WATER: The Blood of the Earth - Exploring Sustainable Water Management for the New Millennium [Paperback]

Allerd Stikker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007

"Allerd Stikker has always reminded me of Alexis de Tocqueville, who would have chosen to study the problem surrounding water rather than the American democracy. He has the same insatiable curiosity, the same energy, same passion, same ease in mixing analysis with intuition, the capacity to draw together different cultures, the same capacity to listen and to dialogue with those who reason from different starting blocks. "Water, the Blood of the Earth is the outcome of reflection and action of a cosmopolitan who has remained loyal to his native land, mixing some European thinking of the Age of Enlightenment with some futuristic viewpoints." -Charles Louis de Maudhuy, advisor to the chairman, Veolia Water "Lack of access to clean and sufficient water in many parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa, will be a major issue in the coming decades. "This book presents an overall view on the diversity of problems and solutions, based on the author's involvement in water-related projects. Over the course of the years I have followed some of these projects with interest; they inspire us to take concrete actions." -Antony Burgmans, former chairman, Unilever "In this book Allerd describes his convincing views on desalination solutions for local and urban clean water shortages as well as his deeply felt findings on the spiritual meanings of water, all assembled on a 20 years' journey on which I was lucky to travel along." -Leonor Lindner ALLERD STIKKER is a retired industrialist with an engineering degree from Delft Technical University and a postgraduate degree in theology from Leeds University. He is chairman and founder of the Ecological Management Foundation (www.emf.nl), a nonprofit organization focusing on the ecological dimension in business strategy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Cosimo Books (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602067198
• ISBN-13: 978-1602067196
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,552,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solving the looming water crisis with innovation, December 2, 2007

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This review is from: WATER: The Blood of the Earth - Exploring Sustainable Water Management for the New Millennium (Paperback)

Allerd Stikker describes in detail what a person can achieve motivated to solve the looming shortages of water. He shows that macro and micro solutions are definitely within reach. Macro solutions are about developing desalination technologies that do not use energy intensive processes. Many of the mega cities of the future are close to the sea. It appears to be impossible to satisfy their water requirements using river water. Therefore desalination is the only solution. Micro solutions are innovative solutions that combined with micro credit are affordable anywhere also in poor countries. It is remarkably difficult to make rapid progress. The book describes several projects to illustrate why. Many solutions require the involvement of many organisations all with their own ideas on how to proceed.
It is surprising that private sector companies have not been more active. One obstacle is that many people and governments believe that water should be free like air. Water is different from air. Water availability requires investments at the macro level, in water treatment and production facilities but also in education and distribution. To make rapid progress requires that people accept to pay for water use.
Allerd Stikker was also motivated by his spiritual interest especially in Taoism. He describes how in 1985 his water awareness started with Taoism when he made an environmental study in Taiwan. In 2007 he attended a workshop in a newly restored Taoist temple in mainland China where the "Quinling Declaration" was signed stating that Harmony between Heaven, Earth and Humanity is the highest aim of Taoists. Allerd Stikker played an important role in sponsoring the restoration and the focus on sustainable development.
He finishes the book with an inspiring sentence looking at the sea, "Seeing water, being water, I feel part of Creation. I am not alone."