An American intelligence report says water-related problems(1) will likely(2) increase(3) tensions around the world in the next ten years. These problems include water shortages(4), poor water quality and floods(5).
The report says the problems will increase the risk of instability(6) and the failure(7) of governments. However(8), countries are seen as(9) unlikely(10) to go to war over water.
The report says water tensions have historically led to(11) more water-sharing(12) agreements(13) than violent conflicts. But beyond(14) ten years, it warns(15) that some governments could use water as a weapon(16) to pressure(17) others.
And water could also be used to “further(18) terrorist objectives.” The report is called an Intelligence Community Assessment(19)
on Global Water Security. It looks at possible effects of water
problems on United States national security interests over the next
thirty years.
It says the areas that will be most affected(20) by water problems are North Africa, the Middle East(21) and South Asia. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced(22) the report on World Water Day, which was observed March twenty-fourth(23).
The National Intelligence Council(24) wrote(25) the report based on a National Intelligence Estimate she requested(26) a year ago. The report says water-related problems could distract(27) countries from working with the United States on important policy(28) goals(29).
But it also predicts(30) an increased demand(31) for American aid(32) and expert(33) help to solve(34) those problems. That demand could create “opportunities for leadership(35)” and influence.
The report says, “Water shortages, poor
water quality, and floods by themselves are unlikely to result in state
failure.” But these could combine with poverty(36), social tensions, environmental(37) problems, poor leadership and weak(38) governments to produce social disorder(39).
And that combination could cause state failure. The report predicts that from now through twenty forty(40), “water shortages and pollution(41) probably will harm(42) the economic performance(43) of important trading partners(44).”
During the next ten years, it says, the loss(45) of groundwater(46) supplies(47) in some agricultural areas will create a risk to national and global food markets.
These shortages will be a result of poor management(48). Agriculture uses about(49) seventy percent of the world’s freshwater(50). The report says technology that reduces the amount(51) of water needed to grow crops(52) will offer(53) the best defense against(54) shortages. For VOA Special English, I’m Carolyn Presutti. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 27Mar2012)
Vocabulary
- water-related problems = problemas relacionados a água
- likely = provavelmente
- increase = aumentar
- shortage = falta, excassez
- floods = inundações, enchentes
- instability = instabilidade
- failure = falha
- However = contudo
- seen as = vistos como
11. led to = conduzido a
12. sharing = compartilhamento
13. agreements = acordos
14. beyond = além de
15. warns = alerta
16. weapon = arma
17. pressure = pressionar
18. further = promover
19. Assessment = avaliação
20. Affected = afetado(a)
21. Middle East = Oriente médio
22. Announced = anunciou
23. March twenty-fourth = 23 de Março
24. Council = concelho
25. Wrote = escreveu
26. Requested = solicitou
27. Distract = distrair, afastar
28. Policy = diretrizes
29. Goals = objetivos
30. Predicts = prevê
31. increased demand = demanda aumentada
32. aid = auxílio
33. expert = especialista
34. solve = solucionar
35. leadership = liderança
36. poverty = miséria
37. environmental = ambientais
38. weak = fraco
39. disorder = desordem
40. from now through twenty forty = de agora até 2040
41. pollution = poluição
42. harm = prejudicar
43. performance = desempenho
44. trading partners = parceiros comerciais
45. loss = perda
46. groundwater = águas subterrâneas
47. supplies = suprimentos
48. poor management = administração fraca
49. about = aproximadamente
50. freshwater = água doce
51. amount = quantidade
52. grow crops = cultivar plantações
53. offer = oferecer
54. against = contra