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Whatcha Gonna Do When The Well Runs Dry?

Series: Making Contact
From: Making Contact
Length: 00:28:56

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On this edition, well take a look at 3 growing communities facing water shortages along with the pressure to grow, and hear their different approaches to finding solutions, including denial. Read the full description.

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Piece Description

From Australia to Arizona, its become clear that humans are using water at an unsustainable rate. Occasional drought restrictions are the furthest that many of our communities seem to go in response, and in most cases, development continues, making things worse. On this edition, we'll take a look at 3 growing communities facing water shortages along with the pressure to grow, and hear their different approaches to finding solutions, including denial. Featuring: Jackie Meck, Buckeye Mayor and Former head of the Water Conservation and Drainage District; Lila Zatner, Decision Center for Desert City Research Assistant; Patrica Gober, Decision Center for Desert City Director and Arizona State University geography professor; Diane Ash, Tuscon resident and camper, Fred Babby, Tuscon resident and camper; Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Governor; Ursula Parch, Willits Water Wisdom member, Mike Chapman, Brooktrails Community Services District general Manager; Allan Falleri, City of Willits Community Development Director; Naikang Chang, Brooktrails property owner; Richard Estebrook, Brooktrails resident. Program #39-08 - Begin date: 9/24/08. End date: 3/24/09. Please call us if you carry us - 510-251-1332 and we will list your station on our website. If you excerpt, please credit early and often.

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Review of Whatcha Gonna Do When The Well Runs Dry?

The "Whatcha Gonna Do When The Well Runs Dry?" title in these days of the "drill, drill, drill," mantra is deceiving.

One expected a commentary on the fact that our oil reserves are finite and that --- drill where we will --- the oil powered engine will soon be a thing of the past.

Fifty or perhaps 60 years ago I recall seeing an ancient, tattered Weekly Reader that said we were running out of water. But many of us in many sections of the country are still getting along nicely because, unlike oil, water falls on us from the sky on a regular basis.

The world does have a problem which creates water shortages and hunger and pollution, so called "development" and the destruction of the economic base in small communities by big box stores. It is, of course, overpopulation.

Isaac Asimov said, "We can't continue multiplying at this rate for very long, no matter what we do."

So. Bottom line. The water crisis. The pollution crisis. The feed-the-hungry-children crisis. The whatever crisis. All of these are only secondary manifestations of overpopulation which is the world's only real crisis.

When we stop breeding like rabbits the water in the wells will sustain us.

Broadcast History

Program #39-08 - Begin date: 9/24/08. End date: 3/24/09.

Timing and Cues

Total run time is 29 minutes (no hard breaks)
-Optional cutaway at 1:00
-Optional (floating) cutaway between 12:00 and 20:00
-Music in/out.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Looking For Water David Bowie 00:00
New World Water Mos Def 00:00

Additional Files

Related Website

http://www.radioproject.org