"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
