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Drip, drip, drip....

Notwithstanding the sceptics, climate change is seeing the world's weather thrown on its head. For instance, many parts of Australia are experiencing severe drought. On the other hand, some countries have just had, and continue to have, very bad winter-weather, even if it's supposed to be spring.

As if the globe doesn't already face enough problems, The Independent reports on what is looming as a crisis involving water and sanitation:

"The world faces a future of "water wars", unless action is taken to prevent international water shortages and sanitation issues escalating into conflicts, according to Gareth Thomas, the International Development minister.

The minister's warning came as a coalition of 27 international charities marked World Water Day, by writing to Gordon Brown demanding action to give fresh water to 1.1 billion people with poor supplies. "If we do not act, the reality is that water supplies may become the subject of international conflict in the years ahead," said Mr Thomas. "We need to invest now to prevent us having to pay that price in the future."

His department warned that two-thirds of the world's population will live in water-stressed countries by 2025. The stark prediction comes after the Prime Minister said in his national security strategy that pressure on water was one of the factors that could help countries "tip into instability, state failure or conflict"."

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