Credit: Runner Today
Population growth continues apace, & with consequent growth in demand for water, the UN has predicted a 40% shortfall in water supply by 2030, if we continue our current wasteful use.1,2
An average American household uses around 100 US gallons (379 litres) per person per day.3 Surprising as that figure is, it is only about 5% of average daily use.4 How is this possible?
Most water use in first world countries is water used on behalf of consumers, outside the home. E.g., to make a T-Shirt consumes 2,495 litres of water.5
Jeans – 9,982 litres of water
Coffee – 132 litres of water per cup
Loaf of Bread – 48 litres of water
Paper – 13 litres of water per sheet5
To highlight the danger, Mina Guli (CEO & founder of Thirst, an education water conservation charity), is running across 7 deserts, in seven continents – total length equals 40 marathons.
Interview with Mina Guli
http://vergemagazine.co.uk/40-marathons-seven-deserts-and-seven-continents-one-womans-mission-on-tackling-water-scarcity/
Mina Guli’s web site
https://minaguli.com/
ABC podcast
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/seven-deserts,-seven-continents,-seven-weeks/7142418
BBC – includes Flash video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03gn7w9
Runners’ World
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/interview/qanda-mina-guli/14499.html
Mina Guli’s entry on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mina_Guli
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1 Aljazeera: “Risk of water wars rises with scarcity” – “Almost half of humanity will face water scarcity by 2030 and strategists from Israel to Central Asia prepare for strife.”
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/06/2011622193147231653.html
2 The Weather Channel: “UN Predicts Serious Water Shortages by 2030”, https://weather.com/science/environment/news/water-shortage-united-nations-report
3 National Geographic: “Water Footprint Calculator Methodology & Tips”, http://environment.nationalgeographic.com.au/environment/freshwater/water-calculator-methodology/
4 National Geographic: “Change The Course”,
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com.au/environment/freshwater/change-the-course/water-footprint-calculator/
5 Gizmodo: “It Takes a Hell of a Lot More Water Than You Think to Make Jeans, Burgers, Pizza & Other Stuff”, http://gizmodo.com/5920267/it-takes-a-hell-of-a-lot-more-water-than-you-think-to-make-jeans-burgers-pizza-and-other-stuff / 40 marathons seven deserts seven continents woman mission tackle water scarcity shortage Australian water advocate Mina Guli most challenging approach raise awareness CEO Thirst education water conservation charity running 40 marathons across seven deserts seven continents challenge raise awareness issue unfortunately overlooked scarcity of water water big problem water demand continuing to outpace supply growing global population alarming rate 40 percent greater demand water than supplies available by 2030 staggering statistics running 1,040 miles 1,688 km deserts Spain Jordan Antarctica Australia South Africa Chile United States highlight risks facing next generation showcase simple solutions we can take in our daily lives make a difference questions challenge cause close to her heart life’s mission running equivalent 40 marathons intimidating plan prepare running long way extreme climates incredibly intimidating terrified doubting myself immense pain just want to give up the next generation grow a world where 40% less water available than we need send me messages of encouragement raise awareness water crisis help to avert it exciting inspiring reality check issues of water scarcity understand the full implications research researching deserts talking local people issues dealing with every single day water crisis training sacrifice absolute focus 40+km to run tomorrow terrific support team campaign cause running a desert Marathon Des Sable 250km run across the Sahara toughest foot race Thirst the water conservation charity CEO good way raise awareness water crisis run suffered enormously broken hip finish the race messages about saving water reached hundreds of thousands of young people power to make a difference water scarcity World Economic Forum Young Global Leader Peter Brabeck Chairman of Nestle Climate Change water grown up through a 10 year drought Australia Invisible Water jeans 11,000 litres of water coffee 140 litres paper 10 Litres most of the water we use in our daily lives is outside our homes water used at an unsustainable rate by 2030 we will have a 40% shortfall supply demand water supplies available new way of thinking about water get people to understand their real water footprint invisible water visible make saving water famous Thirst apply it to their everyday lives vegetarian much lower water footprint than meat eating eaters catch public transport walk run drink coffee in small quantities waste eat the food on my plate we waste two-thirds of all the food on the planet avoid soft drinks try not to use too much paper takes water protect and preserve our precious water resources educate future generations /
