There is a lot of press on the subject of Water becoming the New Oil. What does it mean for any resource to be named as the New Oil?
Water, not at all like Oil?
Water and oil are two very different liquids. The most significant differences:
1. Not much on the Earth, as we know it, could exist in the absence of water:
- Nothing artificial would exist as everything man has produced requires water during the production process
- Not much of "life" - as we define it and know it - would exist in the absence of water.
- Even the attributes of Earth that we label as "natural" would cease to exist e.g. the Grand Canyon would be missing as there would be no river to carve it out.
There would, of course, be an Earth, but it could resemble, or not, any of the other bodies (e.g. planets and asteroids) that make-up the universe. Oil deposits would, of course, still exist on many bodies making-up the universe.
2. All cultures recognize the significance of water to human and other forms of life and, thus, water is a sacred political and, social issue that everyone everywhere is intimately familiar with.
Oil, on the other hand, simply has no such cultural or social implications other than those that economics and lifestyle assigns to it.
We can do without oil but not without water
So, Why the Press?
Water suppliers and ordinary people are concerned about the reducing quantities of water in the sources that we historically have used for supplies. Images of half dry lakes, polluted sources of water , etc. worsen this perception which, in any case, is an incorrect perception.
To understand why the perception is incorrect, let's take a look at what happens when we run out,for example, of milk, or bread or any other commodity. When we find that we are running low or out, we simply get some more from the grocery store that we typically shop at. If this store has none we find another that has some in stock.
This decision to look for new sources is not a new one for us. Strong evidence points to the fact that water scarcity (or search for new water sources) was a primary motivation behind human migration out of Africa. The aqueducts that the Romans built were engineering marvels of their time that became real only because Roman cities needed the water. Examples of ways to transport water to places where people choose to live are everywhere.
Water, the new Oil!
The call "water, the new oil, is simply a call to "find new sources". It is no different than what we think or ask someone else to do when we need milk: "get milk" or "Can you bring some milk?"
Water, not at all like Oil?
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| Source - whatswrongwiththat.org |
1. Not much on the Earth, as we know it, could exist in the absence of water:
- Nothing artificial would exist as everything man has produced requires water during the production process
- Not much of "life" - as we define it and know it - would exist in the absence of water.
- Even the attributes of Earth that we label as "natural" would cease to exist e.g. the Grand Canyon would be missing as there would be no river to carve it out.
There would, of course, be an Earth, but it could resemble, or not, any of the other bodies (e.g. planets and asteroids) that make-up the universe. Oil deposits would, of course, still exist on many bodies making-up the universe.
2. All cultures recognize the significance of water to human and other forms of life and, thus, water is a sacred political and, social issue that everyone everywhere is intimately familiar with.
Oil, on the other hand, simply has no such cultural or social implications other than those that economics and lifestyle assigns to it.
We can do without oil but not without water
So, Why the Press?
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| Parched land Souce - gg2.net |
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| Dry Lake Source - citydictionary.com |
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| Milk Cartons Source - acrolabels.com |
This decision to look for new sources is not a new one for us. Strong evidence points to the fact that water scarcity (or search for new water sources) was a primary motivation behind human migration out of Africa. The aqueducts that the Romans built were engineering marvels of their time that became real only because Roman cities needed the water. Examples of ways to transport water to places where people choose to live are everywhere.
Water, the new Oil!
The call "water, the new oil, is simply a call to "find new sources". It is no different than what we think or ask someone else to do when we need milk: "get milk" or "Can you bring some milk?"
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