Water Issues, and Unequal Distribution

When we think about Africa, we usually see Africa for its poverty, lack of hygiene, and lack of basic needs, like food and water. Although Africa does possess a potential beyond what Western media is used to seeing, a lot of it is true, but our stereotypes can completely change our views on Africa. In western societies, like Canada, the United States, and parts of Europe where life is developed and thriving, we often forget about the struggles that other countries may be going through. We usually take for granted the different needs and the various essentials we are prone to having. Even something as simple as having a new source of drinking water is quickly taken for granted by us, and yet, so many people in Eastern parts of the world lack such a necessity. Did you know that 2 billion people lack fresh drinking water? That's, nearly a quarter of the world's population doesn't lack a basic human need. Yet, we are a part of the lucky few who can access such resources a few steps away from our faucet. It's no surprise that water is scarce since only 3% of our planet's water is potable. The rest- the salinity levels are so high that a few sips could dehydrate us to death. Water is a fundamental human right, yet it's unequally distributed. It's unequal and unfair how only some get access while the rest don't- even in places like Canada, where this issue can be observed. Although Canada possesses nearly 20% of the world's freshwater, people living on first nation reserves need access to such a critical resource. Yet, we're living in 2022- in a place known for its development and quality of life, but yet, over 100,000 Indigenous people living in Indigenous reserves are lacking such critical resources. Here, I will discuss the three primary factors driving the African water crisis and why millions of children die each year from either lack of water or contaminated sources. Because yes- children and people in Africa often have no choice but to drink untreated, hard water, which consists of concentrations of dangerous minerals that threaten humans. Nearly 4 million people die each year from drinking dirty and uncleaned water- mainly from diseases like Chlorella and Diarrhoea. But what is driving the lack of clean water?

The first and most apparent reason is global warming. Temperatures are increasing an estimated 0.08 degrees celsius per decade- although that may not appear like a considerable amount, that number is only growing and will eventually amount to a total great enough to wipe out human existence. The reason why global warming is occurring is because of the greenhouse effect, where the suns radiation is supposed to be reflected- but, with the increase of emissions in greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide, not enough of the sun's heat is getting reflected- and our planet is slowly being warmed up into a burning oven. The use of industrial appliances, transportation, and everyday objects- like the device you are reading this- is contributing massively to the toll of global warming. Millions of people die annually in places like China and India from pollution-related causes, like air pollution mainly, which can cause lung cancer, and strokes and deprive you of oxygen. With the global increase in temperatures, our glaciers also have to pay the price. Glaciers have generated nearly 21% of our sea level rise, and almost 95% of the Arctics' thickest and oldest ice sheets have already melted away. The rapid increase in temperatures is taking a toll on Africans as well. Considering they live so close to the equator, where they receive the most sunlight, their temperatures average around 20 degrees Celcius- where Canada averages nearly -5 degrees celsius. The increase and rise of temperatures contribute to more droughts and drive our weather crazy. With more deficits, water is only getting more scarce than it already is, steadily killing people without them knowing it.

Global warming and overall pollution has become silent killer that has killed more people than any other disease- it has killed more people than cancer, heart disease, and the leading causes of death. It's about the time before it eventually wipes out the entire human race. With the rise of global warming and carbon dioxide emissions, this gas is finally ending up in our oceans and dissolving within. We know that acid rain comes from a mixture of greenhouse gases- like Co2 and methane. Over time, we can see a drastic decrease in water pH levels, as our water is getting more acidic with the involvement of Co2. With higher temperatures, we can also expect changes in the water cycle. Not just because of its impacts on glaciers which play a significant role in maintaining water quality and distribution, but also of how it can result in the evaporation of our waterways. As water is being evaporated, that can leave behind salt- and with less volume of water, we can see higher amounts of hard water and salinity levels. But, the speed of our melting glaciers is likely to outrun the rate at which our waters are being evaporated. View below for a diagram outlining the greenhouse effect :