"It would be wrong to say that I have been obsessed with rivers all my life. But, much as when taking a drive down a long river valley, I can't see to avoid coming back to them. They have a hold"...
This is how Fred Pearce starts his introduction to his wonderful travel book titled, 'When the rivers run dry'. A passionate but composed journey to different parts of the world looks at the question on 'What happens when our water runs out?". Ever since I heard about this book, I have been wanting to read it and finally the day before yesterday it ended up in my hand!
His writing reveals the personal stories behind failing rivers, barren fields, desertification, floods, water wars, and even the death of cultures. Whether he writes about the farmers fight against the Coca Cola factory in Plachimada in Kerala or the war for water from the glaciers of Himalayan Kashmir (one of my favourite conspiracy theories about the war between India and Pakistan) or the toxic cess pool of Aral sea, he is pointing towards the responsibility of each of us for the water we use -"before all our rivers dry".
Fred says "Nothing perhaps not even climate change, will matter more to humanity's future on this planet over the next century than the fate of our rivers. Plenty of explorers have sought the source of the world's great rivers. This is a journey to chart their deaths. But it is a hopeful journey nonethless.I am an optimist. Water, after all, is the ultimate renewable resource."
Irrespective of the deadlines for project submissions and business proposals, I just couldn't keep this book down. Really a must read for those who are concerned about the rivers in the world!
His writing reveals the personal stories behind failing rivers, barren fields, desertification, floods, water wars, and even the death of cultures. Whether he writes about the farmers fight against the Coca Cola factory in Plachimada in Kerala or the war for water from the glaciers of Himalayan Kashmir (one of my favourite conspiracy theories about the war between India and Pakistan) or the toxic cess pool of Aral sea, he is pointing towards the responsibility of each of us for the water we use -"before all our rivers dry".
Fred says "Nothing perhaps not even climate change, will matter more to humanity's future on this planet over the next century than the fate of our rivers. Plenty of explorers have sought the source of the world's great rivers. This is a journey to chart their deaths. But it is a hopeful journey nonethless.I am an optimist. Water, after all, is the ultimate renewable resource."
Irrespective of the deadlines for project submissions and business proposals, I just couldn't keep this book down. Really a must read for those who are concerned about the rivers in the world!
Bangalore © GP 2007
8 comments:
All good, but what happened to you in Vienna after the bus left?
Blogging pressures? :) Will be with you soon
GP, I understand the excitement of river book, but dont let us hanging by moving from one story to another :) May be u shoud collect more copies of these to your "discerning traellers" as u call them :) A value addition and better understanding to issues you aer working with?
Do you know of any such books on Rivers in India?
Hello there! may be you know already about Riverkeeper associations in Hudson Bay? Kennedy Jr i guess is still one of their staucnh supporters and have been responsible in cleaning up the once polluted Hudson river.
That was a bit of militant activism from the part of Kennedy Jr which proved successful and made people pay up for what they did to Hudson Valley. Do you guys have to energy and resources to take up something of this sort? Other than basic information on your foundation website, and some press coverage online, I didnt find much information on the web. Seems to be interesting to me.
I thought you might be interested in An Interview With Fred Pearce, Author of When the Rivers Run Dry. You can view it at http://www.calitreview.com/Interviews/pearce_8026.htm
get them some recent photos of the Nila. maybe they will pick up shovels and help you start diggig-the sand!!!!summer's here sand ...sand all around! not a drop to drink & bathe & swim &etc.etc
-Anonymous
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