Comments on: Parched for Peace: The UAE has Oil and Money, but No Water

By: Parched for Peace: A Slight Digression, Just for Kicks – Water Matters - State of the Planet

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:39:02 +0000

[...] fully intend to do that, but some discoveries are too shocking (Dubai’s water security – see last post) and some decisions too absurd (see below) to overlook, even if they don’t necessarily fit within [...]

By: Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 21:14:32 +0000

As well as oil and money, the UAE also has sun and space. Solar desalination is a proven technology. The basic requirements are a lot of glass and tubing. A 100 sq metre still will produce between 150 and 250 cubic metres of water a year. Not a lot, so a lot of still will be required.

There does not have to be a discharge of hypersaline water to the sea. The process can be extended to produce solid salt, which may find an industrial or even culinary market.

Water demand can be reduced with waterless toilet systems, and all water can be recycled. Some at least could grow to tree nurseries, as careful reforestation could change the microclimate in the vicinity of the cities, which would in turn save on air conditioning.

No waste need go to sea.

In short, the UAE could use its money to invest in greening its economy.

http://www.greenhealth.org.uk/DesertRose.htm

By: H2O Trust

H2O Trust — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:18:47 +0000

Tonight on BBC2 at 9pm “The food that makes billions – Liquid Gold’, a programme on how the bottled water industry has grown from nothing to become one of the biggest success stories in the modern food and beverage industry in just forty years.

This new series tells the untold story of how big business feeds us by transforming simple commodities into everyday necessities and highly profitable brands.

With unprecedented access to the world’s largest food and beverage companies, including Nestle and Danone, this is the inside story of how the bottled water business has become emblematic of an age of plenty in the West.

With billions at stake, the market is fiercely fought over by the world’s multinationals who promise us health, convenience and youth.

It is natural and pure and sourced at minimal cost, its real value lies in the marketing and branding.

Told by the Money Programme team, this film takes us to Hawaii, Japan, North America, France, Switzerland and Scotland to chart what lies behind the incredible success of this industry and explore what it tells us about ourselves.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00w8cll/The_Foods_that_Make_Billions_Liquid_Gold/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business_world/8601336.stm