Sustainable Water Supply and Demand

Our access to fresh water in the western world is something we too often take for granted, this must not continue.

Alarmingly, only 2.8% of our planets water supply is fresh water, of which the drinkable percentage is even less. Conserving this remaining 2.8% is vital – not only for the physiology of the planet but for human survival, which ceases to exist without fresh water.

Sadly, there are various problems associated with water supply and demand. These can be categorized into ‘human‘ and ‘physical‘ factors such as increasing demographics and global warming. They can be further subdivided into economic and regional factors. Hence these issues, a series of arguable solutions have been proposed.

In an attempt to forge a sustainable water supply China built ‘The Three Gorges Dam’ in 2012. It became the largest hydroelectric (supposedly ‘environmentally friendly’) scheme in the world, generating thousands of megawatts to meet the demand of China’s growing population. It also has long and short term socioeconomic benefits, supplying 10% of China’s electricity and creating employment. Conversely it has many negatives; 12,000 cultural and archaeological sites were demolished for the dam to be built. It also flooded 13 cities and 140 towns. Despite the governments promise of compensation for peoples livelihood loss, families are still living in makeshift accommodation or alternative basic living areas. This caused both political tension and social unrest, so arguably was not politically or socially sustainable. The dam also set China’s economy back by $29 billion. Furthermore, if one error occurs in the dam it could collapse the whole system. If the dam were to flood there would be severe socio-environmental consequences. These include health risks, loss of crop yields and damage to ecosystems. The dam will also need constant maintenance costing more money and nearly 7000mg watts of the electricity produced by the dam is wasted, suggesting it is not economically or environmentally sustainable long term.

‘Grey Water’ is another potential solution. It involves the recycling of water and storing it beneath houses in pipes. Water is recycled from appliances such as baths and sinks, subsequently it is reused for tasks such as watering plants; it could be considered environmentally friendly to some extent. They could also be implemented on a larger scale in countries such as France, where nuclear energy is dominant; grey water could be used to produce steam at the power plants. For MEDCS the systems are easy to access, they can be bought online for approximately $118, this seems reasonably cheap for the amount of water that can be recycled (people will also get more for there money on water rates if they recycle the water they pay for) and the systems can store up to 5000l of water per day. However there are draw backs:Grey Water can only be stored for up to 24 hours. Additionally the system can only recycle from certain appliances which do not produce ‘black water’ such as toilets. Additionally, if there were an error in the system black water may escape and releases toxins into the environment (environmentally unsustainable.) Largely LEDCS may not have the housing structure, economic funding or technological (internet) access to implement this strategy. This implies it is a regionally rather than a globally suitable scheme.

Perhaps another way forward may be the use of ‘Virtual Water.’ This strategy occurs through the trading of water dependent goods from water abundant countries to water stressed countries; the countries which face water stress then reduce strain on their natural resources by not using it to produce products (such as grain for instance). This suggests it is an environmentally sustainable tactic. In 2000 Egypt imported 8 million tonnes of grain and saved 8.5 million m3 of water. However, although this benefits MEDCS economically and reduces strain on environmental resources, it may strain economic resources within LEDCS. Due to the ‘Development Gap’ they may not be able to keep up the payment demands of the trades. Unfortunately, yet another scheme seems regionally sustainable rather than globally. Furthermore as suggested in Franks Dependency Theory, it may increase LEDCS dependency on funding from MEDCS, stunting economic development. Simultaneously, MEDCS such as Australia would also suffer in periods of drought with the excess use of their water recourse to produce trade goods; this could have negative socio-environmental implications, with the strain of natural water resources and the limits it would put on the populations water consumption. On the plus side, this could be managed with water conservation schemes. However, a drought would create a domino affect by impacting the countries reliant on Australia as a water resource.

Overall it seems that the proposed solutions are sustainable on a regional scale rather than a global scale. Majoritively, MEDCS put economic initiatives before environmental ones. Where water is abundant in MEDCS it is wasted (eg the water features of Las Vegas) while still under great stress in various regions. Arguably, the most powerful solution would be to change the attitudes of people. Implementing higher rates on water may persuade people to use their water more sustainably. This has been a successful strategy in parts of Australia. Educating people on the importance of sustaining water and how they can do this ( eg one most of us know: simply turning off taps while brushing teeth) may also be a socially successful tactic.

Girl Online On Tour Review.

For me Girl Online On Tour was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed the stories sense of adventure, with settings from Paris to Rome.

The characters had such individual personalities (Elliot was hilariously sassy) and they bounced off each other convincingly.

The themes of identity, relationships and anxiety are also very socially relevant; making the novel both current and even relatable to an extent.

Although the ending was a cliff hanger, in this case I actually enjoyed its ambiguity. As a reader it allowed me freedom to interpret what happened next…*Penny and Noah lived happily ever after, the end.*

Overall, the novel is an emotional roller coaster; it made me laugh and cry. It’s also a great one to read if you’re in need of a little comical comfort.

‘Our story is only just beginning.’ – Penny Porter

Pray For Paris. Pray For Lebanon. Pray For The Syrian Refugees.

Prayer must coincide with the action that should be taken; although not in the form of conflict. War will not kill war. Please act with kindness by donating if you can to the countries who will need our help at this time. Then you actively make a difference. Consider that those involved in the refugee crisis are a greater number of innocent than guilty. Let them in.

‘You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty’ – Mahatma Gandhi

My Trip To Italy.

In 2013 I had the most wonderful traveling experience of my life: Italy. Although the journey from the UK took a bunch of my friends and I around 22 hours it was 100% worth while. It went something like this: 4 hours coaching it to dover, 2 hours ferrying across the boarder to Calais  and then hours more driving through the flat roads of France until we reached Switzerland. All I can say for Switzerland is “Holy Moses” the mountains are just sublime! I have a vague recollection of where I was along a bending road when I could see the outline of the alps in the distance; they stood together, reaching for the sky. It was superb! Finally after a sleepless night of travel, dawn began to break and we were nearing Italy. Eventually we set ‘bus wheel’ on Italian soil and continued through Tuscany, dismounting in the gorgeous city of Florence.

Hence checking into our quaint hotel, my friends and I set off to see the Cathedral of ‘Santa Maria Del Fiore.’ Out side the Cathedral, its towering white walls revealed intricate designs of gargoyles, paintings and statues of Our Lady. Inside was lit by candle light as the soft buzzing of Italian hymns echoed; it felt truly peaceful. After that time was made for all things yummy! Especially Italian ‘gelato.‘

After two fantastic days in Florence, we set off for the heart of Italy; Rome. Rome in every sense of the word is magnificent (or should I say “magnifico”). Never have I seen anything to compare with it’s landmarks. In the heat of day, you can feel the hussle and bussle of city life; people have stuff to sell and places to see. One of the great things about Rome is the amount of sight seeing possible in just one day. After catching several tubes, my friends and I made it to the Coliseum. Its stature was gigantic. That and its sheer circumference were almost a miracle. Especially when considering (although the worlds most innovative at the time) past Roman technology. As I queued and entered amidst the crowds of tourists, I almost felt like I was a spectator of ancient Rome, anticipating the gladiators.

Visiting the Vatican left me in awe. I would recommend a tour to anybody. The Vatican is pivotal to the culture of Rome. Although very long (mainly because the Romans liked to build everything ginormously) the tours are informative and you learn a lot about the history of the holy city. Ironically, there must have been enough gold in there to feed several countries. Nevertheless, to visit the Citta Del Vaticano is a rewarding and unforgettable experience.

Rome by night is just thrilling. Headed for the Piazza Navona; we experienced a rather hectic bus ride…There’s a time and a place for certain tales. Now; at night the cities lights are star like and from the Piazza you can see EVERYTHING.

The Spanish Steps are also another cultural treat. The tall steps ascend from the Piazza di Spagna to the sixteenth century church ‘Trinità dei Monti.’ They’re worth the clime, magnificent views reside at their peak; looking down from them is also a rewarding site (mainly because you’ve managed to make it up).

Concealed in the cobbled streets is an absolute treasure of Rome; the Trevi Fountain. This had been one of my most anticipated sites next to the Coliseum. The fountain is built behind the Renaissance palace. The legend behind the Trevi Fountain makes it’s aqua blue water seem all the more magical; throwing a coin into the fountain is said to assure your return to Rome…So I had to be on the safe side.

My Trip To Italy: To be continued. Next I’ll be posting about my adventures in Assisi and Lake Garda.

Job Interview Help

On the day of my job interview I’ll admit it felt nerve wracking. It was only my second job interview and fortunately I got the job. I was particularly apprehensive before hand thinking “What are they going to ask me?” To reassure you; it seems to me that standard interviews are fairly formulaic. Here are some questions you may be asked (particularly if you’re going to be working in an interpersonal environment!)

1) How would you describe yourself? If you’re applying for a job working with customer’s your interviewer will be hoping that you are somewhere along the lines of friendly, confident and approachable! If you’re potentially going to be working with customers or as part of a team, make sure that you show you’re a people person. This approach will suggest you have great interpersonal skills.

2) Have you had any previous experience? Try to be tactful in this answer. You may never have even had an official job before. If so, make a beeline for a few words to this effect “relevant work experience I have includes…” If you’ve got some clearly relevant experience up your sleeve already then *high five.*  This will obviously include a previous job or voluntary work.  Conversely if not, don’t stress! Focus on your interests or hobbies. Discuss traits you’ve developed through said interest that may be relevant to the job role. You can then dance through the interview process being yourself. Bare in mind not to go linking in traits like crazy… For example don’t say ‘I love Harry Potter so I can summon products for customers via accio.’ *Laughs at own sad joke and moves onto question 3*

3) What do you know about the company? Responding to this question will be a piece of cake with a little research before hand! Simply search for the company website; look up simple things like when the company began, who founded it and where they are based. This could go a long way. Throw in a bit of knowledge about the products sold by the company if possible. Having a favorite product of the companies to discuss briefly may also make you seem more invested in them.

4) Why do you want the job?
You can get all sorts of information about a companies ethos, goals and mission statement on their website. Show your enthusiasm for the company; impress your interviewer by talking about how you believe in the mission statement and company objectives. You may also want to take this opportunity and say why you believe that you are perfect for the job.

5) What is the most important part of being in a team?/ Do you work well in a team.
For me the most important part of being in a team is communication. This will promote clarity throughout the team; in turn making the team more harmonious and efficient. Naturally your employer will want you to work well in team. Hopefully you will say ‘absolutely!’ Suggest that you thrive working within a team and also independently.

6) You may also be questioned on how you would act in a given situation.
Generally your interviewer will want you to remain calm,collected and customer focused. If you then believe in that situation a managers presence would be necessary, simply answer honestly. If you need to take a pause, then go with your gut.

7) If you could be any animal what would you be and why? Ah yes, the question at which you get to chit chat about a chiwawa because it’s your favorite animal… NO HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! This question is very deliberate, it’s not just about having a little fun. The interviewer is being ever so ‘Sherlockesque’ and detecting clues about your persona. Let me explain; you’re being tested on your team work and independence instincts. Go with animals such as lions or wolves, because they are not only strong in a pack but alone too. Hitting this nail on the head will also suggest to your interviewer that you are mentally switched on.

Finally, if you’re worried about what to wear to an interview then I’d just suggest that you wear something comfortable, presentable and appropriate. Don’t leave room for thinking you’ve gone over board. This may help to minimise preinterview stress a notch. Ultimately your personality is the most important thing so be yourself.

‘Be yourself, everyone else is already taken‘- Oscar Wilde
‘Variety’s the very the spice of life, that gives it all the flavour’- William Cowper

Being Positive.

I want to make a change.

I’ve decided to set my self a challenge to stay positive everyday for one week. This idea was inspired by a YouTuber recently. I think it’d be a healthy challenge to embark on. Now I don’t mean healthy in the sense of ‘healthy eating’ (although that’s great and totally go for it if ya wanna!) I mean healthy in the sense of mindfulness or thinking positively.

Lately, I realise that I’m not so much the positive and bubbly person that I’ve always considered myself to be. Equally, I realise I need to do something about that. So, I’m going to give my mind some positive TLC.

I’m not going to go crazy with this challenge because I believe there is a fine line between effort and forcefulness; I’m just going to try it for a week by looking for the happiness in others and seeing for myself the things that I have to be glad about. So let’s coin this the ‘glad game’ like in Pollyanna… and if you know the film I’m talking about then high five! (Love it.)

I guess now is a good time to mention some things I personally have to be glad about(please feel free to comment what makes you glad too!)
1. I’m glad that I have a family who love me, that is a blessing in life.
2. I’m glad I have the opportunity to learn and work towards achieving a goal… Some people don’t have that, so let’s not waste our opportunities.

Speaking of opportunities, I feel that if I’m lucky enough to get them I should work on my confidence and take them. So as part of this challenge I want to:
1. Become more confident in myself and my abilities
2. Become more organised (particularly with my currently fairly unkept bedroom)

… Speaking of bedrooms, ya’ know, the places where we sleep…I really need to get a better sleeping pattern haha. Sleep is something I know I take for granted. Consequently I sleep late and waste a day where I could be doing something worth while! It’s really easy to fall out of a routine. Especially in the summer holidays, (Netflix we blame you) but I hope that a steady sleeping pattern will help me to feel more refreshed: both physically and mentally.

This may seem a bit of a ramble but my brain is getting excited so my ideas are jumbling out a little… Basically as I said, I want to make a change! This is my attempt at what I feel would be productive/positive. I think its a good time to set you a challenge too, it’s optional but you might enjoy yourself if you fancy trying it out:

Part 1) play the ‘glad game’ and part 2) think of ANYTHING that you wish to achieve this week to help you feel more positive. 🙂

Ttfn, Lucy xx

P.S. “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things he has not, but rejoices for those which he has”- Epictetus

Taking a Gap Year.

You may remember from my last post that I discussed the ‘what do I want to be when I’m older?’ question. Well, today I’m here to talk about taking a gap year.

I’ve recently decided to take a gap year before university for various reasons. One of the main reasons being; I don’t think I feel ready to go to university just yet.

At the moment it seems that there is so much pressure on teenagers to go to university; but what if like me, you don’t feel quite ready for it yet? Well, dont worry, you don’t really have to be. You can take your time and and go along at your own pace.
This is one of the reasons a gap year appeals to me right now. University is a definite ambition of mine and the thought of it still excites me! I am planning to be there myself this time next year. But there are a few little things I want to do first.

It seems to me that there are many potential experiences to be gained through a gap year; here is a list of a few ideas which I hope are helpful if you’re looking for any:

Travelling – Perhaps this could be the one for you! Many people who have travelled talk about how thrilling and informative it is to experience new places and ways of life in different cultures. Although the cons of travelling include it’s cost because of course it can be very expensive. Conversely there are more economic ways to travel possibly such as travelling to destinations in your own region.

Volunteering- This could be a fantastic way to change someones life for the better! When some of my school friends went on a voluntary trip to Lourdes they talked about how rewarding it was to be able to give something back to and help so many people out! But of course there are other ways to contribute to charity depending on your preference.

Job- Maybe, some of you like the idea of working and making some money to acquire a few things as well as work experience before university. Although this is by no means always the case, it seems that so often these days employers only wish to hire those with previous work experience; this could also potentially help you out with getting a job while at university! However even if you’ve never been employed before it does NOT mean you wouldn’t be just as good or have less to offer than someone who has been employed before uni!

Those are just a couple of ideas :-). I’m sure there are still plenty out there that you can have a good look at if you need a bit more advice so don’t panic!

Once again I hope this has helped some of you think a little bit about what you want to do; whether that involves taking a gap year or not. So many of my friends who have already been to university thoroughly enjoy it and went into it straight after school! So don’t be put off, but don’t be forced into it if you know you’re not ready yet, it doesn’t mean at all that you never will be!

Ttfn, Lucy 🙂

P.S. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – Confucius

What do I want to be when i’m older?

I’m Lucy, hello!

So I’m here to talk about a pretty important topic; ‘What do I want to be when I’m older?’

If you’re like many of my friends who already know the answer to this question; so for example like them you want to be a presenter, a teacher, a nurse or a lawyer…or the future prime minister; that’s great! And I wish you every success.

However, if you’re a bit more similar to myself…maybe you’re ‘approaching university with no clue’ about what you want to do regarding a potential career. Growing up, like everyone else, I’ve had ideas about what I’ve wanted to do with my life. For example, when I was little I discovered I loved animals, so naturally I wanted to be a vet. Unfortunately, through experience… I have discovered that I’m not exactly what you’d call ‘compatible’ shall we say, with the more ‘sciencey’ subjects… But what can ya’ do?

Personally , finding out what I want to do when I’m older is proving to be fairly tough; if you’re reading this you might agree with me because… It’s a pretty big deal, right?

Although, between the shades of black and white, I do see some grey I suppose. What I mean by this is, although I have no definitive answer for what I want to do… I know what I like doing, reading and writing. I’ve always enjoyed this, even as a kid I would read and write stories. In fact, I’m rather enjoying jotting down this blog post in all honesty.

Upon receiving my A level results, it seems that I will soon be off to university to study English Literature. On one hand you might think this is good news for me… I myself  however , have been slightly worried. Let me ‘summarize’; “Although I’m supposed to be doing this course in university, is it really the right decision? From this how do I decide on the right career for me? Shall I become a writer? Would that work out? A teacher? Am I cut out for for that?” These questions often pop into my mind and I just don’t have an answer for them right now.

Strangely as I’ve literally seconds ago typed out that ‘right now’ I don’t have the answer to these questions, this popped into my head; “Do I really need an answer right now?” In conclusion, I guess not.

Maybe the first step to take, is finding out what you’d like to do with your time. Now, I don’t mean your whole life time, what I mean is, try testing your wings a bit. Perhaps it’s important for us all to channel our talents into what we enjoy doing for a little while to see where the wind takes us, in order to find out what our passions are. From there maybe we’ll eventually get some answers :-)!

I’ve mentioned I enjoy writing, maybe I’ll channel that into a few more blog posts like this :-)! Which is all well and good for me…but now I’d like to ask you this, “what do you enjoy doing most?” Firstly I challenge you not to worry about your future career this second, (even though I guess that’s why you’re here) but rather just that question. Secondly, I challenge you to channel your thoughts into what you enjoy most(comment what that is down below if you’d like to) and thirdly, have a go at doing that first before you worry about anything else. 🙂

This may all seem very random, (sorry) but still! I hope this helps some of you out a little! Ttfn, Lucy.

P.S. “Inspiration and imagination go hand in hand”- Anonymous
” This ones late, I bet when it blooms it will be the most beautiful of all” -Mulan