Water in the time of globalization
The rainy season was recently declared open, the precursor to what promises to be an active hurricane season, no doubt bringing some flooding as we progress further into the season. It might therefore seem an odd time to discuss the issue of water conservation and climate change, but the fact is, floods do not translate to more water in our reservoirs. Indeed, the floods contribute to a continuing environmental degradation which eventually impacts on our water supply. In fact, scientists have predicted that the availability of water will become a crisis in the twenty-first century.
Internationally, the warning knell has sounded. The human footprint and rapid industrialisation has led to severe reductions in forest cover, leading to diminished rainfall worldwide. Those interested in history will certainly recall the devastation of the “dust bowl” in the 1930s in the US, the deforestation of Haiti and the deleterious effects of the unchecked clearance of huge areas of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Many will argue that these have their roots in current economic ideology and the shortcomings of the political directorates, but without addressing the merits or demerits of these arguments, the effects of environmental degradation and poverty have certainly been there for all to endure, generations after the fact.
It is for this reason that we who stand on the cusp, a “developing nation” free and yes – powerful – to choose our destinies, must make decisions that ensure the security of this precious resource for future generations. While we accept that exploitation of our natural resources is necessary for the sustenance of modern life, we must be careful as a country to pursue those developmental plans that are geared to sustainability, health and general well-being of our population.
Gone are the days when Trinidad and Tobago could wallow in the security that we are islands, complete unto ourselves. These are the times of globalization, and what affects the rest of the world affects us. And nature has known this truth long before we coined the term “globalization”. Today, we can export Carnival or import gangs with the click of a mouse and our population, including our leaders, must display a similar savvy mindset when it comes to taking pre-emptive steps to make sure that we too, do not suffer a water crisis.
This is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Too many issues affecting our potable water supply remain unregulated and indeed unchecked. Indiscriminate disposal of various types of waste into our waterways has led to contamination of both surface and ground water. Indiscriminate removal of forests and other vegetative cover due to illegal development, quarrying, squatting and other activities has lead to erosion and flooding. This in turn serves to further contaminate water supplies and destroy property, even in a few cases, taking lives.
We do not know of any comprehensive plan in the public domain for reforestation, although we acknowledge that there are projects under the Ministry of Food Production Land and Marine Resources and by some citizens’ groups. What plans are there to preserve the water table and thus maintain adequate supplies to the population? What of education? Are whatever plans that exist communicated to the Ministry of Education so that it can be integrated into the school’s curriculum? In some countries for example, one may find water and soil conservation techniques being taught to preschoolers. For us in T & T to even begin to emulate this, a cultural shift is needed, and what better way to accomplish it than to target the next generation through the education system?
It is more than time to move to a mindset which demonstrates that we are ready to take our place among the most intelligent and progressive nations of the world.
