How much water does it take to make a cup of coffee? The answer may shock you: 140 liters That's the true amount of water used in growing, producing, packaging, and shipping the beans you use to make your morning coffee. Your lunchtime hamburger takes 2,400 liters and that favorite pair of blue jeans a whopping 11,000 liters. In fact, all the goods we buy - from food to clothing to computers - have a water cost in the form of virtual water: the powerful new concept that reveals the hidden facts of our real global water consumption. At a time when the world's resources are being used up at...

Is there enough water on this planet for a global population that will shortly double its present size? The answer is of great importance for people everywhere, but particularly to the peoples and political leaders of the Middle East and North Africa. In addition to explaining the particular issues of conflict in the region, Tony Allan argues that the answer to these problems lies at the global rather than local level.