In Print
Global Water Issues explores the political, social, and economic challenges presented by threats to earth’s most precious resource. Starting with a foreword by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero, this compendium of articles describes the links between water, health, climate change, and food security. It explains that changes must be made in farming practices, aquaculture, sanitation, and water management to address the fact that the global well of water is starting to go dry and the accessible supply of fresh water is running short. Global Water Issues offers hope for a more water-secure future and suggests needed changes in policy, infrastructure, and behavior.
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report 2012
The latest FAO publication, The State of Fisheries and Aquaculture, highlights the sector’s global importance to food security, nutrition, and the economy. The report urges governments to make efforts to ensure that fisheries around the world are sustainable, and it notes that many of the marine fish stocks being monitored remain under great pressure. Small-scale fisheries employ more than 90 percent of the world's capture fishers and are vital to food security and poverty prevention. The FAO Committee on Fisheries has recommended developing international voluntary guidelines to contribute to policy development, secure small-scale fisheries, and create benefits.
Online
Akvo, the Dutch non-profit foundation that helps connect donors and projects in the developing world, has created Akvopedia, an open water and sanitation resource much like Wikipedia. Akvopedia contains five portals: water, sanitation, approaches, organizations, and finance. Akvopedia currently contains over 700 articles in English, with a well-developed sanitation portal. There is hope that users will fully develop each portal. The goal of Akvopedia is to improve water and sanitation projects through knowledge exchange on smart and affordable technical solutions and effective approaches. Akvo is known for its open source platform that helps users track progress and funding in five focus areas: water and sanitation, education, economic development, healthcare and IT, and development.
Food Security and Nutrition Network – Resource Library: Water and Sanitation
The Food Security and Nutrition Network resource library offers downloadable guides, tools, and training materials on many different program areas, including water and sanitation. Recommended materials can be browsed by topic, date, popularity, and rating by portal members. The library also offers information to task forces and interest groups on a number of topics, including agriculture, food security, gender, nutrition, and behavior change. The network always welcomes submissions and encourages collaboration among peers.
On Video
Climate Change Adaptation for Tanzania’s Coastal Villages
In the Coastal Resources Center’s series of short videos, different approaches to managing the impacts of climate change in coastal cities are studied. Included in this video is the PWANI program in Tanzania, which means "coast" in Swahili. This program is working to assess local impacts of climate change and identify ways communities can adapt by using their own resources and knowledge. The community formed climate change committees that go through vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning training. Committees then assess climate threats, identify local assets susceptible to climate change, and evaluate the ability of each village to implement different adaptive measures at a low cost.
Ocean advocate Céline Cousteau and cartoonist Jim Toomey teamed up with the World Resources Institute to create the short animated film, Coral Reefs: Polyps in Peril. It tells the story of coral reefs, known as the cradle of life in the ocean, with humor and admiration for these incredible ecosystems. Viewers learn how the unique biology of coral reefs protect communities and fish, provide medicine and supplements to people around the world, and promote tourism. However, there are serious problems that threaten their existence: overfishing, ocean acidification, pollution, and climate change. The film also explores what individuals can do to help save coral reefs, including consuming sustainable seafood, lowering their CO2 footprint, and supporting marine protected areas.
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