Blue Planet Links does not guarantee the accuracy or objectivity of the information presented on listed websites or publications. We have attempted to present a variety of perspectives on the issues in the hope that the more you know, the more likely you are to influence and make wise public and personal decisions to promote healthy oceans and fresh water.
© 2012 Blue Planet Links
World water data
Links to a zillion things you can learn about H2O
Amazing water! It's probably our most valuable natural resource. Nothing can live without it. As the world's population grows, we use more, poison more, and waste more H20 every day. Learn more:
Economist
With some sifting, you'll find in-depth articles on water and economics, politics, business, technology, pollution, climate change, resource extraction and more.
Environment Canada
http://www.ec.gc.ca/water
A comprehensive fresh water site, not just for Canadians. Click NATURE OF WATER (e.g. Permafrost & Climate Change), WATER POLICY & LEGISLATION (international and Canadian), THE MANAGEMENT OF WATER (e.g. Bulk Water Removal & Water Export), WATER & CULTURE (e.g. Water & Art)."
Living Oceans Society
http://www.livingoceans.org
B.C.-based organization provides research and information to help conserve marine habitats "to ensure healthy oceans and ocean communities". See Marine Protected Areas, Ocean Information Centre. Also listed in ActionLinks.
National Council for Science and the Environment
http://www.cnie.org/pop/pai/water_links
U.S. based organization mounts an annual Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment. Look under CONFERENCES for the report from 2004, "Water for a Sustainable and Secure Future".
National Geographic
http://news.nationalgeographic.com
Search WATER for general info on water and water issues around the world. Also http://environment.nationalgeographic.com: Freshwater and Oceans lead you to opportunities to support healthy waters, as well as lots of water-topic news and information.
National Oceanographic Data Center
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov
Global environmental data. Part of U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA).
Snowflakes!
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/23/science/la-sci-snowflakes-20111224 The mystery of snowflakes: what we do and don't know about them.
The Water Page
http://www.thewaterpage.com/
Sponsored by UK-based Water Policy International Limited, the Water Page is an independent initiative dedicated to the promotion of sustainable water resources management and use in the developing regions.
This web-site has a wealth of international information and provides critical comment and analysis in various categories: ISSUES (e.g. "International Water Companies"; "Effects of Climate Change on Water"; "Water and Conflict"), WATER POLICY (e.g. "Water and Law"), DEVELOPMENT (e.g. "Arsenic in Drinking Water"), WATER EDUCATION (list of post-secondary institutions where one can study water), RIVERS & REGIONS (e.g. the Mekong), DOCUMENTS (e.g. papers on water in several countries and from recent conferences), FEATURES (e.g. How Much Water Does it Take to Make Beer?" and EDITORIAL (e.g. "Right to Basic Water Supply?").
The World's Water
http://www.worldwater.org
Site of the Pacific Institute, an independent think tank studying "issues at the intersection of development, environment and security". Site offers the book "The World's Water" which has summarized fresh water data annually since 1999, as well as information on the history of water conflicts, two water to air models, and data on water and climate and water-related environmental law.
UNESCO International Year of Freshwater 2003 and beyond
http://www.wateryear2003.org
Following up, the United Nations has declared 2005-2015 the International Decade for Action on 'Water for Life', and the website leads you to a library of fresh water photos, information on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and The Water Channel www.thewaterchannel.tv, an open resource that offers short videos in various languages, notices of webinars on water management and more.
UNESCO's Water Portal
http://www.unesco.org/water/
A motherlode of global water information. Includes reports, statistics, links to UNESCO and UNESCO-led programs, news on international water events and conferences, water celebrations, as well as links to hundreds of water organizations in many nations.
UNESCO's World Water Assessment Program produces a biennial World Water Development Report (Transforming Lands, Transforming Lives, 2011), a comprehensive assessment of global freshwater resources, challenges and issues. A collaboration of UN agencies, it is considered a keystone summary. UNESCO's International Hydrological Program spurs intergovernmental cooperation in water management through technology, education and conflict resolution. A free weekly online newsletter focuses on different topics and provides a summary of world water news and events.
Water Footprint Network
It takes about 15,000 litres of water to produce a kilo of beef, so that hamburger you're thinking of eating took about 1,000 litres. Recognizing that we need to use less water overall, a scientist at the University of the Netherlands reasoned that if we realized how much we were using, we'd use less. Check out your own water footprint, or that of your favorite industry.
World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health
Water and health, world-wide. WHO is a United Nations agency.
World Resources Institute
http://www.wri.org/
An environmental research and policy organization that has been aluded for going beyond research to practical solutions.
Statistics and features (e.g. on how different types of pollution harm water). Its 1997 Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World is published by several U.N. organizations. Click on EARTHTRENDS, then WATER RESOURCES & FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS for a wide-ranging database, cnational profiles on water usage, and articles about fish farming, pollution, water scarcity. In 2001, WRI produced the water film for television, "World on Edge" with PBS's Bill Moyers.
World Water Forum 2012
The world's largest meeting over water takes place March 12-17, bringing together water stakeholders from 180 nations to tackle challenges our world is facing, and to raise water higher on political agendas. Watch for comprehensive and influential reports coming out of this conference, held every three years.
Worldwatch Institute
http://www.worldwatch.org/
Independent global environmental research and watchdog group, whose objective is to help create a sustainable and socially just society. Produces annual "State of the World" environmental report, WorldWatch Magazine, live and archived discussion groups, news features on current environmental topics. Type "water" in search engine and click OCEANS and FRESHWATERs under NATURE.
Quick Facts About Water
- Water covers 70% of Earth's surface. (That's why astronauts in space dubbed it "The Blue Planet".)
- Only 1% of this resource is drinkable. About 97% is ocean water: salty, unpotable and not usable for irrigation. The other 3% is fresh water, but nearly one-third of that is locked up in the form of glaciers and ice fields.
- The world's population more than tripled in the last century, but during the same time, our consumption of water increased six times. The U.S.A. and Canada, in that order, use the most water per capita.
- Agriculture is the largest user of water world-wide, consuming about 68%. Industry uses 22%.
- Water is life: we might survive a month without food, but less than a week without water.
- Water is weather: rain, snow, ice - and drought. It determines what we eat, what we grow, and what plants, animals and water life thrive.