Tim Brick's Blog

Moving Forward on Food and Water

Tim Brick — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:43:13 EST

Food and Water Watch is encouraging concerned citizens to contact President-elect and his transition team to develop solid policies and programs for food, water and fish.

This is the link to send a message: http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5915/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=392

Obama Likely to Boost Water Quality Rules

Tim Brick — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:20:14 EST

US News & World Report predicts that the Obama Administration will move to address the country's water problems, including its dwindling supplies, inadequate environmental protections, and stalled cleanup efforts.

Obama Teams Are Scrutinizing Federal Agencies

Tim Brick — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:14:54 EST

The Washington Post takes a look at how the Obama Transition Team is approaching key federal agencies, highlighting the EPA and water. The Post follows Lisa Jackson and Robert Susman into a briefing at EPA. Perchlorate is identified as a key topic.

Transition Team Takes on Water

Tim Brick — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:07:14 EST

WaterTechOnline.com offers an overview of how the Obama transition is approaching the issue of water.

Water conservation a national necessity

Tim Brick — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:26:21 EST

Here's an article I penned in August with climatologist William Patzert of JPL. It appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 19.

The article makes the case that water conservatin is a California necessity, but of course it is also a national and international necessity.

Europeans Focus on Water and Climate Change

Tim Brick — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:48:40 EST

There is an increased focus in Europe on the centrality of water in dealing with climate change as reported by this article from EurActive.com

Environmental Priorities for European Water

Tim Brick — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:42:47 EST

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) , adopted in 2000, established a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. According to the directive, each member states must develop a river basin management plan "for each river basin district lying entirely within their territory" by the end of 2009.

The aim is to give groundwater, surface water and coastal waters 'healthy' status by 2015 by reducing pollution, protecting natural river structures and more efficient use of existing water resources by households, industry and agriculture.

This article, reprinted from EurActive.com, reports that environmental NGOs are urging European countiries, as they review their water management plans, to reconsider water allocation and pricing policies.

Corruption a catalyst for global water crisis, says report

Tim Brick — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:31:25 EST

Corruption a catalyst for global water crisis, says report Published: Thursday 26 June 2008

Corruption in the water sector is the "root cause" of the current global water crisis and is undermining efforts to develop a global response to climate change and the food crisis, according to a report published yesterday (25 June) by Transparency International.

The report , compiled by over twenty experts, highlights the importance of good governance in the water sector. It notably reveals how corruption has had a knock-on effect on the consequences of climate change by thwarting resettlement programmes and hindering water-sharing pacts.

- Reprinted from EurActive.com

Science Debate 2008 Water Answers Deciphered

Tim Brick — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:50:42 EDT

Wet and Not So Wild: Obama and McCain's Water Resource Policy How do the candidates' records stack up against their water use policy answers?

By Stuart Fox Posted on Popsci.com

After a year of winnowing down questions from 38,000 scientists and citizens, Science Debate 2008 sent 14 covering health, research, the environment and science to the presidential candidates. Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama answered the questions, and their answers can be read here. However, it’s easy for a politician to make promises, so PopSci investigated both senator’s voting records to see if their history matched up with their promises for the future. Each day for the next two weeks we'll present an analysis of the candidate’s voting records as compared with their answers to the ScienceDebate2008 questions. You can follow the entire series at popsci.com/election, where you can also sign up for an RSS feed.

A heartfelt plea for a sensible water policy

Tim Brick — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:40:28 EDT

Premiere California water activist Dorothy Green's plea for a reformed water policy appeared in the Los Angeles Times on October 8th, a week before her death.

A heartfelt plea for a sensible water policy

Heal the Bay's founder lays out her vision for a clean and sustainable state supply.

by Dorothy Green
October 8, 2008

To everything there is a season; but water is eternal. Or it was, until we started disturbing its natural rhythms. We penned it behind dams and diverted it to aqueducts, starving the life out of rivers and creating an unsupportable addiction to using more water than we need to live.

Despite the looming crisis in water, we have enough to live on, but not enough to waste. And waste it we have, with great enthusiasm for lush green lawns in a desert and a penchant for backroom deals with agribusiness. These deals end up as sweetheart ones for the moneyed corporate farmers, providing them with essentially a bountiful private water supply, which they sell off at a profit, while the rest of us are carefully metered and potentially rationed.

McCain on Water Scarcity; Comparison

Tim Brick — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:42:12 EDT

John McCain has responded to the issue of water scarcity posed by Science Debate 2008. His complete response is found below.

A side-by-side comparison of his comments and Barack Obama's on this and other scientific issues can be found at: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=42

An online vote comparing the responses of the two presidential candidates, grading Obama's as substantially superior is located here: http://sciencedebate2008.com/vote/?cat=14

Pithy comments comparing the responses of the two presidential candidates can be found at: http://sciencedebate2008.com/vote/?p=39#comments

Obama on Water Scarcity

Tim Brick — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:23:23 EDT

A group of scientists, engineers and other concerned citizens have formed Science Debate 2008 to ensure that important science topics are dealt with in the 2008 Campaign. One of the fourteen questions submitted to the candidates was regarding water scarcity.

Barack Obama has responded to the issue by promoting close collaboration to develop greater water efficiency and eliminate waste. His complete response is found below:

Great Lakes Compact Approved

Tim Brick — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:15:58 EDT

A historic process to protect the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River Basin has now been completed as the US House of Representatives passed a joint ressolution providing consent to the Great Lakes Compact.

EU Water Policies

Tim Brick — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:20:26 EDT

As water shortages in developing countries become more acute due to climate change, the EU is backing policies to manage the demands of all sectors, prioritising health, sanitation and cooperation between states.

This post and the related links outline the approach to achieving the Millenium Development Goas of reducing the number of people without adequate access to safe drinking water and santiation by half by the year 2015.

These policies present a framework for an Obama administration policy on international water issues.

Water Must Be Integrated Into All Policies

Tim Brick — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:12:47 EDT

Countries in the European Union hve recently developed a clear consensus on water issues. It can be summed up as "Water must be integrated into all policies." This interview with a member of the European Parliament discusses the background and ramifications of the new policy they hae develope on Water Scarcity and Drought, timely topics for a national discussion in the US>

Food Waste Is Water Waste

Tim Brick — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:37:23 EDT

A new international study documents the water implications of food waste on water consumption. It estimates that 30% of food in the US is wasted with similar levels in Europe. "That's like leaving the tap running and pouring 40 trillion litres of water into the garbage can - enough water to meet the household needs of 500 million people," the report laments.

Like water and oil

Tim Brick — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:44:53 EDT

From Gristmill
Like water and oil

McCain suggests renegotiating Colorado River compact to benefit Ariz., Nev., and Calif.

Posted by Joseph Romm (Guest Contributor) at 6:09 AM on 19 Aug 2008 What epic gaffe could unite Colorado's Democratic Senator Ken Salazar -- "over my dead body" -- and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer -- "Over my cold, dead, political carcass"?

Colorado to McCain: Hands Off Our Water

Tim Brick — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:40:05 EDT

From Daily Kos

Colorado to McCain: Hands Off Our Water

by mcjoan

Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 02:16:08 PM PDT

On Thursday, Rasmussen reported a 2 point lead for McCain over Obama in Colorado, 47-45.

If they repolled today, chances are very good that slim gain would be gone. Because there's one thing you do not mess with in Colorado, and that's water.

McCain's Shocking Stance on Western Water

Tim Brick — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:35:23 EDT

Is it just an Arizona bias or a shameful lack of awareness about western water issues that motivated John McCain's recent comments about reopening the Colorado River Compact that determines the water fate of seven dry western states???

This Denver Post editorial details McCain's shocking position, a startling threat to six western states.

Water Rights are Women's Rights

Tim Brick — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:32:02 EDT

Why Water Rights Are Women's Rights

By Yifat Susskind, AlterNet.

Across the world, it is women and girls who are responsible for risking their health and often lives to get their households' water. Having an ample supply of safe water is something most of us don't think much about. Turning on the kitchen tap or running a bath is usually an effortless decision. Yet, when we flush the toilet, we use as much water as most people in Kenya use in an entire day.

Imagine that day. You spend six hours fetching and hauling heavy loads of water across a dangerous expanse. Once you get the water home, you conserve and manage every drop to have enough for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing the kids, and watering the vegetable garden that keeps your family from going hungry. Since the water is untreated, you never know what kind of microbes or pollution you and your family are drinking.

Water Priorities for the Next Administration

Tim Brick — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:25:22 EDT

A subcommittee of Clean Water Network members recently completed an extensive list of priorities for the New Administration. The purpose of this informational document is to recommend federal actions that can be taken by the next Administration and Congress to reduce water pollution and protect water resources.
To access the document please click on this link:

http://www.cleanwaternetwork.org//issues/impairedwaters/otherres/DisplayContent.cfm?ContentID=681&ContentTypeID=1PageFormat=DisplayContent&CategoryID=205

A Powerful Case for US Water Leadership

Tim Brick — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:17:04 EDT

Here is a strategic analysis of the role of water in US foreign policy and development support from Erik R. Peterson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"In the light of humanity’s water predicament—current and future—there is a powerful case to be made that the United States can and should play a far more assertive role. Such a role would improve conditions across the world while promoting broader U.S. interests—an authentic "win-win" proposition. To bring water to the policy surface, however, it implies a crosscutting consensus across economic development and security communities that water is critical to the full spectrum of U.S. interests. It would require a new equilibrium between traditional geopolitical interests and broader humanitarian interests. It means committing more scarce financial resources. It also suggests the critical need for a high-profile office (such as the equivalent of PEPFAR, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) or the establishment of a special ambassador with sufficient personnel to carry out a broader program. Above all, however, it requires the political will to put a far-sighted strategy into place."

California Water Crisis Worsens

Tim Brick — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:47:20 EDT

The California water situation continues to decline, as reservoirs reach new lows. This USA Today story, from July 22, 2008, sums up the situation and prospects.

Running Dry

Tim Brick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:50:32 EDT

This Thursday, July 24, documentary film producer Jim Thebault will deliver the Call to Action attached below to a United Nations Water Conference in New York. He will also present his powerful documentary on the world water crisis -- RUNNING DRY -- to that gathering.

A Water Strategy for the United States

By Jim Thebaut

Today, the World is faced with a serious water crisis. It’s urgent that a multidimensional strategy be implemented by the United States in order to confront this emergency. Such a strategy would be important not only from a moral perspective but it would also have significant international security ramifications, and it would enhance the image of the United States throughout the world. It’s critical that this country set an example on how to solve the crisis, solutions which will require decisive action both internationally and throughout the United States.

When it comes to water, the planet is in serious trouble. Currently 1.2 billion people don’t have access to clean drinking water and twice that many don’t have access to sanitation. Every year 1.8 million people die from diseases caused by water pollution and the vast majority of these are children.

On the Waterfront: The New Battle Site for Terrorism

Tim Brick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:31:01 EDT

On the Waterfront: The New Battle Site for Terrorism

By Floyd Emerson Wicks

[Wicks has been the president and CEO of American States Water Company (NYSE symbol: AWR) since 1992. He’s also President and Chief Executive Officer of American States’ principal operating subsidiary, Golden State Water Company, of the American States Utility Services Company and of Chaparral City Water Company (Arizona).]

In the continuing war on terror, the phrase “on the waterfront” has taken on a new meaning.

The United States Congress needs to quickly and cogently address global water-supply shortages, lest they become vehicles for terrorism. Simply put, if we don’t help countries learn how to provide safe, clean, abundant water for their people, others will — and they’ll use it to leverage worldwide power.

An increasing number of concerned citizens, elected officials and businesspeople have been urging Congress to fund the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, a $300 million-per-year bill passed by a 99-0 vote in the U.S. Senate more than two years ago.

Developing a National Water Policy

Tim Brick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:22:54 EDT

Elizabeth de la Vega offers a thoughtful piece in Tomgram on the need for the development of a positive and proactive national water policy for the 21st century.

Water Policy

Tim Brick — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:54:50 EDT

Be sure to check out the Water Policy group, which has been formed to create a greater focus on the importance of water in the Obama campaign.

Across the US and throughout the world, it is becoming increasing clear that water has emerged as a central concern of the 21st century.Internationally more than 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation, Domestically our lakes, rivers, groundwater basins and oceans have been seriously degraded. Providing reliable water supplies for people and the economy, while protecting the environment, is an increasingly difficult challenge. Developing a plan for sustainable water supplies should be a key national and international goal.

Water is central to many of the great environmental challenges that face us:

The Great Lakes
Chesapeake Bay
The Everglades in Florida
The Bay Delta in California

Providing safe, healthy drinking to Americans has been complicated by environmental deterioration, rapidly growing population in water-scarce regions, and aging infrastructure. Water is also central to climate change response and adaptation. It is the medium through which many climate change impacts will affect Americans. An effective response will rely on improving water efficiency and developing new technologies for treatment and cleanup of water resources. A key component will be to energize educational institutions to produce a new generation of engineers, scientists, planners and technicians imbued with a comprehensive strategy for water and the environment to ensure that current and future needs are met.

On a global level, solving the critical water needs for poor and developing countries should be a key tool for democracy and peace as defined by the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act. It's time for the US to play a more dynamic role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of providing safe drinking water and sanitation throughout our planet.

We welcome the participation of water policy makers, professionals, environmentalists and concerned citizens in this group to ensure that water receives the focus that it merits in the Obama platform and administration.

Welcome Message

Tim Brick — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:47:41 EDT

This group has been formed to create a greater focus on the importance of water in the Obama campaign. Across the US and throughout the world, it is becoming increasing clear that water has emerged as a central concern of the 21st century.

Internationally more than 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation, Domestically our lakes, rivers, groundwater basins and oceans have been seriously degraded. Providing reliable water supplies for people and the economy, while protecting the environment, is an increasingly difficult challenge. Developing a plan for sustainable water supplies should be a key national and international goal.

Water is central to many of the great environmental challenges that face us:

The Great Lakes
Chesapeake Bay
The Everglades in Florida
The Bay Delta in California