How a worldwide sand shortage could impact the design world
Later this month, Dutch Design Week will host a symposium entitled “The Abundance and Scarcity of Sand.” Notable speakers include geologist and author Michael Welland, as well as Denis Delestrac, whose 2013 documentary, Sand Wars, showcased the lengths that contractors and smugglers alike will go to hoard and sell a commodity second only to freshwater, in terms of consumption.
The world hungers for sand
The ravenous hunger for sand worldwide was spotlighted in the 2013 documentary “Sand Wars” by French filmmaker Denis Delestrac, which warned that illegal sand mining could make beaches a thing of the past by the end of the 21st century.
A looming tragedy of the sand commons
Because of the difficulty in regulating their consumption, common-pool resources are prone to tragedies of the commons as people may selfishly extract them without considering long-term consequences, eventually leading to overexploitation or degradation. Even when sand mining is regulated, it is often subject to rampant illegal extraction and trade.
Sand Mining: Growing Pains of Cross-Border Trade
When powerful storms strike, like Typhoon Hato in southern China or Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the surging water scatters tons of sand – an essential ingredient required for the rebuilding soon to follow. Such storms add to growing global demand for sand with poor consequences for the economy and environment.
Kenya’s sand wars
Communities are pitted against sand harvesters, powerful cartels and one another as demand for sand in Kenya grows.
Trouble in paradise: the Canary Island beach accused of illegally importing sand
Investigation launched into allegations that sand in Gran Canaria resort was sourced from Africa’s last colony, in breach of international law.
Sand is so important, people kill for it; plus more facts and figures about one of California’s greatest resources
Summer seems incomplete without a day at the beach with your toes in the sand. We know you’re there to relax and not think about much, but here are a few facts about sand.
The world is running out of sand
It’s one of our most widely used natural resources, but it’s scarcer than you think…
Concrete, or Beaches? World’s Sand Running Out As Global Construction Booms
A crucial component of concrete, sand is vital to the global construction industry.