Global population increase adds to water crisis - UN report

As you are aware the world’s population has swollen to over six billion. There are some countries which have reached the limits of their water resources. A new report called `Water in a Changing World’ from the United Nations (UN) gives the following reasons for this situation.

The surging growth in global population, climate change, widespread mismanagement and increasing demand for energy

A UN report containing a comprehensive assessment of freshwater resources explains that due to climate change the world’s population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030, including between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa.

The report highlighted the major impact this situation has on health. It states that almost 80 per cent of diseases in developing countries are associated with water, causing some three million early deaths.

For example, 5,000 children die every day from diarrhoea, and roughly 10 per cent of all illnesses worldwide could be avoided by improving water supply, sanitation, hygiene and management of water resources.

The demand for water is on the increase. Key areas we need to focus on are improved water management, better legislation, and more effective and more transparent allocation of water.

Dramatic increases in the production of biofuel, including the tripling of ethanol between 2000 and 2007, and the need for 1,000 to 4,000 litres of water to create a single litre of biofuel, have also added to the pressure put on worldwide water resources.

Clean, fresh drinking water is essential to human and other life. Access to safe drinking water has improved steadily and substantially over the last decades in almost every part of the world.

However, some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world’s population will be facing water-based vulnerability, a situation which has been called a ‘water crisis’ by the United Nations.

Water plays an important role in the world economy, as it functions as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates industrial cooling and transportation.

UN, Xinhua

Birth and death anniversaries from March 29 - April 4

March 29

Birth of E.W. Adikaram, Philosopher in 1905.

March 31

Death of Charlotte Bronte, English writer, in 1855.

April 2

Birth of Hans Christian Anderson, famous Danish fairytale writer 1805.

April 4

Birth of Sir John Kotelawala in 1897.

Special events which took place in history, from March 29 - April 4

March 29

* The New Eye Hospital, Colombo was declared open in 1962.

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March 30

* Silumina, the Sunday newspaper published by ANCL rolled off the presses in 1930.

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April 1- * Ceylon Rifle Regiment

was disbanded in 1873.

* Paranthan Chemicals Corporation was declared open in 1956.

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April 4

* An evening broadcasting service was started by the Ceylon Broadcasting Service in 1963.

* National Day of Hungary.

Little Dinesh’s ride to fame

by Asha Senevirathne

The little hero of Mahiyanganaya, nine-year-old Dinesh Sandakelum, who saved the lives of four persons in his home town on the verge of drowning in a canal, is no stranger to you since his great feat.

He met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on March 16. The President was very appreciative of his heroic deed.

Having been rewarded with a fully sponsored educational scholarship to Nalanda College recently, he has now been ensured of a good education.

The People’s Bank Sisu Udana programme has donated Rs. 200,000 and the Nalanda College OBA has donated Rs. 500,000 for his studies. He was a student of Gemunupura Maha Vidyalaya, Mapakada until he was awarded the scholarship. He is presently studying in Grade 4-E, at Nalanda and is staying at the hostel.

Even at the age of five Dinesh had been good at swimming; his hobby had been swimming in the river in his village. He is now being

coached in competitive swimming at Nalanda College.

His class teacher, Yamuna Kalyani and his classmates are keen on giving him all the support he needs to excel in his studies at school.

His ambition is to become a doctor as he wants to help poor people.When asked as to why he risked his own life and jumped into the canal to save those people he said; “I didn’t even think about my life. All I wanted to do was save them. That’s why I did it and now I’m very happy about what I have done”.

Pix: Prabodhi Lanka

Maldives to turn carbon neutral

The President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed announced last week that his country will become the world’s first carbon neutral country by fully switching to the use of renewable energy within a decade.

The country is to rely on solar panels and wind turbines instead of oil and thereby will refrain from contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

A week ago scientists who met in Copenhagen warned that the impact of Global warming is increasing beyond the forecast made by UN experts two years ago.He said, “People often tell me caring for the environment is too difficult, too expensive or too much bother.

I admit installing solar panels and wind turbines doesn’t come cheap. But when I read those science reports from Copenhagen, I know there is only one choice. Going green might cost a lot, but refusing to act now will cost us the Earth.”

Being carbon neutral, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset.

In March 2007, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that global warming, if unchecked, would lead to a devastating amalgam of floods, drought, disease and extreme weather by the century end.

Child art, sculpture and photography exhibition

An exhibition of children’s art, sculpture and photography titled “Warna Sankalana” was held at St. Lawrence’s Convent, Colombo 6, on March 13 and 14.

The chief guest eminent artist Jayasiri Semage who was the chief guest declared open the first day of the exhibition appreciated the talents of the students and further elaborated that the paintings which displayed the feelings and sentiments of the young students in their formative years, were worthy of being represented at international level.

Reputed artist Charles Dayananda who was the chief guest on the second day stated that the exhibits were commendable and he enjoyed the hidden talents of the younger generation. He stressed on the importance of giving a free hand to the children to express their feelings through colours and strokes and said that a child’s inner feelings are brought out freely through their drawings.

“Even an introvert can excel in art and photography if encouraged. He also stated that diverting the children’s minds towards art could also cure them of various illnesses.

The Divisional Director of Eduction, Colombo South, Sarukkhan was the guest of honour on the second day.

He too appreciated the exhibition and encouraged the staff and the students to make it an annual event.A souvenir was also published with the photographs of the winners and their exhibits to commemorate the event. The children were rewarded with prizes and certificates for their efforts.

The Principal of St. Lawrence’s Convent, Rev. Sr. Mary Chandrika Perera was greatly appreciated by the parents for her great service to the school and for all the encouragement and support given to the staff towards the success of the exhibition.

Don’t be fooled!

When the month of April draws near, most of us are excited because once again it will be time to celebrate the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. But, watch out! In your excitement, don’t forget another special day that ushers in this month. Don’t end up as the butt end of jokes, as a result of your forgetfulness.

By now, some of you must be aware as to what this special day is - Yes, it’s April Fools’ Day. It’s a day to enjoy yourselves by playing pranks on friends and family. However, don’t get carried away and do things that would hurt their feelings or bring them physical harm in any way. Some of you may be knowing how this fun day originated while most of you may not have given it a second thought.

April Fools’ Day has its origin in France. It is said that until the king of France adopted the modern calendar in 1564, where the new year dawns on January 1, the new year had been celebrated on April 1. Since the people were used to celebrating the new year on April 1st for a long, long time many didn’t welcome the change, and continued to celebrate New Year’s day on April 1st. And so, the people called everyone who did so `April Fools’. Today many people the world over have fun on this day. You too can do so, but be careful that you don’t eventually end up the victim of such jokes yourself.