ECO Factoids: What's Your Water Footprint?

From MotherJones.com

It isn't only British secret agent James Bond who has Bolivian water hijackers in his sights in the movie, "Quantum of Solace."

The current Mother Jones (July/August) features a provocative report about the world's water--it use and misuse--for food production, consumer and industrial use and the reasons for calculating a "water footprint."

Because an "extreme" stage drought continues for the 23rd month here in Central and South Texas, I have been in a state of shock over the brown lawns and yellowed branches that scream the lack of water.

Thus, this report struck an especially raw nerve. I guess you could say I have water on the brain.

But, as a foreshadowing of the future of on-line journalism and "pay walls," I CANNOT give you a link to read it here.

You MUST PURCHASE the current issue, go to a library or read it at the ever decreasing number of bookstores that carry MJ...to get the whole story. Or wait a couple of months and it will appear on-line.

My apologies to international readers of this blog. Patience.

But here are a few pithy details:

It takes ONE GALLON of water to grow...ONE almond.
ONE cantaloupe = 25 gallons;
ONE apple = 18 gallons;
one pound of chicken = 467 gallons;
one pound of beef = 1,857 gallons;
one pound of cheese = 599 gallons.

*Plus MJ highlights urine?! as a top-rate fertilizer. How it is used in Mexico, Sweden, China and Africa.

*And how the global water trade may leave the poor countries... high and dry.

Reporter Mark Bowden Escapes...the Mexican Army.

A five-page long report on the Mexican Army which Bowden claims is "marauding all over the country, escalating the mayhem that consumes Mexico."