Archive for March, 2010
« Previous EntriesWater and human rights — part 5
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This post is one of ten in the serialization of my paper on human rights, which is introduced here.
Property rights
Robinson (2007) discusses property rights as human rights, and Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in [...]
Two years of aguanomics
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Oh, what a long road it’s been!
(Here are earlier posts at six months and one year — seems that I was too busy teaching to notice the 18-month anniversary last October
The State of the Blog
I’ve enjoyed blogging thus far and plan to continue into the future.
(As few of you know, [...]
Water and human rights — part 4
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This post is one of ten in the serialization of my paper on human rights, which is introduced here.
Do human rights deliver results?
Many people support a human right to water, especially with the number of people dying from dirty water and the far greater number suffering from water shortages. But do good [...]
Speed Blogging
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Indian water authorities are fighting to increase tariffs to recover costs.
Thanks to the Supreme Court, we have this: “Vote for Murray Hill Incorporated for Congress — for the best democracy money can buy.”
The Chinese government is moving people for the North-South canal; those people are losing income, being robbed of assets, and [...]
The War on Boredom
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
The War on Boredom shares some traits with other recent and ongoing wars against mental states. These wars waste a lot of resources. I think the War on Boredom can be won without resorting to buying plastic things like gaming consoles or supersoakers.
First things first. You must know your enemy…
Boredom is an [...]
Water and human rights — part 3
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This post is one of ten in the serialization of my paper on human rights, which is introduced here.
Human rights in water
Rights create obligations and guarantees. If these are violated, civil and violent conflict can result. Thus, we have to be careful about who gets what rights. To understand the costs, begin [...]
Collective action at home
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
In another extra credit assignment for my EEP100 students, I asked them to solve a collective action problem in their [group] household. These problems are the kind that drive roommates crazy: one person never washes his dishes, leaving them for others; another one claims that she doesn’t have time to take out [...]
Water and human rights — part 2
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This post is one of ten in the serialization of my paper on human rights, which is introduced here.
People need water — why? how much?
The Earth has abundant fresh water but not abundant clean water (Whittington et al., 2008). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 2.4 million deaths each [...]
That’s DEEP!
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
The Mariana Trench is over 11km deep. It lies between Japan and Papua New Guinea.
Check out this image for perspective. (Click to enlarge)
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]
Who are beggars?
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
My EEP100 students wanted some extra credit assignments. In a flash of brilliance desperation, I told them that they could interview three panhandlers (beggars), to find out more about this particularly different class of people.
(The assignment allowed for 2 points for three interviews, up to four points total, for one or two [...]
Water and human rights — part 1
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This post is one of ten in the serialization of my paper on human rights, which is introduced here.
Introduction
Ask anyone if there is (or should be) a human right to water, and most will say yes. Tell them that millions die each year for lack of access to clean and affordable water, [...]
Water and human rights — overview
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
I have written a paper on this topic* that’s entitled “Water rights and human rights: The poor will not need our charity if we need their water”
Many people have strong feelings on this topic, and I hope that they will read, contemplate and comment on it.
I have decided to present the paper [...]
Flashback: 14 — 20 Mar 2009
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
These posts are still relevant (to me :), so please read/comment:
Some thinking on Ecosystem Services Sellout? and more thinking on Local Water and Local Agencies
Not Getting It at the AWWA (still not upset that I canceled my membership)
Landscaping and Thirst — water isn’t so “precious” when we have green lawns.
BEST: Enviros Want [...]
Politicians extending their monopoly
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Speaking of human rights and water…
We get this
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is currently working on a proposal to introduce a human right to water, which may be worded so as to restrict private sector participation in the industry. An independent investigator, Catarina de Albuquerque, has been appointed to [...]
Speed blogging
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
A poll of 600 CA voters [pdf] finds that 55% oppose the $11 billion bond and 34% favor. I know that there will be a big campaign and lots of scare tactics, but $11 billion for no certain gain is much scarier. I am opposed.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund ($350 billion) is investing [...]
Feinstein’s special special interests
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
You can read Stuart Leavenworth’s whole piece, but here are the goodies:
Feinstein’s main reason for calling was to complain that I hadn’t made an attempt to obtain details of her bill language before publishing our editorials.
I acknowledged we hadn’t sought that information, assuming she (like other senators) wouldn’t provide details of a [...]
Speed blogging — drought edition
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
California looks to Australia for lessons on water management… California politicians were “shocked” that the feds may take over “their” water — as was the case in Australia. Keep mismanaging it, and that will be true.
USDA is providing $10 million to farmers affected by California’s water shortages… I’d call that subsidizing unsustainable [...]
Redirect on Thursday
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
Plans are to set up the redirect to the new site for R-Squared on Thursday the 18th. If you subscribe via an RSS feed, you will continue to receive the feed from the new location.
My first post at the new R-Squared will be a position statement. I will briefly cover my [...]
Obey!
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
A lady on the airplane* says to me “You’re not doing what everyone else is doing!”
What else is new?
Speaking of that, how about this?
Don’t work in an office if you value common sense over obedience
* I had my computer open. Perhaps she was worried that we might crash, but we were already [...]
Poll Results — Love your neighbors
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Hey! There’s a new poll (not invented here) on the right sidebar —>
I know my neighbors like…
…family (we lend each other money)
3%
2
…friends (we lend each other stuff)
19%
12
…acquanitances (we lend each other a hand)
41%
26
…strangers (we wave to each other)
31%
20
…enemies (we take stuff from them)
5%
3
…good food — I ate them
2%
1
I don’t have much to [...]
Water chat with Mike Young
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
In this one hour, 17 min water chat with Mike Young [27MB MP3], we discuss many important aspects of water policy, from prices to markets.
Mike co-authored the paper that laid down the foundations of Australia’s water rights reform, redefining rights into property that could be traded like land and dividends that would [...]
New or used?
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
More random thoughts…
Don’t make a new community when you can borrow an established one. If you want to spread a message, you can use the phone or internet. You don’t have to set up a new communications network. If you want to change peoples’ water or carbon behavior, you can use prices [...]
Water chat with Tom Rooney
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Tom Rooney has been trading water in markets for over 20 years. In that time, many things have changed, and brokerage has become faster and more automated as products have become simpler and more-homogenous (see tomorrow’s water chat with Mike Young for more on how he affected the process). Tom’s company — [...]
Changes Coming to R-Squared
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
At the end of the week, I have to go to New Zealand for 10 days. As is often the case, my posting will be limited while I am traveling. Any time I travel, this always highlights one of the major weaknesses with a personal blog: Traffic is driven by new [...]
Strategizing for the Ethanol Industry
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
D.C. Discussions Advance Corn Issues
Extension of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) – This blender’s tax credit provides $.45 for each gallon of ethanol blended with gasoline and expires at the end of this year. The credit provides thousands of jobs, fuels economies and helps the U.S. to meet its [...]
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