Talking about the weather
Dear Sir,
Steff Gaulter’s “A bit too sunny” article in her weekly “Weather Addict” column of Gulf Times Community (July 21) made interesting reading.
I have always been at a loss to understand what a weatherman (or woman, as in Steff Gaulter’s case) really means when he or she reports “extreme hot conditions” in the UK. I have often wondered why the English complain so much about “unbearable hot conditions” even when the mercury in their country does not touch half of what we have in the Middle East.
After reading Gaulter’s article, all my doubts about “unbearable hot situation” during summertime in the UK have been cleared. The writer has explained all those factors that contribute towards the “heat conditions” in the UK such as “small and compact houses and the poorly-ventilated London’s underground railways”.
Gaulter’s articles are fascinating to read. I am keen to know her views on weather in India, its monsoon cycles, snowy Himalayas and on the Thar desert of the western India. Hope she will tackle some of these topics in her future columns.
Mohan Menon, PO Box 35299, Doha
Water wars looming
Dear Sir,
Ethiopia’s decision to build the Great Renaissance Dam, thereby controlling the waters of the Nile, clearly reveals that the next world war will be fought over water.
Just as wars over oil played a major role in the 20th century, 21st century conflicts will be fought over water. It is calculated that 2.5% of the planet’s water supply is fresh, much of it locked away in glaciers. Water use in the past century grew twice globally as fast as population.
That control and manipulation of water should be a pivotal axis of power and human achievement throughout history is hardly surprising. Water has always been man’s most indispensable natural resource.
Every era has been shaped by its response to the great water challenge of its time. And so it is unfolding, on an epic scale, across the globe, today.
An impending global crisis in fresh water supplies is fast emerging as a defining fulcrum of regional politics and human civilisation.
More than 20 conflicts and potential conflicts concerning division of river flows have been recorded. It is not so inconceivable that in regions where water is not readily available that wars should be fought over the ownership of rivers.
Farouk Araie, [email protected]
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