....And Not a Drop To Drink
Jared Diamond's book Collapse takes an instructive look at the downfall of several societies throughout history, almost always because of a combination of exhausted resources, primarily fuel, arable soil, and water, and a leadership too arrogant to take it seriously. Southern Californians take note. It used to be a point of pride to be called "sunny California," but that was back when there was plenty of water coming from elsewhere. The situation is becoming dire now, and yet Los Angelenos go right on watering their lawns as if, well, as if water fell from the sky, which alas it doesn't much anymore. It's interesting to note that among the wandering desert tribes of Botswana the word for money is the same as that for rain.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:52 AM
3 Comments:
Good cartoon, John C. but scary that people have not woken up to the fact that we do not have an endless supply of water. We are lucky in one way, we have a well on the property but even wells run dry if the neighbors do not help to conserve water. In the last two years, we have had very little rain. Do not think that we will get much this year either. Scary situation for sure.
Plenty of water here in michigan.what we are shortof is jobs/lol. A have a friend who inspects water treatment plants for the state. A few years ago he was interviewed on the radio and asked about bottled water. "There are no standards", he said. " I can attest to the viability of any municpal supply in Michigan but if its in a bottle you are on your own>" The bottled water people were furious and the then republican govervor tried to have him fired. That didn't work so they transferred him and his laboratory to the boondocks, not knowing that he loved the boondocks. roger
I'm not fond of Jared Diamond, (I found "The Third Chimpanzee" to be somewhat assuming and arrogant...though interesting)This new book, however, sounds intriguing. Coupled with Al Gore's "Assault on Reason", (politically stacked but thought provoking nonetheless...)one could lead a fascinating and motivating discussion on the carefree and detrimental lifestyles of American citizens. I'm a northern Californian at heart and, as a consequence, have always been disgusted with the lavish use of "our" water in the south. We would flush our toilets sparingly while our southern counterparts would fill their swimming pools and water their lawns in the desert. Yes, I'm prejudiced...I know ALL of you down there are not like that. But continuing development in the desert? Depleting an already stressed water supply not to mention adding traffic to those famously congested freeways?! It needs to stop. People need to take the time to consider the world outside their personal bubble. Southern CA needs more civic minded people like you John to get the ball rolling.
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