flow of the river will have even more extensive consequences on ecosystem services, habitats along the river, and eventually us. Hopefully the final decision will be beneficial to the economy, environment, and residents.

Segarra, C. (2022, August 11). In New Mexico, there’s not enough water for everyone. krqe.com. https://www.krqe.com/plus/data-reporting/in-new-mexico-theres-not-enough-water-for-everyone/ 

The Rio Grande provides water to Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, about 6 million people. However due to climate change and rising populations, it is quickly becoming clear that it is no longer a reliable source. In New Mexico, 76% of water goes to agriculture, though that’s not to say that farmers have a surplus of water. Multiple conservation efforts have started in New Mexico in recent years, making water usage in cities and agriculture more efficient. Even with these efforts and flips between groundwater and surface water being used, New Mexico and the rest of states sharing from the Rio Grande have to make some fundamental changes to continue to survive. 

Even with water rights being correctly handled and conservation efforts in place, it’s not always enough to meaningfully combat climate change. Although this can be discouraging, our need for water isn’t going anywhere, which is why it’s so important to continue to study the natural world to find sustainable solutions. When doing this, it’s especially important to make sure one area is not being disproportionately affected by restrictions. 

Sanchez, S. (2022, August 8). Border-barrier crews taking water from South Texas canals despite drought restrictions. kxan.com. https://www.kxan.com/border-report/exclusive-border-barrier-crews-taking-water-from-south-texas-canals-despite-drought-restrictions/ 

Because Texas is in the midst of a drought, restrictions have been put into effect for residents living in the Rio Grande Valley. Nearby, crews working on the border wall have been taking truckloads of water from the canal. Even the National Butterfly Center, which has water rights to the Rio Grande, has been stopped from accessing water by the watermaster. The canal however, is exempt from the restriction because it delivers water to public services. Residents face fines for wasteful and unnecessary water usage, but the construction teams are using the water to reduce dust by pouring it on the ground. 

This example of how residents and corporations face wildly different scenarios regarding water restrictions helps show the loopholes in the system. It also shows the importance of fixing these loopholes so that water can’t be misused as easily. Especially because of the severity of the drought and current importance of eliminating water waste. Hopefully these issues are fixed in the near future to ensure a more just and sustainable future. 

Cook, E. (2022, July 19). Race to the Bottom: How Central Oregon groundwater sells to the highest bidders. opb.org. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/19/deschutes-water-rights-access-well-drilling-groundwater-central-oregon/ 

Wells in Central Oregon are going dry as more and more people move in. The public’s only recourse is to drill deeper at a great cost, but wealthy corporations can buy water rights and transfer the water wherever. The proposed plans for Thornburgh resort require large amounts of water, but as construction stalls legal troubles arise. Thornburgh developer Kameron DeLashmutt is currently buying up water rights from far away areas. Residents nearby to the development are suing Delashmutt, but their efforts are only stalling him. The state agency in charge of water rights seems to be far more lenient with similar corporations than the pleas of residents, and this plan is expected to go forward in the face of droughts, climate change, and decreasing groundwater supplies. 

It’s completely unjust that in the midst of so many crises, wealth and profit still has the final say in decisions about conservation and the environment. Despite the increasing number of dry wells, DeLashmutt is acting in the interest of profit and continues to buy up more water rights, preventing those in need from accessing them, or the state from regaining control over them. Additionally, this pattern of unsustainability will soon have even greater consequences to the environment and Oregon’s residents.