DUBLUCK, Ethiopia — On a warm January afternoon in southern Ethiopia, thousands of ill-tempered livestock stand in groups with the pastoralists who have guided them for dozens of miles to drink. The animals dot an expansive field of Acacia trees, severed bits and pieces of dead grass and dust.

Earlier in the day thousands of young goats, sheep and calves took turns to have their fill of water. And the show will not end with the cattle; camels are still waiting in line. For being the best able to resist drought, now they will be last.

As the sun beats down, a human chain of water fetchers forms a line down the gullies and sings work songs to help keep rhythm during the backbreaking work of drawing water from the wells and delivering it to the troughs on the surface — sometimes from a depth of about 160 feet. This cluster of “singing wells,” along with a mechanical well built by the Ethiopian government, are the only things standing between the thousands of animals here and death. Still, this is only the wind before the storm as the animals have to endure three more months of unprecedented drought before the rainy season begins.

“They [the animals] are starting to die in many places. We have nothing to feed them on,” says Galgalo Dida, a deputy chief in the area. “We are in critical fear now. We have a big problem,” he adds, as he shifts his glance, slowly regarding the other men around him and the kids who hang on to their clothes.

For the pastoralists here, animals are their only livelihood, as they have been for countless generations. A Borena man in this area will own anywhere between 20 and 1,000 animals.

Concerns are also growing further south in the Somali region of Ethiopia where Mohammed Hassan, the sultan of Gare, says the situation is equally dire. Hassan, a tall, middle-aged man sporting an orange-colored beard, speaks calmly and with little emotion about his region’s shifting weather patterns.

“Now the annual rainfall is decreasing,” Hassan says. “Due to this situation, a number of water points are drying, even springs are drying out.”

DIGGING DEEPER

The declining water resources mean more work for the community, which has to pursue the water further into the ground.“ We are experiencing drying wells and reduction in water volume of big rivers like Dawa. Now we have to dig more to get water,” he says, scooping into the air with his hands.

As the traditional leader for more than 476,000 Gare people, a clan that spreads across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, Hassan is knowledgeable about issues affecting his people and knows better than to place all the blame on outside forces.

The increase in the number of people and their livestock and the accompanying deforestation that his area has seen in recent decades could have contributed to the worsening drought, Hassan says.

Hassan, however, does not have answers to some of the changes, like the rise in temperatures experienced here in the last few years.

At Leh, one of the villages under Hassan’s command, the story is similar. Drawing water from their traditional wells, young men sing to their livestock: “Have it, this is the water. If you refuse, it is up to you.”

The wells at Leh, says Ibrahim Ganamo, the chief of the area, were dug by their ancestors 300 to 400 years ago. Now they are disappearing at alarming rates. In just a few years, nine have been covered by sand due to erosion. The village has no means of reclaiming them, he says.

While Ganamo can explain some of the locally inflicted environmental calamities such as soil erosion, there are other trends that seem beyond explanation to him. Rains have dwindled and temperatures have gone up in the recent past.

“Last year it rained for only two days,” he declares, lifting two fingers in the air and shaking his head in despair.

Statistics are hard to come by here, but Ganamo says. “Last year alone people here lost 80 of every 100 animals they had.”

It is a dangerous phenomenon that can wipe out a community.

“If the animals die,” he says as his eyes follow the galloping cattle, “people will also die.”

AFRICA PAYS THE PRICE

The plight of Ethiopia’s pastoralists reflects concerns raised in the landmark 2007 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which forecasts that Africa would be the continent placed at greatest risk by global warming.

“Although Africa, of all the major world regions, has contributed the least to potential climate change because of its low per capita fossil energy use and hence low greenhouse gas emissions, it is the most vulnerable continent to climate change because widespread poverty limits capabilities to adapt,” the report noted.

Negusu Aklilu, director of the Forum for the Environment in Ethiopia, cautions against blaming the victims of global warming.

“Is it because we Africans are irresponsible? Is it because we are careless? No. It is because people are poor. We are dependent on natural resources.”

The difference, Aklilu says, is that the poor misappropriate resources for survival, the rich misappropriate resources for luxury.

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, half of the 314 million Africans who live on less than $1 a day in Africa are highly dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods, and 80 percent of those people live in pastoral areas.

“In Ethiopia and larger parts of Africa we are going to be the most vulnerable, the hardest hit,” Aklilu says.

RESOURCE WARS

And strained natural resources inevitably lead to strained relations between communities that are competing for the same dwindling supply of water and pasture land.

In June 2006, open conflict erupted in the Borena zone in southern Ethiopia between the Borena and the Guji when the Guji laid claim to land that had long belonged to the Borena. Hundreds were killed and 23,000 people were forced to flee. Intermittent fighting has continued since then.

For Habiba Guto, 32, the conflict has been disastrous. A mother of seven, she had managed to save enough money to open a small store selling basic provisions to the Guji and the Borena in the town of Dawa.

But when conflict broke out between the two groups, Habiba lost everything she had but her children. She counted 26 bodies of her dead fellow Borenas including her brother-in-law.

She moved to the town of Negele to stay with her extended family and has never looked back. She lives a day at a time, begging for food to keep herself and her children alive.

According to a February 2008 report on conflict analysis by Nega Emiru, a program officer for Care International in Ethiopia, the rising conflict in the region is part of the intensifying conflicts involving the pastoralists’ communities in the Horn of Africa.

“Recurrent droughts and worsening climatic conditions are fueling resource-based conflicts between the pastoralists,” Nega notes.

These conflicts in turn are made worse by the widespread availability of automatic weapons.

Abdulqadir Abdii, the chief government administrator for the Borena zone, says the people of the region acquired large numbers of automatic weapons after they were smuggled out of government armories following the downfall of the socialist regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.

Weapons have also been obtained from on-going regional conflicts in Somalia and Sudan.

LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS

As conflicts soar, nongovernmental organizations and the elders of various communities are looking to proactively solve problems.

Hassan says that his leadership is organizing ways for people to try helping themselves by educating them to combine the traditional ways of livestock farming with some modern farming systems.

Also, Hassan and his council have worked to sensitize the community to deforestation. Through better management of resources, conflict can be reduced, Hassan says.

In the same vein, councils have formed to help resolve conflict.

“The council wants to return to the traditional ways of conflict resolution,” Hassan says.

Such traditional ways of conflict resolution involve elders from groups in conflict holding meetings to determine what punishment should be meted out to or what fines should be paid by people who start or instigate conflict, Hassan says. The leaders also discuss ways of preventing future conflicts, he adds.

While the pastoral communities try to adapt to the changes forced on them, they can only wait and see if the wealthy nations that largely created the climate crisis will take actions to reverse the situation.

But the rich world should read the writing on the wall: what is transpiring here may befall them in a few years, Aklilu says.

“What is happening in Africa today is a warning to the world. We do not have to ask whether climate change is happening,” Aklilu says. “Climate change is real.”

Yes, this local problem does matter to the wider world. In fact, I think any local problem could affect the wider world. Some problems may become so disastrous that not only the local community will be affected but the entire country as a whole is affected. When it comes to clean water, many don’t have access to it in Africa. With this problem evident in so many communities, it becomes a problem for the country to clean and provide more of it. This affects the country’s economy greatly, which in turn will affect any international relationships it has. If there is enough tension on the relationship, it can result to war.

This matter, described in thorough detail throughout these many articles and video broadcasts, was somewhat of a wake up call for many places in the world that were not previously educated on this issue. Not only does this concern the wider world because it is affecting fellow human beings, but it shows that global warming (climate change) is taking a real toll on real people in struggling communities. It shows the potential for disastrous situations like this in other communities, as changing factors begin to take hold of communities of innocent people.

Yes, this problem does matter to the wider world. Global climate change affects everyone, but mostly the people of Africa have been seeing the changes. However, they do not have the money or the resources to fix their problem. So if the wider world were to help Africa, then global climate change and water shortages would be reduced.

This problem is something that the U.S. needs to help correct now. We have made a huge impact on global warming and it is our responsibility to help fix what we have done. If we do not act now then water shortages will spread leaving more and more countries with less and less water. Eventually this shortage of water could start affecting the U.S. so we need to start at the source of the problem.

This problem does matter to the wider world because it shows what is coming down the road for us in the future. With carbon emissions higher than ever and global warming affecting the world, these countries in Africa just show how scarce water will be. It’s just a matter of time before the richer nations get hit with the crisis. Also it does matter because the global warming is affecting them and they produce very little greenhouse gas. This makes it the rest of the world job to get them back on their feet.

This local problem in Ethiopia matters to the entire world because it is a warning and glimpse of what it will be like for the whole world in the future if no action is taken. Africa at the moment is suffering tremendously from the effects of climate change and global warming. If the rate of carbon emissions continues to grow, the whole world will soon face the problems of water scarcity. Since more industrialized nations, such as the U.S., are not currently facing the water crisis, they should be the ones to help those who are suffering. Helping Africa get back on its feet will in turn help others throughout the world by improving the relations between countries and benefiting the economy.

Yes, it does matter to the world. This could be seen as a warning to us about what could happen to us. Mainly, all you hear about right now Is Global Warming because water is also not a problem right now, but maybe global warming is the source of the water crisis in Africa. And if it is, we need to fight back the best we can. A world without water would take us back to living “from hand to mouth” as Goethe once said.

This local problem of Ethiopian drought should be of great importance to the outside world. It shows how bad a situation can get if there is a drought and people are unequipped to deal with it. In this region it has led to mass spread famine, thirst, violence, displacement, and a huge sagging in an already weak economy. We should learn from this event and try to be as ready as possible for an eventual drought so the damages are minimal.

- Yes it does because it shows how the climate is changing and we could expected floods in parts of the world and drought in other. This plentiful resource in the Pacific Northwest is limited in some country which is why we should search for a solution, like extracting salt out of seawater. Eventhough some country suffer from water crisis right now, many other don’t so they should use the situation in Kenya as a warning and start preparing for it.

This local problem does not matter to the rest of the world right now. In time, it will. But to the general population of the world at this exact moment in time? No. It does not matter. When the droughts they are experiencing in East Africa begin to affect the rest of us, we will be scared out of our minds and then - and only then - will it matter.

This problem definitely pertains to the rest of the world. Although Ethiopia is poorer than the US, it doesn’t mean that the US won’t be experiencing any climate change in the future and it doesn’t mean that problems like this could never happen in other countries. If one day a drastic climate change hits the United States that makes conditions as bad as or worse than they are in Ethiopia, we need to be prepared to handle these types of problems. Learning from how the Ethiopians are dealing with this crisis could help the United States prepare for in the event of something similar happening.

It does matter to the world, because this localized catastrophe is happening all over Africa. This article is talking about 100 people, but it is telling the story of 100 million. The rest of the world should step in and help because it affects so many people, but it should also matter to us because this could happen to us.

On the surface, this local problem could have absolutely no effect on the wider world, but when looking deeper, problems can be found. For one, this will burden the rest of the world and force countries to donate money or water to the ones in trouble. Also, the countries in drought may need to relocate their residents to wealthier countries. The water crisis could also be a sign of what is to come for drier areas all over the world.

Yes, this local problem matters to the wider world. Climate change is an oncoming threat, and the lack of rainfall now in Africa is prime proof of that. The water crisis can hit the US any time soon, and we need to be ready for it. The problem in Africa also shows that countries with large carbon footprints like America and Canada have to do something to prevent this; Africa has very little carbon emissions, yet they are the ones paying the consequences.

Yes, of course this local problem matters to everyone around the world. Global warming is happening everywhere, and Africa is showing the results of it sooner than the other continents, like North America. We must recognize that their problems now will become our problems in the future if we do not take action. Americans take water for granted but they know very little about the water crisis that is happening. For example, I had no idea how bad it was until this unit in school, which tells me that those who are educated and know about this crisis need to speak up louder and let their voices be heard. If they don’t, it will be countries like America who are suffering from crisis next.

The shortage of water that several East African countries are enduring today is not affecting the wider world at the moment, but it is guaranteed that in the coming years a greater conservation of water will enter the minds of most citizens in the world. For now, Africa is the area being put at greatest risk of global warming by a study done by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change even though they have contributed the least amount to the ongoing climate change. So although Africa is being hit with low levels of rainfall, drying wells, and climate change, they are the least guilty ones and it is truly unfortunate that this is the way the cards have been dealt.

This local problem definitely affects the wider world for three main reasons. The first reason is that Africa has the smallest carbon footprint, but they are the ones paying the consequences. We have the resources to help, and it the U.S. has had a huge carbon footprint, so it is vital that we lend a hand to these countries in need because it isn’t their fault for this crisis. The second reason is that we are all human beings and it is just moral and right to help them. It is unethical to stand by and watch someone else suffer. We need to help solve this problem because it is the right thing to do. The third reason is that just because we don’t currently have a water crisis, doesn’t mean one won’t start in the future. The world water crisis is only starting in Africa because the lack many resources, and they have many poor nations. Eventually this problem will spread and it is very important we stop this from becoming an even larger problem.

 This problem definitely matters to the wider world. Everybody should be concerned with the water shortage that is soon to effect more than just a few African countries. It may seem unimportant now, but in a little bit, America could be short on water as well. People all over the world need to begin conserving water in order to support the African countries in need, and also to prevent water shortages in other countries.

This local problem does matter to the wider world. This small event may seem somewhat insignificant to the larger, more broadcasted occurrences, but in reality this is like a warning or representation of what might take place at a later date to the wider world. This local problem happened partially because of the temperature rise caused by global warming. We, as the United States, has contributed to global warming and should, in turn, help fix the results of our actions.

It matters tremendously! What is going on in East Africa is causing war and death among their people. If this situation gets any worse, other countries in Africa could get involved and it would cause a huge political conflict. Also, the lack of water is being caused from global warming which the richer nations, like the US, are causing. If we don’t get our act together, Africa will suffer. If we continue to ignore global warming it will continue to spread and the challenges that are facing Africa will soon apply to the US. We don’t want to experience this intense drought so we need to stop global warming to not only save Africa, but to save the rest of the world.

It is beyond doubt that issues like this – drought and drought-fueled conflicts – should matter to the wider world. However localized these problems seem, they are both humanitarian issues and strong warning signs of what is happening to our planet. As director Aklilu warned, “What is happening in Africa today is a warning to the world.” Africa – the continent predicted to be most susceptible to climate change – almost seems like a canary in the global warming coalmine. It goes without saying that problems like these will, in one way or another, have repercussions worldwide, and richer nations would be wise to not just pay attention, but do what they can to assist the governments of effected nations solve and prevent these problems.

It is beyond doubt that issues like this – drought and drought-fueled conflicts – should matter to the wider world. However localized these problems seem, they are both humanitarian issues and strong warning signs of what is happening to our planet. As director Aklilu warned, “What is happening in Africa today is a warning to the world.” Africa – the continent predicted to be most susceptible to climate change – almost seems like a canary in the global warming coalmine. It goes without saying that problems like these will, in one way or another, have repercussions worldwide, and richer nations would be wise to not just pay attention, but do what they can to assist the governments of effected nations solve and prevent these problems.

This problem definitely affects the most of the wider world, except for countries like the U.S. and Canada. They do not face those problems themselves, so why should they care? Well they should. And with the current trend in global temperatures, it could very well be that soon countries like this will be affected, so they really should take action to prevent it.

It is extremely sad, that people are not even thinking about what people re going through because of the water crisis, and what they are facing. Even steping in thier shoes would help them, for just the sake of atleast being noticed, let alone being helped. I think it does not matter to the people around the world, because its not happending to them, weather its U.S or any other country. But when they will suffer, they will know. having money money, for a rich country is not going to help, cause when a natural resource can run out, then money is nothing in front of that.

Honestly, I do not think this local problem matters to the wider world. This water crisis only affects the countries that have it and not any other countries. The U.S may have a water crisis, but not anytime soon. In addition, if the U.S did have a water crisis, they have the money to make a purification system. Lastly, if the water crisis really did matter, the U.S would actually help the countries with the problem.

This “local problem” definitely matters to the rest of the world. Although it may seem like Africa is the only one being affected, it is not. First, the weather could change anywhere in the world and give them the same problems that are happening in this article. Also, like it said in the article, the areas that need water are areas that lease contribute to the polluting of our atmosphere. The problems that they are facing today are because of us. Finally, this issue boils down to the fact that many people are dying from something that we may be able to help them with. This is a world issue that is practically unknown, however it is a issue that needs to be dealt with now.

This problem matters to everyone in the world and not just the country where it is taking place. The people needing water in Africa are people who need help from the rest of the world, and everyone is a part of the world. If they receive help now, it could come back to help us later when they are healthy and successful If we do not help them, the problem could get much worse and end in hundreds of deaths that could have been prevented. Also, the quarrelling over water could rise to the level of a war in no time, leading to more global issues than we have right now.

Unless a foreign nation attempts reconciliation among the fighting countries, then this is not a global matter. As of now, the fighting is merely among groups of individuals and not the entire country; however, it could easily escalate to a fully armed war. The lake, as it diminishes in resources, increases in value: thereby making it worth fighting over–decreasing the resources even more. If no foreign groups interfere and do not arouse any suspicion as to support of a side, then this should theoretically stay a local matter.

This problem is without a doubt a problem on a greater scale. Wars in any part of the world effect everyone else, simply because it is humanity being lost over things that should be preventable. As a Catholic, and someone who is blessed with a plentiful water supply, I feel the world should make themselves better connected to these problems and have efforts to solve. Water scarcity that causes war is something that shouldn’t be happening.

This problem definitely matters to the wider world because the situation, if not taken care of, will turn into Eastern Africa but on a global scale. Wars have started over water supply in Africa already and this trend will soon be seen with the rest of the world because World War III is predicted to be started because of water scarcity. Our county’s frivolous water use is affecting the rest of the world and is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. With the right education and exposure of this problem, measures can be taken to achieve a better solution and slow the progression of water shortages.

This issue is definitely one to be recognized by the rest of the world. It matters a great deal, or rather it should, because when the issue gets so severe (as it is inevitably going to) who do you imagine the people of Africa are going to come to? They have already started to fight within their own borders, so what is to stop them from coming here. Likewise as pressing, is the fact we have so much water of which we under appreciate. That is going to lead to our own conflicts one day, even if it won’t in our lifetime. Pure water is a limited resource today. We have yet to come up with a proficient, fast acting and cheap way to purify all the water needed to sustain the life on our planet, so what we do have to spare, we need to give to those who really need it. Of course this problem should matter to the rest of the world. But does it? So many countries today, unfortunately including our own, take advantage of the water we have, and don’t seem to care about where that water could have been well utilized. The rest of the world does not seem to care, as it very well should.

Yes this problem matters a lot to the wider world. As a wealthier country, it is our responsibility to aid the other countries in need. If that is not enough, it comes down to a matter of humanitarianism. People care about others and are willing to help, so they get others involved to make a difference. We are able to donate water and supplies to help Africa to try and prevent conflict from erupting between the nations over the resources.

Yes, this problem does matter to the entire world. The industrial nations of the world have contributed to the problem of global warming, which has affected the water crisis in Africa. If this problem goes on any longer then it may not just be a local problem. If it is not corrected now then we will continue to make the same mistakes until all fresh water is scarce everywhere.

The water problem that exists in present day Africa and other 3rd world countries does matter to the wider world. It’s a matter of fear, guilt, and fright that makes us not want to help in my opinion. The element of fear comes from the idea that we as Americans or even people are fearful that what is going on in Africa is something that we could soon face, and thus we do not want to think about water being on the verge being gone. We’d like to think the positively, and not think about the bad things in this crisis. We are ourselves become guilty, and it prevents us from helping because if do try and help we could be seen as the “bad guys” that help back to not help in the first place and are just waiting till now to distinguish that help. Fright for us comes from the idea that maybe just maybe we try to help, others would think of us and become angry, and yet at the same time we want to meet others peoples needs. So to us it does matter, we care, we just don’t want to act on it because were scared of what other people may think, or we are just to busy in or lives to help do so.

While this local problem doesn’t really have much direct bearing in the wider world it is a big issue none-the-less. If steps toward intervention aren’t taken soon by the international community, then this problem could grow in size and put entire countries and peoples at risk. While this problem is currently localized to places like East Africa that might not always be the case. We must try to take preventative measures to help the East Africans and ensure that the problem does not get out of hand.

The problems in Africa do matter to the rest of the world. If something is not done soon then it might spread to the rest of the world and this isn’t something that I personally wish to deal with later on. If we try and do something now to conserve water for the rest of the world then we might just be able to prevent it from happening.

Yes, I think this problem does matter to the wider world, because it is showing how the lack of natural resources is destroying the unity of the nations. These continue to concern the government because the attacks could spread to other countries. The amount of livestock is also depleting, which means less food, this equals many deaths throughout Africa. This concerns people in the wider world because this place becomes less and less habitable because of the lack of water and food.

Of course this problem matters to the wider world. Although it may not directly affect us today, in a few years that may not be the case. Climate change may hit Africa the hardest, but will eventually affect us as well. It’s hard for me to sit back and use 90 gallons of water a day while people in Africa have to scrap for 5, and I know that other people feel the same way as I do. With some leadership and press exposure, this issue can be resolved if we come together as a nation.

Yes this problem matters to the world. This is because well-developed nations have caused the problem. Global warming is being speed up by pollution, which third world countries barely contribute to. The bigger countries need to help because they caused the droughts with pollution from their cars and factories. The problem can spread in the future if it isn’t taken care of quickly.

Of course this “local problem” matters to the wilder world! If water is becoming scarce in Africa, why shouldn’t water become scarce in the U.S. in years to come, too? How do we know that our country won’t be torn apart with civil war because there isn’t enough water to go around? The answer is: we don’t know. Any year now, we could start experiencing the same crisis as them.

I think this problem does matter to the wider world. Even though it doesn’t affect us, we still need to take action to help other countries that are in need. I don’t think we realize how good we have it here, and after reading this article my awareness of water scarcity around the world it a lot greater. It’s something that all of us need to be aware of and we need to find a way to help. With the increasing climate change, we never know when the US or any other country could be affected. We need to find a way to help before we’re all in jeopardy.

It may not directly affect the global world but it has several large implications. First is the fact that for possible the first time in history we are experiencing serious water problems not just a drought that we have to wait out but it has now come to the point that there is not enough water to support the population of this country. This also shows our how the global community responds to a crisis.

After reading this article, I realized how “spoiled” I am. While I am able to drink as much water as I want, other people in Africa are grateful for even a drop of water. I believe that this is a global issue even though it concerns only the certain areas. If those in Africa are having to deal with drought now, what will happen to the general world in the next century? I believe that this is something that the entire world should be concerned with right now; otherwise, there won’t be concern until it’s too late.

Im concerned about the amount of water that is in east Africa, im concerned because of global climate change that is affecting the Pastoralists who live in Africa. There life is being jeopardized by the changing climate.

I grew very concerned about the African people after I read this article. It saddened me that their animals were dying off and when I read that Africa was the continent at most risk for global warming I became even more concerned

It does matter to the wider world because if we don’t look at this as an example or heed the warnings that this shows us we could be next. With the increase of global climate change we dont know what nation could be effected next. Conflicts could break out anywhere in the world over good land for farming or for raising livestock. We can not just ignore conflicts between other nations because this could break out into a genocide that the world just cannot turn their backs on just because it is not happening to them next.

I think that in the long run it could affect the whole world, you never know what tomorrow brings. We as Americans need to help each other out as well as other nations.

I think the whole world should help eachother out.. Even though the United States economy is in debt doesn’t mean that we people can’t help. We take water for granted everyday when these people work just for maybe a glass or less. I think this should be worldwide because other countries need to stop worrying about themselves and take care of other countries.

I agree with Olivia P. that whether this local problems affects us or not, there needs to be some sort of action plan to help these people out. Almost every American has unlimited access to water, which most of us take for granted, and the least we can do is help these people who don’t have extra amounts of water to spare. Why should we get unlimitated water while others in Africa don’t.

You mentioned that “What is happening in Africa today is a warning to the world.” Do you think the effects of “Global Warming” in other continents will be as drastic as they are in Africa? Also, do you think the situation is as drastic as it is in Africa only because of the lack of resources necessary for survival or is it because of other factors?

Whether this local problem directly affects us or not isn’t particularly important; the fact is that there are millions of people without an adequate supply of water. The international community has a responsibility to intervene in times of crisis, and there should be more effort to get water to pastoralists. By sending in more people to help dig wells, distribute water, and keep peace, many of these conflicts can be avoided.

Everyone should agree that this does matter on a global level. Water is a basic resource which we need to live. The fact that people don’t have have it and can’t afford it is horrible. in fact the U.N. should appropriate the funds to build desalinization plants to filter the salt out of ocean water making cheap and easy water source for countries in need.

If there are rivers and lakes drying up we need to take initive so this wont happened here !! since this is not happening right now at this moment most people feel its doesnt affect us but in reality it a big problem and may effect us sonner than they think.

I think this is a huge issue in our world, just not many people have realized it yet or even know this is going on. I think once everybody knows this is happening over there the U.S or someone will take more action in trying to fix this problem

I believe this problem does matter to the wider world. Maybe at the moment people dont realize the impact this could potentially have, but in order to prevent the consequences we should begin taking reprecautions.

Most people would say no it doesn’t matter to the world because it’s not happening to them. But what people fail to realize is that this problem will soon affect all of us and not just one area.

Most people don’t really know about the problem, so they don’t really care. If more people learned about it then they would take more intrest in it. I think this problem should be an issue to the entire world because these weather patters could affect other parts of the world later.

If a lake or a river can dissapear in Africa it will eventually happen here. We need to start taking initiative to preventit now.

Local tribes are fighting over resources and using weapons they were given. Instead of using them for protecting their livestock from predators. The fact that they are fighting for resources is the same as more modern countries fighting over resources, the only difference is the water and we’re fighting for oil. The current problem in Africa could eventually become another source for war elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the problem in Africa does not matter very much to the wider world. It should, but in the world today if something isn’t afftecting someone personally, then the problem doesn’t matter to them.

to think that the water supply for many different people, a water supply such as a lake, can just disappear. It’s mind-boggling and it concerns me. Have we started thinking about what we will do if and when this happens? How will we ensure that all these people meet their vital needs? [...]

I never realized the severity of this natural resource situation. I knew that they were scarce but I never realized that borderline civil wars would erupt due to them. As far as climate change goes it is not only our responsibility because we can help but because it is a lot of our fault with all of out fossil fuel usage. We do these things and dont even think about the consequences mainly because they are not happening to us

We thought it was interesting that Africans contribute the least amount of greenhouse gases yet are the most affected by it. The U.S. and other countries need to me more aware of our impact on the rest of the world and take action.

Water matters only to the poor third world countries, just becausse they lack the resources and the money to moved forward

Currently I do not think that this problem derectly affects most other countries. However I think that this problem will eventually affect nearly everyone. This article is not just showing the problems of Africa but the problems the whole world will soon have to face.

Currently, the local problems of Africa are probably unknown to most of the wider world. Because the effects of climate change are not as dramatic in our lives, these problems seem to go unnoticed. If we want to solve these problems, we must make people aware of the effect they have on the world.

Does it matter to the wider world? To some yes, and to most, no…..but SHOULD it matter to the wider world? Yes, because I think these droughts will eventually break out of the boundaries of Africa and begin to affect neighboring continents.

Unfortunately, water scarcity probably doesn’t matter to the wider world because it doesn’t affect them directly. The majority of people don’t care until something happens to them locally. It needs to matter if anything is to be done about it though. However, this could hopefully be changed by increasing media coverage of this problem.

The more I read about the issue, the more I feel like it may very well even be the West’s fault. The phenomenon of Global Warming is new, but it can be tracked when we first started to industrialize here in the West. The pollution, the hazards, the greenhouse gases, all of this affects the climate in massive ways. I can see the weather changing here in St. Louis, with warmer winters and blasts of storms few and far in between.

And our pollution and our enviornmental irresponsibility may be affecting those in Africa. It’s a far-fetched idea, but it is GLOBAL warming. Our enviornmental irresponsibilty of the past has affected an already dry region, and is now contributing to the droughts and lack of water in Africa.

Therefore, the “local problem”, to understate the situation, should matter to everyone, especially us. With their decrease of water, our entire world decreases in water. With their decrease in water, their countries decrease in agricultural exports, making them even more poor. It is a vicious cycle that needs tobe broken by economic support with water and by new enviormentally friendly industries across the world.

Right now, the majority of the world doesn’t even realize that there is a major problem. By creating websites like this where stories can be shared and West County students can see the real issues in life, more and more people are educated.

Generally, we think that problems this far away are not of high priority for people around us. We think that they should be held at higher priorities, but that people are more concerned with their own welfare. We cannot continue to ignore this problem, because if something were to happen to us, we would certainly not want to be ignored.

Does it matter at the moment? Probably not, but it should. This is not just tribal conflict that will stay in Africa, it is a climate change that will affect the whole world.

This problem definately affects the wider world because if these problems are occuring in other nations, there is no gaurantee that it will not spread all over the world. In addition, if the struggle to obtain water becomes violent, other nations will have to intervene. Also, countries like the United States that do not think of water as being a finite resource will run into problems in the future.

This local problem definitely matters to the wider world because the drought that is causing the water scarcity is caused by global warming in general, which is caused by everyone, especially the industrialized nations. And once the countries that have little water begin to have no water at all, the problem will continue with less and less drinkable water available to everyone.

I believe that this local problem should matter becuase if wars are raging now becuase of water imagine if more droughts occur and an entire country were to go to war for water. If it were Europe or some part of Europe, the United States would find some way to intervene, Africa should be no different.

I think that more people are worried about what is going on in their local area and are ignorant to the problems in the rest of the world. If it doesn’t affect them, then it doesn’t matter.

I think because we are so connected in modern society that it does have an impact oon the outside world. My concern is that if this is happening due to excessive drought, how do we have the power to fix it??

I think if drinkable water is a finite resource then there is definitely reason for concern on a global scale.

I think it has to matter to the wider world. Economies and societies around the world are becoming globalized, connected.

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This problem definitely affects the wider world because if these problems are occurring in other nations, it could spread all over the world. In addition, if the struggle to obtain water becomes violent, other nations will have to intervene. Also, countries like the United States that do not think of water as being a resource that will run into problems in the future.

How often do countries donate water to you?

You mentioned that “What is happening in Africa today is a warning to the world.” Do you think the effects of “Global Warming” in other continents will be as drastic as they are in Africa? Also, do you think the situation is as drastic as it is in Africa only because of the lack of resources necessary for survival or is it because of other factors?

Do children work at these “singing wells” also? If so, how does that affect their education? Is there days built into the school schedule that allow for such abscences that are so necassary for the survival of families?

Yes there are fish farms in areas close to our city. Many people will also catch fish out of the lakes and rivers, but they throw them back in the water a lot of times. There really aren’t any water shortages.

Is 1 dollar a days pay a normal amount or is that shortened, and how is the economy surviving this?

Would conserving water here in the united states make water in Africa any more available or any more affordable? If yes, to what degree?

Is America consistently confronted with African climate change on a regular basis?

With the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ report, what do the other half who live on less than $1 a day depend upon instead of livestock?

What do Africans want other countries to do to help them with their water crisis, since money might not bring water to the area?

How is the government of the affected countries dealing with the drought problems?

If we work on conserving water in the United States, will it have any effect on water in Africa? Do we get water from the same source at all?

What is the livestock used for? To sell or to eat?

How can it be solved?

Is the United States Government even recognizing this problem?

After reporting on water challenges is this region do you have some solutions to offer?

Do you people rear fish in your city and how do they deal with water shortages?