Edwards 1

Gina Edwards

JOUR 491

Research Paper

20 November 2008

Where’s Water?

An American businessman leaves the faucet on while he brushes his teeth. A Canadian

teenager throws away a half-finished bottle of Aquafina into the trash can. A French lady spends

an hour in the shower. A British landscaper waters his client’s lawn all afternoon. A Kenyan

baby dies of thirst.

The desolation of the water scarcity in Africa is a catastrophe that the average global

citizen can only attempt to imagine--- if they are even aware of its existence. Third World

countries like Ethiopia or Kenya can seem to exist on different planets, no matter how close the

actual proximity is. It’s almost like people have trained themselves to avert their attention from

this tragedy. However, drought and water shortage in Eastern Africa is a problem of epic

proportions that can no longer continue to be marginalized and forgotten. To begin to address the

crisis, one must be informed of the desolation and desperation in the area. Only then may there

be hope of reaching harmony, improving habitats, and saving lives.

Not surprisingly, the average Eastern African’s quality of life is significantly lower than

that of the typical American or European. Water scarcity contributes extensively to this low

standard of existence. A recent study has verified that “currently 14 African countries are in

water stress, that is, they have available for sustainable use less than 1700m3 of water per person

per year (Canter).” This means that the average African farmer has less than 123 gallons of water
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daily to support his family, livestock, and crops. Juxtapose this statistic against the United States,

whose average citizen uses 100-150 gallons of water daily for personal needs like hygiene, and

the disparity is clear. Although the African people didn’t cause the shortage, they are the ones

who cope with the aftermath. Interestingly enough, Ethiopia once had the title of “the water

tower of Africa (Stuteville).” Obviously, those days are long gone.

As water sources continue to diminish, the inhabitants must use more desperate and

physically exhausting methods to attain it. Some of these impoverished individuals must resort to

digging into the bottom of riverbeds in hopes of retrieving filthy water to drink. As the water in

each level is depleted, they must continue digging deeper. Aid workers in the area have also

claimed that “some people have begun drinking their own urine to stay alive (Lacey).” And when

“Some people have begun drinking their own urine to stay alive.”
livestock dies, some people rely upon meat from cactuses to eat

(Stonehill). Bloggers dispatched to these parched countries

report that women “in Africa spend more than five hours to get a

few gallons of water (Waititu).” Facts like these reveal and

elucidate the utter desperation that is suffered because of the

water shortage, and the inherent risk in all of their now

necessary retrieval methods.

Not only does the lack of water affect the everyday

Kenyan or Ethiopian citizen, but especially the farmers. The

unpredictable amount of rain has a ripple effect upon the large

agricultural families and their crops. In a study done by the

University of Pretoria, an estimated $25 billion worth of crops will fail due to rising

temperatures, and $4 billion will be lost due to lack of rain (“Drying up”). And according to

recent research, “the collection from one wet season is supposed to sustain a family for months
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(Waititu).” These statistics prove how serious the detrimental effects of drought upon

agricultural workers and their families are.

If the rainfall is unpredictable and water is scarce, the most vulnerable babies and elderly

often pay the toll, becoming sick and dying. Children’s developing bodies make them the most

prone to illness and death from water deprivation. If the kids do survive to adulthood, they are

often weak and have brittle bones due to malnutrition and lack of fluids. Weaker immune

systems then cause them to contract diseases. However, the unsanitary nature of the available

water is a risk to anyone attempting to drink it, young or old. It must be boiled in a particular

manner to ensure that it is safe to drink, or it is poisonous (Stuteville). Great care must be given

to the procurement and imbibing of these fluids; and with the lack of a standard purifying

procedure, there is a very high risk of accidental deaths.

A shift in the rainfall can also kill the livestock, which farmers depend on because of

their stability- as opposed to the variability in agricultural production (Stonehill). But they are

now faced with the decision of allowing the animals who represent their entire life’s savings to

die of thirst or starve to death. And the women of the household suffer from these livestock

deaths as well, because they used to depend upon their domesticated animals to carry water from

the borehole. Now, these housewives claim that their livestock are too weak to do so, causing

them to make the 40-mile round-trip journey solo (Lacey). It is clear that farmers will be the ones

paying the greatest price for this water scarcity crisis.

The domestic animals owned by the various farming institutions in southeastern Africa

take a harsh toll from the drought, but so do the wild animals that roam in the same area. For

example, several species of zebra have been “jeopardized by drought and agricultural

development (Stevens).” Currently, the water sources for the domestic animals are fenced off,

forcing the wild zebras to traverse great distances to find a natural stream, and understandably,
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the offspring of mares born near water have a greater chance of surviving than those born a great

distance away. In some areas of Africa the population of zebras is rising or stable, but “the

animal’s range in eastern Africa has contracted by more than half since the 1900s (Stevens).”

Thus, when one dynamic of the environmental structure is harmed, an inevitable domino effect

occurs. In this case, the predators will begin to lose one of their main sources of food, since

zebras “are the most important prey species for Serengeti lions and rank second only to

wildebeest as the kill of choice among the lions and hyenas… (Stevens).” It is clear that the

domestic livestock are not the only African animals that feel the consequences of water scarcity.

The ramifications will soon find their way into many other aspects of Africa’s environmental

habitat and culture.

Why is this happening?

The debate surrounding the drought’s catalyst goes back and forth between citizens and

scientists. There are likely myriads of reasons that the availability of water in Eastern Africa is

significantly decreasing. However, many people accuse the inhabitants of countries such as

Ethiopia and Kenya of causing the drought. Some claim that unregulated agricultural practices

are to blame. For example, some “farmers have to pump gratuitous amounts of water in order to

grow their crops such as ‘chat’ (Stuteville).” As a result, the soil’s nutrient value is being

severely diminished. These irrigation methods take away superfluous amounts of this necessary

resource, but allow African families to partake in other essentials like food and energy. Further

exacerbating the problem, deforestation and hydroelectric innovations continue to depreciate the

land and leave even less available water. Recent foreign correspondence has reported that the

inhabitants have little regulation or information concerning how their agricultural practices can

harm the environment. It’s been noted that this misinformation “[has] caused serious

environmental degradation throughout Ethiopia and other parts of Africa… and the poorest of
“75 to 250 million
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Africans may be short of
water because of these
the poor continue to suffer first from environmental
changes…”
devastation (Stuteville).” The citizens of

southeastern Africa utilize the only means that they

know of in order to maintain a consistent amount of food and water on their dinner tables--- even

if it means worsening the environment. Can they be faulted for using environmentally unsound

methods for producing essential daily needs? But on the other hand, is it responsible to continue

allowing this cycle of overuse and consequential scarcity go unregulated?

Changes in the environment and climate are also blamed for the aridity in the area, and its

consequential effects. According to recent research, the surface water may dry up because of the

varying rainfall and rising temperatures. In fact, it is estimated that around 75 to 250 million

Africans may be short of water because of these changes; this is approximately a third of the 800

million that reside there. Of the seven continents, climate change is projected to have the gravest

effect on Africa (“Drying up”). Its ramifications are already being felt by many African people,

with the predicted effect for the future being equally, if not more, dismal. For example, Lake

Victoria has already receded several meters in the past few years (Stonehill). It has also been

calculated that approximately 232,000 square miles may be ruined by these changes (“Drying

up”). In addition, there is a “trend toward warming temperatures and sporadic rainfall that no

longer follows traditional rainy season patterns (Stuteville).” To make matters worse, the soil

now tends to retain less moisture, making it harder to cultivate and grow crops on the land

(“Drying up”). Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the changing climate is that it is

unpredictable. Farmers cannot let the potential starvation of their family and livestock depend on

the sporadic rainfall, so often times they must make necessary, albeit environmentally

destructive, measures to ensure a hearty crop.

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The reasoning behind Africa being hit the hardest by climate change is often rooted in the

environmental nature of the area, but the economic level of the inhabitants also influences this

impact greatly. Bloggers who have visited and reported on the issue have stated that “wherever

there is poverty, water problems are paramount (Stonehill).” Even though Africa has contributed

least to the use of fossil fuels and has emitted very little greenhouse gases, they are suffering

most because their poverty level inhibits them from adapting. Because those residing in

southeastern Africa rely so heavily on their livestock, crops, and natural resources for daily life,

the climate change and its effects will be the gravest there. A resident of the area who was

interviewed over this topic responded: “Is it because we Africans are irresponsible? Is it because

we are careless? No. It is because people are poor.” Thus, the general attitude of those who live

in these areas is that their indigence will be the determining factor upon their survival through

this ecological catastrophe. (Waititu)

The violence that ensues

Due to the water scarcity, violent conflict is a very real and noticeable aspect of daily life

in Eastern Africa. In order to grasp the utter desperation that the African people espouse when

hunting for drinkable water, one might picture a United States shopping mall the day after

Thanksgiving. An American mom lunges after a reasonably priced Barbie doll for her young

daughter--- the last one on the shelf--- and ends up arguing with another shopper who got there at

the same moment. Meanwhile, an African mother violently elbows her way to the edge of a

river, hoping that she can gather some clean drinking water for her baby at home. These fictional

(yet disturbingly real) scenarios show the similarities of a human nature prone to violence, but

also the disparity of importance in what these two people are fighting for. And fight they do.
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According to researchers who have specifically studied environmental scarcity and

conflict, “the most conflict-prone renewable resource is fresh water (Canter).” While citizens of

prosperous nations are willing to quarrel over trivial purchases, it is understandable that African

inhabitants would fight vigorously for a resource that determines life or death for themselves or a

loved one. As water’s availability continues to diminish, one might wonder what the effect will

be upon the amount of violence-related issues in the area. If left

“WWIII will
unchecked, how intense and destructive will the fighting become?
be fought
Many people who have studied this growing problem have concluded
over
that “water could become the next precious liquid to destabilize the
water.”
world (Stuteville).” It is a consensus of opinion among citizens of

Africa and scholars alike that “WWIII will be fought over water

(Stonehill).” One may wonder if it will take a nuclear war before

something is done about the water crisis.

Specific examples of this conflict include the fighting that broke out in southern Ethiopia

between the Borena and the Guji. The Guji allegedly claimed land that had belonged to the

Borena for many years, spurring a violent altercation. Over 23,000 people were forced to flee the

area, and hundreds died. Since this incident, there has been intermittent fighting in the area.

Researchers have reported that the ease of accessibility to automatic weapons has increased the

amount of conflicts, and made them even worse. These weapons have often been obtained from

the regional conflicts in Somalia and Sudan. (Waititu)

Amidst this conflict and hardship, one might wonder what measures have been taken to

solve this problem. After all, it appears quite dire in every sense of the word. But so far, the G8

rich countries have failed in supplying the aid boost that they had promised to struggling African

nations. Thus, the politicians of these countries should not sit idly while they wait for funds from
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foreign nations to be transferred. Even though the people that can be considered most culpable

for the drought problem live elsewhere, the responsibility of fixing the problem will fall on the

shoulders of the leaders of Africa (“Drying up”). So far, apathetic governments have stood by

and let the problem continue worsening. Recently, the Ethiopian government has claimed that

they plan to make water a top priority in the near future (Stuteville). The reasons behind the past

inaction of various African governments are unclear, but it is certain that some kind of definitive

step must be taken, so that the hardships endured by the environment and citizens can be solved.

Foreign aid for the environmental crisis that nations like Kenya and Ethiopia are

experiencing is necessary, but change can begin without it. A partnership has been founded in

Eastern Africa called the Nile Basin Initiative, that has a main goal of developing the water

source in a cooperative manner so that there can be peace and harmony amongst the competing

countries. This kind of coalition sprouted from the fact that one country’s actions on the river

then “flow” into the next country, which has to deal with the consequences (Canter). Suggestions

to aid in Africa’s adaptation to climate change include such basic ideas like solar power. Also,

sturdier varieties of drip irrigation schemes, staple crops, and soil conservation have also been

offered as potential solutions. However, it should be noted that simple policy amendments could

enact the same kind of change (“Drying up”). In the past, Ethiopian governments have attempted

to relocate some of its citizens, but with disastrous results. Ethiopian people are very tied to their

land, and have refused to abandon it. Furthermore, the logistics of moving the populations have

also been an issue. The unreliability of rainfall causes the amount of water in the sources to vary

from year to year, making it nearly impossible to choose a place that will ensure a steady supply

of water (Stuteville).
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How has America reacted to this crisis?

There are many reasons why this situation has been underreported in United States news

coverage. First of all, the water shortage is often overshadowed by “graver” problems in Africa,

such as the AIDS epidemic and the genocide in Darfur. Deaths by drought just cannot carry the

same weight or foster the attention that other issues can (Stonehill). In addition, the drought

situation is one that gets progressively worse over time, not instantaneously. Because the media

often reports on specific events, the gradual decline of water sources in Africa is not

“newsworthy.” Also, a story like this has a close correlation with the activities of the average

American citizen. Coverage of this kind of problem “forces us to look at our contribution as

global citizens- our planet as an ecological whole (Stonehill).” Therefore, Americans do not like

to hear about global problems that are caused because of them. It is the kind of story that makes

people look away because they are afraid to face their own accountability for what is happening.

Perhaps the majority of Americans are unwilling to face the ramifications of their actions,

but some have made significant efforts to help amend the situation as much as possible. For

example, groups like Water 1st and Water Action have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to

bring clean water to remote villages like Bishikiltu in Ethiopia. Water 1st International is a

Seattle-based, nongovernmental organization that specializes in “grassroots water and sanitation

projects in the developing world (Stuteville).” Although Water 1st is still relatively small, it has

been labeled with such adjectives as “conscientious and effective,” and its members have had the

opportunity to witness firsthand the delivery of the product of their hard work to citizens of these

villages. Other aid programs to Africa have often been criticized for the “quick fix” mentality,

because they will supply money and then leave, merely applying a band-aid to the situation.

However, “both Water 1st and Water Action insist that they create water systems that involve the

community at every point in the process,” and that their program is quite distinct from the others

(Stuteville).
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Another way that Americans have made an effort to unearth the travesty occurring in

Africa is the Common Language Project (CLP). It is a nonprofit organization that’s mission is to

“develop and implement multimedia approaches to international and local journalism… [and]

focus on positive, inclusive and humane reporting of stories ignored or underreported by the

mainstream media.” Its website includes articles, blogs, photos, interviews and audio clips that

offer a 360 degree perspective into life in desolate Africa. This organization also specializes in

covering stories from the grassroots that range from ecological issues to social justice to human

rights and gender equality. CLP strives to report things from around the globe that are off the

radar and not paid attention to by mainstream media. One of the main goals of CLP is to spur

social and political change through cultural awareness via technology. It hopes to utilize the tools

that a digital age can bring, to expose the plights of those suffering inequality and injustice on a

daily basis.

Not all Americans have the time or means to begin an organization geared toward the

crisis in Africa, but there are many ways in which they can lower their water consumption by

making simple adjustments to their everyday lives. For example, excess water that would

normally go down the drain can be collected and set aside to water plants or clean. Also,

Americans can use their amenities like toilets and showers less, by throwing away used tissues,

etc. into the trashcan and spending less time bathing. Cooks can also practice simple methods of

letting meat thaw out overnight instead of using hot water, and installing an instant water heater

on the faucet so that it doesn’t have to run so long to get warmed up. These are just a few of the

myriads of ideas that can be practiced in the average person’s home to minimize detrimental

impact upon the environment. (“Save Water”)

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News programs today are flooded with story

after story that applies to the average American.

The economy, political candidates, and other

Ways to Help:
“breaking news” tend to be at the forefront of the

important coverage. However, this kind of reporting

– Save extra water focuses merely on the roles and responsibilities of a
for other household
chores national citizen, and not a global one. There are
– Take shorter
struggles taking place all over the world, and the
showers and baths
– Avoid flushing the ones that receive the attention are those that receive
toilet for
unnecessary assistance.
reasons
The water shortage in Africa is only getting
– Install water-
friendly faucet worse, and it is up to the rest of the global citizens
modifiers and
laundry machines to decide what the fate of the people affected by it
at home
will be. So, although CNN does not find this

problem worth discussing, hopefully the rest of

society will. And in a world that is made up mostly

of water, perhaps there can be a way to ensure that

no one is thirsty.

Works Cited

Canter, Marielle J., and Stephen N. Ndegwa. "Environmental Scarcity and Conflict: A Contrary

Case from Lake Victoria." Global Environmental Politics 2.3 (Aug. 2002): 40-62.

Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Alden Library, Athens, OH. 18 Oct. 2008
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<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=7240983&site=ehost-live>.

"Drying up and Flooding Out." Economist 383.8528 (12 May 2007): 49-50. Academic Search

Complete. EBSCO. Alden Library, Athens, OH. 18 Oct. 2008

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=25048344&site=ehost-live>.

Lacey, Marc. "In Deep Drought, at 104 degrees, Dozens of Africans Are Dying." New York

Times (17 Feb. 2006): 3. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Alden Library, Athens,

OH. 23 Oct. 2008.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/international/africa/17drought.html?

_r=1&scp=1&sq=lacey%202006%20drought&st=cse&oref=slogin>.

“Save Water 49 Ways.” American Water and Energy Savers. 23 Oct. 2008.

Stevens, Jane Ellen. "Zebras in turmoil." International Wildlife 24.5 (Sep. 1994): 5. Academic

Search Complete. EBSCO. Alden Library, Athens, OH. 23 Oct. 2008

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9408243327&site=ehost-live>.

Stonehill, Alex. “Off the Record: World Water Crisis.” The Common Langauge Project. 17 Apr.

2008. 3 Oct. 2008.

<http://clpmag.org/content/contentpages/2008/blogs/alex/Stonehill_OffTheRecord.php>.
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Stuteville, Sarah. “An American’s Water Shortage.” The Common Language Project. 21 Jan.

2008. 3 Oct. 2008.

<http://clpmag.org/content/contentpages/2008/blogs/sarah/Stuteville_Shortage.php>.

“Haramaya: Voices from a Vanished Lake.” The Common Language Project. 24 Mar.

2008. 3 Oct. 2008.

<http://clpmag.org/content/contentpages/2008/articles/Stuteville_Haramaya.php>.

“Quenching the Thirst: Seattle Brings the Most Precious Liquid Abroad.” The

Common Language Project. 22 Mar. 2008. 23 Oct. 2008.

< http://clpmag.org/content/contentpages/2008/articles/Stuteville_Water1st.php>.

Waititu, Ernest. “Back to Africa on a Water Mission.” The Common Language Project. 14 Dec.

2007. 3 Oct. 2008.

<http://clpmag.org/content/contentpages/2008/blogs/ernest/watermission.php>.

“Drought Spurs Resource Wars.” The Common Language Project. 25 Apr. 2008. 23 Oct.

2008. < http://clpmag.org/content/contentpages/2008/articles/Waititu_Drought.php>.