Ep 30 – Parched

Episode 30 - "Parched" As always, the world is facing a crisis. This week we explore the exploding problem of water access as large swaths of the world find themselves drying out risking agriculture, industry, and the very water we drink. By 2020, 100 million Indians will find themselves without water - and this is just the beginning of what might be the largest disaster in human history. Can states prepare themselves for the coming hordes of water refugees? Can civilization survive water hungry industrial agriculture as climate change reshapes where rain falls? Can we act as sustainable stewards of our shared water resources? Or is it all too little, too late? Chapters 4:26 Climate Contribution to Water Stress 7:40 Current Victims of Water Stress 9:52 Day Zero 13:35 India 19:52 Irrigation vs Drinking Water 21:43 "Migrants, Borders, and Conflict" 27:48 Ethiopia and African Tension 32:38 Business of Water 37:44 Infrastructure and Cost 39:45 Australia Reacts to Water Scarcity 41:55 Need for Systems Thinking 45:25 "Romans, Ancient and Modern" 47:40 Lakes Disappearing 49:18 Agricultural Use of Water 52:48 What Can We Do? A full transcript is available as well as detailed links and sources (plus credits and more) on our website ashesashes.org. Find more information along with relevant news and links on your favorite social network @ashesashescast. CC BY-SA 4.0