Self-sufficient, off-the-grid housing.

An earthship is a building that not only provides shelter, but produces heating, electricity and drinking water, cleans waste water and provides food as well!

The brainchild of architect and innovator, Michael Reynolds, these buildings have been appearing for more than three decades, many from recycled material. While others see “waste”, Michael sees raw materials for sustainable living – structures that might someday shelter large numbers of people. Earthships are now in all fifty US states and around the world. Mike says that these Earthships are not only homes but symbolic ships that sail on the seas of tomorrow.

Mike has built earthships in disaster areas where water has been scarce, teaching local engineers the skills to build their own.

Earthships from whatis waste on Vimeo.

Stockholm 23 September 2009. In an interview for Swedish Television’s Climate blog, Professor Kjell Aleklett, professor at Uppsala University, claims that the current maximum production level of oil that has been reached will drastically affect world food provision systems. Rapid transition torenewable fuels in agriculturals and a move from oil dependency is required of we are to feed the growing population. For those of you who know Swedish, see this  link.

Professor Aleklett’s statement comes as his department publishes a study entitled ”Can agriculture provide us with both food and fuel?”.

To hear more of his views on oil and food, read his blog post “our oily food”.

This blog has often taken up the issue of the way climate change is impacting food security. Now the turn has come to prestigious wine growing districts in France. Champagne makers are calling for their government to push for a strong global agreement at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen in December. They warn that

failure to cut greenhouse gases will devastate the  sector.

Thanks to the New York Times for the story

New York Times, September 12, 2009: Tests on tap water in The US city of Charleston, West Virginia reveal it contains arsenic, barium, lead, manganese and other chemicals at concentrations federal regulators say could contribute to cancer and damage the kidneys and nervous system. The situation is so bad that residents have stopped showering, and avoid all contact with the water.

Those who do come into contact with the water cover their skin with lotion afterwards to avoid painful rashes.

Research done by the newspaper  shows that an estimated one in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals or fails to meet a federal health benchmark in other ways.

“How can we get digital cable and Internet in our homes, but not clean water?”

says Mrs. Hall-Massey, resident and a senior accountant at one of the state’s largest banks.

Read more at the New York Times website.

The story illustrates that the modern technical society shares the challenges of providing water in a secure way with developing countries.

(Image courtesy COP 15) The picture shows Europe’s predicted reductions in river flow 2071 -21000 compared to 1961-1990. As Europe is expecting an increase in population and more expensive fossil fuels this does not look good for food security.

In the run-up to the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen it is appropriate to ask questions about how World food security will be affected by climate change, especially if the current net increase to CO2 levels in the atmosphere is allowed to increase. In 2008 the IPPC published this report on the likely effects of climate change on water and thereby agriculture. Recommended reading if you have a technical interest!

Carrying water long distances on a bucket on your head is what many women around the world do daily. The water Hippo, named after the bulbous animal, takes the weight off by providing a way to roll the water instead. This task can even be done by a child.

Read more on the Danish Index awards site.

Maybe not world-shattering news in itself – many would say kicking the sugar habit is probably good for you  – but the current worldwide shortage of sugar may be a forerunner of what is to come with other foodstuff shortages. From this point of view the current situation makes a fascinating study.

1) The effect on prices and therby the effect on food security

2) How the diversion of foodstuffs to make fuel accelerates shortages

3) The effect of climate system breakdown on food production

4) Public reaction

The price of raw sugar worldwide has increased to its highest level since 1981, as supply concerns grow. The Indian government has introduced strict limits on companies that stockpile sugar to check rising prices. In Pakistan, the government nearly doubled sugar prices causing public outrage ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan, which has now begun.

Global sugar prices have been pushed up by growing demand in Brazil for sugar to be turned into ethanol for vehicle fuel, and a sharp fall in production in India, the world’s largest sugar consumer.

The news just illustrates the importance of looking for positive initiatives to create food security in an increasingly unstable situation.

Read more on BBC NEWS Website.

“It’s the first time in human history that we have so many hungry people in the world,”

- aid FAO spokesman Kostas Stamoulis, director of the organisation’s development department.

The economic downturn and persistently high food prices have brought about this hunger crisis.

At the same time, quoted in an article on BBC NEWS, The director general of the FAO said the level of hunger, one-sixth of the world’s population, posed a “serious risk” to world peace and security.

“The silent hunger crisis – affecting one-sixth of all of humanity – poses a serious risk for world peace and security,” said Jacques Diouf.

FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations responsible for increasing world food security.

See the latest figures on WORLDOMETERS.INFO

The Water and Food Award is pleased to announce our database for requests for assistance is now online.

The Award aims to bring the power of social networking to helping water and food award projects around the world by bringing experts such as universities and NGOs, together with sponsors and projects together directly.

Applicants simply post their requests into the database, which can then be reviewed by our other stakeholders.

The database even offers each applicant a free blog service to update progress of their project. The award will use this information in its newsletter to keep everyone updated of progress.

Our hope is that a water and food project somewhere in the world, one of our applicants, needs advice on something like improving productivity, pest control, or commercialization. Our sponsors and other stakeholder review the project’s request, and are able to respond to help out without delay.

We envision our stakeholders being able to assist with products, knowledge, experts, and even financial assistance.

Requests to open an account are now being received

We will be e-mailing all applicants and sponsors in the coming weeks to invite them to open an account in the database. If you would like an account already now, please contact Application Manager Stephen Hinton at sh (at) waterandfoodaward(dot)org.

We encourage you to get involved in the UN’s World Food Day on 16th of October this year to bring a positive response to the growing need to ensure all are fed and well-nourished.