Water

 
A drop  of Water
Picture credit: José Manuel Suarez


The absence from this obviously addictive pleasure, has left me with a great deal of time to ponder what the subject of the first posting here would be, after being cleared by my Doctor to resume a somewhat normal life.
Before beginning,  I must take the time to say,  from the very depths of my heart, how much all of your comments and kind wishes and thoughts have meant to me, while I suffered here in the darkness of my self, or medically, imposed prison.
You simply overwhelmed me with your responses.
But, now back to work!
So, what was brewing, or festering in my mind all of this time?
It seemed like nearly everyday for the past week, there has been a story on our News about Water.
The problems with Water are not just local, they are Global, and they are,  or should be, our number one concern.
No water, no people, no life!
It really is that simple.
After the air that we breathe, Water is, in my opinion, the second most vital element, in sustaining all life on Earth.
The World’s problems with Water are, unlike our absolute dependence on it, quite complex and come from multiple sources.
In Ohio right now, exactly like so many places in Florida, the Water has become toxic from farm, and/or pesticide runoff.
Here in Florida, the Indian River Lagoon,  Everglades, Lakes Okeechobee and Toho, all have toxin/pollution problems that are Human caused.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife have either already died, or are continuing to die, at all four places, even though proposals have been made to repair the damage, or improve the situation, still the deadly pollution remains.
In the meantime, no one at the top, in either state, seems to have  the temerity or the  power, to tell the farmers to stop poisoning our water supplies with their careless disposal of poisons and complete disregard for Water safety or purity.
But,  if we don’t force them to change their deadly, destructive, dangerous habits, we are all, every single living species on this planet, doomed.
Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are not compatible with life, they are now and will continue forever, to kill us all, until we are finally gone.
Not all of our Water problems come from chemical abuse, there are others.
Right now in many states, people cannot drink their Water because of fracking, places like Colorado and Pennsylvania have Water that can and does,  catch on fire.
Who wants to drink that?
Another disastrous Water problem,  is not what is being done to it, but the complete absence of it.
In California,  my home for over 30 years, the entire state is now in the worst drought of their history.
Entire Industries there are either dying, or are already dead, from the total lack of Water.
So, what is the answer, you ask?
Well, since the crisis with Water is Global, perhaps we should all be working together to solve this dilemma.
That really is not the appropriate word though,  is it?
This is not a dilemma, this a is a Global ” life or death “ situation, that will soon have an ending, one way or another.
We, Humans, will either do what must be done, or we will not.
Two of our planet’s most important Global Organizations, the United Nations and  the World Health Organization  are imploring us to do just this.
Nothing really big is hanging on this decision, just all life on Earth.
It is our choice,  what will we choose?
Will it be Water?
 
Here are a few of the many places where Water is in great jeopardy in the US:
Ohio, Florida, California, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Texas
 
Some places to learn more:
Water Facts
Global Water Issues
WHO – Water
United Nations – Water Issues
Water – NRDC
World Water Day: 10 Places Most in Need of Clean Water
The Ten Biggest American Cities That Are Running Out Of Water
Driest year ever in Calif. sparks fire, water fears
Ohio Regulators Aim to Help Water Problem With Fertilizer Licenses
In Florida, Toxic Algae is a Year-Round Fight
Pollutants threaten the Everglades’ future