Did you know that the production of 1 kg of grain consumes 1000–4000 litres of water? (Internationel Development Research Centre: http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-127190-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html#tab_3-1) Are we normally aware of the water requirements of the goods and services we consume? How and to which extend should consumers be informed of the virtual water content of the product they buy? Dowe have to change our way of life in view of our virtual water consumption? Read more on page 16 in the baseline study.
Introduction and lead questions
Seitenanfang
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responsible consumer, as everything is connected
Hello!
I'm particularly interested in something I read in the Baseline Study(page 15): "Due to cotton imports from the Aral Sea region the European Union is responsible for 20% of the Aral Sea shrinking."
This really shows that our use of water is far beyond the direct use, it's the virtual water use. Even us, environmentally-concerned people, are often not aware of this: when we talk about saving water, we refer to showers unstead of baths, toilet flush,... and not to the products we buy.
Also, we are responsible by environmental disasters like the Aral Sea shrinking, each one of us.
There should be mandatory indication of the Virtual water content of products, at least some, but the key solution, I think, is a RESPONSIBLE CONSUMER. You may say it's impossible, but I think with the proper education of youngsters to moderate and intelligent buying habits and with more information, most of the people will be aware that they should not buy more than they need and that they should choose eco-friendly products made by socially responsible companies.
Visit my forum: http://www.science-parliament.eu/forums/2010-water-my-responsibility/124...
You don't need to be radical, you just have to be moderate and not greedy in buying, as everything is connected.
direct and indirect . . .
many posts on this site are directed at reducing the usage of water in a direct sense, e.g. taking showers not baths and not letting the tap run while brushing teeth etc, but there is as much, if not more, water being used indirectly, Such as your posted fact on the production of grain, as well as areas such as computers, cars toys etc, many of these are not needed and often wasted eventually but use a lot of water in their life cycle. Perhaps if we can target these areas which indirectly use water as well as direct use we have a better chance of achievement in reducing water use.
Virtual water
Yes, I knew and I totally agree that we all should know that every product we buy needs water even those we think they don't need, as for ex software, cars, ...
We should try to reduce the amount of water (virtual and not virtual) consumption eventhough it's difficult to change our way of life mainly in developped countries.