Accountability Central Alert for April 5, 2011 - You're in a lot of hot water!

Face it, we've all been told that "you're in a lot of hot water" at some time in our lives. Perhaps it was a parent scolding us for doing something stupid. Or maybe our high school teacher who flunked us in a course for the semester. Even a spouse may have directed those feared words at us at one time or another. We can think of many situations in life where the expression fits the moment. 

Something about the words "water" and "hot" seem to go together. And so it was several years back when our AC editors, using their nose-for-news, created a special Hot Top section on water quantity and quality. Our intent was to have a central repository with easy access from the AC Home Page where we could post the very latest information regarding the world's supply of water, both from a qualitative and a quantitative view. We knew at the time that water was becoming a worldwide hot topic but even we are at times surprised at some of the subjects of the most recent entries in this section. 

For example, on March 28th, we posted this article: Fukushima's partial meltdown increases fears of contaminated seawater and soil. Source: (Source Guardian.Co UK) Who could have ever predicted the magnitude of the Japanese earthquake and the huge role that water would continue to play as the event unfolded, in so many aspects – sea water crashing in, fresh water needed for cooling nuclear rods, fresh water for drinking, waste water to be disposed of, and more.

Here's another water related issue that's taking on a life if its own: Sitting atop huge gas reserves, Maryland debates the drilling practice known as fracking Source: (Source: The Washington Post). An issue which has been bubbling beneath the surface (pardon the pun) in upstate New York and Pennsylvania is now reaching the outer limits of the Washington Beltway, assuring even more media scrutiny in the months ahead. And perhaps federal government intervention to address safety and health issues. We will bring you the news.

These are just two examples of the wide range of information AC offers every day in our water hot topics section. There is major concern about the world's water supply, even without the impact of natural disasters such as the recent earthquake in Japan. Sadly, the situation appears to be getting worse rather than better. The pressures of over-population, climate change and increased use per capita are all causing water stresses, although unevenly, throughout the globe. 

Current impacted areas in the news include the Southwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States; Syria; Pakistan; China; India; Ireland; Australia; and many countries in Africa. 

The threat has been recognized to some degree throughout the globe by governments, corporations and activists group who are bringing the problem to the forefront by helping to develop both short-and long-term solutions. AC keeps a close eye on the issues and brings you the latest news, commentary and research. 

Click here to read this week's full Alert on Accountability-Central.com