The more countries and regions that are seriously short of water, the easier it is to trigger wars. Although the world is facing a potential shortage of fresh water resources, some countries and regions have fallen into a serious water crisis because of the different distribution of water resources. Some countries may have insufficient or just enough water resources, while others are rich in water resources. In countries rich in water resources, the annual per capita fresh water volume reaches more than 654.38+10,000 cubic meters, such as 9,900 cubic meters in the United States and 0/0/200,000 cubic meters in Canada. Therefore, it is basically impossible for countries like the United States and Canada to have a war because of water shortage.
In some countries and regions that lack water, the situation is completely different. In Algeria, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya and other countries, the per capita fresh water is between 600 and 700 cubic meters; in Israel, Tunisia and other countries, it is between 400 and 500 cubic meters; in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Yemen, it is only100-200 cubic meters. For these countries, water is a national strategic resource, which is closely related to national security. These countries are also prone to disputes with other countries or wars caused by water disputes. Former Israeli Prime Minister Perez once said that if the road leads to civilization, then water leads to peace. It reflects the threat to water-deficient areas and the relationship between water and safety.
Conflicts are easy to occur between countries with the same water resources, and the more countries with the same water resources, the more likely water conflicts will occur. There are 2 14 rivers and lakes on the earth that cross one or several national borders. The 148 water system passes through two coastal countries or regions. Due to the uneven supply and distribution of water resources, there have been large and small tensions in 140 areas. For example, the Nile in Africa flows through Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt and other countries 10; The Jordan River flows through Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan. The Euphrates River is an important water source for Turkey, Syria and Iraq. In these basin areas, conflicts and disputes between countries have long existed.
Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Aral Sea issue was a domestic issue. Now Aral Sea, Amu Darya River and Syr Darya River have become international water resources, involving five independent countries. Therefore, how to solve the water shortage problem faced by Central Asian countries has attracted the attention of relevant water resources experts. Central Asia has a large population and insufficient water resources. Excessive water use has reduced the area of Aral Sea, the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world, by 40% and the water capacity by 67%. In addition, the Ganges River in South Asia and the Amazon River in America are both international rivers. Because there are many countries in the basin with different political and economic interests, disputes and conflicts are prone to occur in the distribution, utilization and management of water resources.
The greater the difference between * * * and water resources, the easier it is for water resources conflicts to occur. Although some rivers are owned by several countries, if these countries have little differences in history, politics, religion, culture and other backgrounds, serious conflicts may not occur because of sharing water resources. If countries with the same water resources have sharp conflicts in politics, race and religion, then all kinds of conflicts will affect each other, and water resources will inevitably become one aspect of the conflict, and the Middle East is the most typical example.
There are sharp ethnic contradictions and religious conflicts in the Middle East, which is also a serious water shortage area. Therefore, water resources have always been an important aspect of competition between Arab countries and Israel, and between Arab countries and non-Arab countries. In addition, the differences in economic development level, economic structure and population will cause water conflicts between countries in the same basin.
The dependence on water resources and the characteristics of domestic water distribution are also a factor affecting water conflict. Although some rivers flow through many countries, the flow is not large, which has no obvious impact on the water resources of coastal countries, and the competition for such water resources may not be fierce. However, some rivers are water resources on which several countries depend, and this distribution increases the possibility of conflicts.
Some countries need water mainly from abroad, that is to say, these countries are controlled by other countries, and some are controlled by countries that are considered hostile. For these countries, water resources is a sensitive issue closely related to national security. They may worry that other countries will cut off their water supply for various reasons and that water resources will be used as a tool of war. According to the analysis of water resources experts, 1/3' s water resources come from overseas countries, and the possibility of water disputes is greater. Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan in Asia and Hungary, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia and other countries in Europe have more than 50% water resources from abroad, so there is a great possibility of wading conflicts.
The rapid development of population will increase the possibility of water resources conflict. When the population of a country or region has not developed to a certain extent, the water crisis may not be urgent. At this time, the country often does not put the water problem on the agenda. Once the population develops rapidly and the corresponding agriculture and industry develop, the demand for water will increase greatly, and water will become increasingly scarce. At this time, the problem of water resources will become increasingly prominent. There may be water disputes between regions within a country, which will lead to conflicts between countries for water resources.
In countries and regions with turbulent political situation and serious confrontation, water has a greater impact on national security and international relations. In a relatively peaceful political atmosphere and environment, water disputes are easier to be resolved through peaceful means. However, in areas with serious conflicts, even if the conflict is not caused by water resources, water resources often become one aspect of the conflict, and it is more likely to use water resources as a means of threatening the other side or a tool of war.
Links: World Water Day, World Water Forum and China Water Week.
In order to promote the comprehensive planning and management of water resources, strengthen the protection of water resources, solve the increasingly serious shortage of water resources, and enhance the public's awareness of water resources development and protection, the 47th United Nations General Assembly put forward suggestions in the "2 1 Century Action Agenda" formulated by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Resolution 193 was adopted. Considering that with population growth and economic development, many countries will soon fall into the predicament of water shortage and their economic development will be limited, it is decided to designate March 22nd as World Water Day from 1993. The resolution invites governments to hold some specific publicity activities on this day according to their national conditions to raise public awareness of water conservation.
The theme of World Water Day over the years is:
From 65438 to 0994, it is everyone's responsibility to care about water resources; 1995, Women and Water; 1996, providing water for thirsty cities; 1997, water shortage; 1998, groundwater-a resource that is unconsciously declining; 1999, everyone lives downstream; In 2000, sanitary water; Water in 200 1 year and 2 1 century; In 2002, water served development; In 2003, water of the future; In 2004, water and disasters; In 2005, Water of Life; In 2006, water and culture; In 2007, respond to water shortage; In 2008, wading hygiene; Transboundary water-water enjoyed by * * and opportunities enjoyed by * * in 2009.
In order to raise the highest political decision-making level's attention to water issues and expand social influence, 1996, the World Water Council, composed of experts and scholars on water issues and relevant international institutions, was established, and it was decided to hold a large-scale international conference every three years before and after World Water Day, that is, the World Water Forum General Assembly.
The first World Water Forum was held in Marrakech, Morocco in March 1997. 500 representatives from 63 countries attended the forum, and a group of senior social officials with influence in the international water field attended the forum. At the meeting of the World Water Council, relevant representatives suggested to the Council that the problems existing in water management should be solved by means of multi-field integration, including measures in engineering, ecology and social sciences. At this forum, the idea that the World Water Council should draw up a blueprint for water, life and environment in the 2 1 century was put forward.
The second World Water Forum was held in The Hague, the Netherlands in March 2000. 5700 delegates from 156 countries attended the meeting, and ministers from 1 14 countries attended the ministerial meeting. The world water blueprint was also published at this meeting. The meeting put forward the viewpoint of "world water view". The theme of this forum is "From Prospect to Action". The goal of the Second World Water Forum is closely integrated with the vision and action framework of water, life and environment in the 2 1 century, and the forum provides a platform for the public to freely talk about the vision and framework. This water forum is dedicated to advocating political forces to solve the water crisis and calling on political high-level officials to pay attention to the implementation of the World Water Outlook and Action Framework.
The third World Water Forum was held in Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga, Japan in March 2003. The number of participants in this conference greatly exceeded the previous two sessions, reaching more than 24,000 delegates. The characteristics of this forum are completely open and jointly built by all parties. Among them, innovative initiatives such as the Virtual Water Forum and the Voice of Water Project have been widely praised and responded positively. 130 ministerial representatives attended the meeting. The main topic of the Third World Water Forum was to implement "concrete actions and commitments", and the meeting reached a "ministerial declaration".
The 4th World Water Forum was held in Mexico City in March 2006. More than 3000 delegates from 140 countries and regions around the world attended the forum, including more than 50 water ministers from all over the world. The theme of this forum is "Taking local actions to meet global challenges". The forum has developed from the theme of the second forum "World Water Outlook" and the theme of the third forum "Specific Actions and Commitments" to how to integrate local actions into the world water conservancy construction and how to turn the support voices from different institutions and organizations into actual local actions to further realize the commitments made. This is also the main challenge we face. The main goal of the 4th World Water Forum is to realize the participation and exchange of all relevant stakeholders, so that the proposed framework issues can be fully discussed and actions can be put forward, and the issues raised in the previous three forums and urgently needed to be solved can be intensively discussed, so as to expand the publicity of the mass media and expand the social impact.
The 5th World Water Forum was held in Istanbul, Turkey in March, 2009. 28,000 delegates from 65,438+056 countries and regions around the world attended the meeting, including more than 90 ministers, 63 mayors and 65,438+048 parliamentarians. The theme of the Fifth World Water Forum is "Crossing the Water Divide", which emphasizes that all parties involved in water management or affected by water should strengthen communication, exchange and coordination, and calls on countries to take measures to ensure that people all over the world can get drinking water and medical care. Countries discussed hot issues such as the impact of global climate change and its countermeasures, water shortage and improvement of water use efficiency, catastrophic natural disasters and their risk management, irrigation agriculture development and ensuring food security, drinking water safety and sanitation, water storage and other water conservancy infrastructure construction, and strengthening the comprehensive management of water resources and the investment and financing mechanism of water conservancy construction.
1988 after the promulgation of People's Republic of China (PRC) Water Law, the Ministry of Water Resources designated July 1 ~ 7 as "China Water Week" considering that the themes and contents of World Water Day and China Water Week are basically the same. Therefore, starting from 1994, the time of "China Water Week" was changed to March 22 -28 every year, and the coincidence of time made the publicity activities more prominent in the theme of "World Water Day".
Starting from 1996, the theme of China Water Week is:
1996, managing water according to law, scientifically managing water and strengthening water saving; 1997, water and development; 1998, managing water according to law-promoting the sustainable utilization of water resources; 1999, river regulation is the basis of flood control; In 2000, strengthen conservation and protection to realize the sustainable utilization and protection of water resources; 200 1, building a water-saving society and realizing sustainable development; In 2002, the sustainable utilization of water resources supported the sustainable development of economy and society; In 2003, control water according to law and realize the sustainable utilization of water resources; In 2004, people and water were in harmony; In 2005, ensure the safety of drinking water and ensure life and health; In 2006, change the concept of water use and innovate the development model; In 2007, water conservancy development and harmonious society; In 2008, develop water conservancy and improve people's livelihood; In 2009, Scientific Outlook on Development will be implemented to save and protect water resources.