“We don’t realize our entire society runs on water. It doesn’t run on oil.” According to Stephen Leahy, Award-Winning International Environmental Journalist, and speaker at the recent Canadian Club of Halton Peel dinner, “With water shortages worsening across the globe, everyone faces tough choices as to how to allocate this vital resource. By knowing how dependant we are on water not only for our basic necessities, but for our modern lifestyles, we can change what we do. We can reduce wastage, form good habits and make water-smart purchases, all of which can save both water and money.”
In Stephen Leahy’s book and talk, Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We Use to Make Everyday Products, it reveals how water is essential to our way of life in ways we never think about. While water usage continues to soar, shortages now affect more than 3 billion people including millions of Americans and Canadians. A decade from now 3 out of 5 people will face water shortages.
It is shocking to realize that our morning cup of coffee required 140 liters (37 gallons) of water before we began to enjoy it. Water was required to grow the beans which then had to be shipped and processed. Surrounded by a hidden world of water, we would be surprised to learn that everything we touch and do requires water, hidden water – water we do not see, feel or taste. Although the amount of water on our planet does not and has not changed, it can become inaccessible to us. In Your Water Footprint, Leahy uses the example of draining a lake to irrigate a cotton field; the water has been consumed and that is the end of that particular water source.
The essence of Leahy’s eye-opening talk was that it takes a lot of water to produce everything. So respect and value water as sacred. There is not enough water to keep going as we are presently. We can use much less water. His “Hidden Water Savings Ideas” embrace the concepts of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” and we should always consider “Needs Vs Wants” – Buy water-wise purchases and Buy Local! Consider buying Stephen Leahy’s book, Your Water Footprint. We could change the future of our water supply. It requires the cooperation of the planet, but we can begin by doing our part.
The next Canadian Club of Halton Peel dinner on March 17 features Dr. Janet Rossant, CC, PhD, FRS, FRSC who received the 2015 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award for career achievement and research leadership within Canada. She is the Senior Scientist and Chief of Research Emeritus in the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program at SickKids Hospital and Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. Her topic will be “Stem Cells: Hype vs. Hope”
Reservations for the dinner can be made by e-mail ([email protected]), by telephone (905-827-6302) or by mail (cheques payable to the Canadian Club of Halton Peel, 283 River Side Drive, Oakville, L6K 3N3).
Currently celebrating its 30th season, the not-for-profit, volunteer-driven, Canadian Club of Halton Peel has been presenting guest dinner speakers on a wide range of subjects since 1986.