Can we justify importing 'virtual water' from water stressed countries?

Question

we import huge amounts of 'embodied' or 'virtual' water to the west, i.e. the water used to grow cotton and vegetables, or to manufacture gods, and most of it comes from the very countries that are short of water. is this ethical?

tomorrow (saturday 22 march) is world water day. will people who have enough of everything spare a thought for those who are providing our luxury goods, while living on a pittance?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/sep/19/ethicalliving.g2

Answer 1

If we don't import, they don't have jobs.

Answer 2

I think this is a very important issue and it seems to get lost in the oversimplifiaction of global problems.

Maybe a tax like carbon tax could help ( we need to supply the money men or they'll kill it )