Proposals for Problem Solving
How Will It Go?
Findings Through the Research
Then, what should we do?
First, we summarized our findings.
1. We cannot solve water problems by reducing the amount of virtual water imports
When we started our research, we posited the following hypothesis “if we, as people using water a lot, reduce the quantity of virtual water, people who cannot get safe water easily will be able to get it more.”
However, the results came differently. We found that we cannot solve water problems only from a viewpoint of virtual water. Even though Japan reduces virtual water imports, it is not necessarily that people will be able to get safe water or the number of people who do not have access to water will decrease.
For example, in a country being in financial difficulties, people cannot get safe drinking water even though there is a lot of water resources.
Though our research, we found out that economic condition is also related to water problems.
2. The problem with virtual water trade is that people do not care about environment
When we found that Japan imports a lot of virtual water, we thought Japan should reduce the amount of virtual water imports. It is because we get other countries’ water resources with virtual water trade.
However, we found that it is not necessarily bad to import virtual water. The problem with virtual water trade is whether we care about other countries environment or not.
3. Water problems are related to poverty, sanitation, human rights and so on
If water crisis happens, people cannot produce sufficient food and suffer from hunger. There are also people who must take many hours to draw and carry water. In many developing countries, this is mainly the job for children and women. Because of that work, they cannot go to school, on later they cannot get job.
Besides, because of unsanitary water, many people get an infection. They must have medical treatment, but they cannot because they do not have steady income. It is difficult for them to get out the vicious circle.
As we explained, water problems are connected with many kinds of issues.
