Just another drop in the bucket
The evidence is overwhelming that the developed world is responsible for major portions of the human-induced climate and ecological devastation occurring in the world.
Suggestion:
Immediate substantial cut by at least 50% in the use of fossil fuels AND massive reparations. This will require developed nations footing all the bill for these changes.
As is most of the western region of the United States, California is in a once-in-twelve-hundred-year drought. Overall percentage of water use in the state, is: 50% environmental (maintaining habitat within streams and wetlands), 40% agricultural, and 10% urban, though use varies by locality. California may need to accommodate another 10 million residents in the next 20 years without taking additional water from sustainable agriculture or the environment. Groundwater drilling increases the salt and toxic mineral content of the soil and tapping aquifers lowers ground level significantly. Desalination is too expensive and polluting. Dams have major environmental impact, besides the fact there is currently less water per rainy season to store. Improving the drought situation will take a concerted effort in every sector.
Suggestions:
Agriculture and Husbandry
Plant less water-intensive crops, reduce meat and dairy production, switch to insect farming, etc.*
*Growing almonds accounts for 10% of the water use in the state. The entire agriculture industry in California represents only 1.8% of state’s GDP ($50 billion vs. $2,780 billion)
Bottled Water
Restrict/prohibit water from being diverted for export by bottled water companies.
Conservation
Require water-neutral development for major new real estate developments and industrial projects, convert lawns via xeriscape, etc.
Farmland
Convert unfarmable land such as the west side of the San Joaquin Valley to solar production in order to create new manufacturing, installation and maintenance jobs and to reduce the over-allocation of the state’s water supplies.
Fracking
Restrict/prohibit fracking which uses millions of gallons of fresh water every year which in turn pollutes aquifers.
Land Preservation
Promote watershed restoration to reduce fires, erosion, and other changes caused by climate change and develop scientifically-based flow standards for the Delta and major rivers for how much water is needed to keep them healthy.
Pollution
Reduce effluents that contaminate waters.
Recycling
Increase water supplies through safe recycling.
Taxes
Increases taxes on industries that heavily use water.
There is a major invasive plant problem in the U.S., and the country is being overrun. This is an important reason why nowadays there are many fewer insects, birds, lizards, amphibians, and so on. It is an accumulated Silent Spring.
Suggestion:
Create an Environment Conservation Corps. Make America Beautiful again by rebuilding the environment. Build a road or a bridge, and depreciation starts Day One. Restore a forested wetland, and the value appreciates year by year.
The creation of a Corps would also help with youth training and employment. For example, this could be incorporated into a type of national service. In addition, this could be an opportunity to train the general workforce to mitigate employment disruptions caused by advances in AI and other types of technological economic innovation. There are centuries’ worth of work to do and undo, so this represents a significant work-creation endeavor. Moreover, this work can be done locally nearly everywhere on the planet because of the accumulated man-made destruction.
From majestic skyscrapers to broken shanties
A land now uncomfortable for even a Hoffa
Peanuts alive and well on Capitol Hill
A land of broken records and windows
Safety is a Springfield automatic
Lakes become land-locked sewers
Where hippies run and children romp.
© 1975, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved.
The physiocrats had an insight
that wealth is not created
by the laboring masses
by the butcher, brewer, or baker
by bankers, managers, rulers
by automated machines
by our schemes and avarice
But
by the minerals in the ground
by the waters in the seas
by the forests and the fields
by the air that we breathe
by the earth’s other denizens
So
by economizing energy
by conserving water
by stewarding the land
by preserving air quality
by protecting animals
we can sustain our future
and truly be wealthy
© 1973, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved.
I have to admit that it was a gift
that rescued us from Chicago’s
day after day, night after night
pitiless summer heat and humidity,
the endless series of restless sleep,
and dozens of sweat-soaked shirts.
My parents were very proud
that they could afford that box,
noisy and rattling as it was,
placed in the dining room window
the stream of cool, dry, restful comfort,
it even relieved mold and allergies.
But I had just sat in science class
on our costs of making energy;
so as I left home the next day
I saw the box that gave us pleasure
when multiplied millions of times
would sure lead to a future of hurt.
© 1972, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved. (1965)
