A thin thread

[Alan Durant]

So, we've had six weeks or so of high temperatures, (high 20sC. hovering just below 40C), with no rain. Everything I can't water is drying up and blowing away. The rain reservoir tank is running low and mains water is expensive to use.

This is Europe we don't yet face starvation, but we hang by a thin thread. Somebody told me to pray for rain without specifying which god. So far no joy.

The question do people realise how fragile our position is? What to do?

 

Alan

[Simeon Ayres]

Alan my heart goes out to you.. Tough times indeed , living in south eastern Australia where drought although not a constant ,is always a threat. Between 2000 and 2010 we had a good few years of drought , 2006 /7 were the toughest, the great rivers of the south ,there waters allready promised to an irrigation system of wastfull proportions, dwindled to nothing. In our area in the ranges ,trees died at an out standing rate,beasts and birds just seemed to curl up and die . Looking back on photos of the time ,its hard to believe that we lived through such a dry .So many fellow farmers had to sell of stock, the paddocks were bare , truly heart breaking times.There was also this interesting turn , where we all started taking an interest in the natural signs and the remembered folklore to do with any wiff of coming rain, the ants had started building there nests in the trees ,there were signs of new growth on the red gum , the grey box were flowering, Kangaroo were having two young instead of one.We wanted rain really badly..Now we have had two years of wet , water stores are almost full, the springs have been flowing for months , birds have returned in great numbers to the inland lakes .there is new growth everywhere. If it is of any use to you , ill leave you with the words of my old neighbour Jimmy Macteir, "well you can be sure that nexts years weather will be different". Good luck with the water Alan . I dont know about a prayer , i dont  believe in an interventionalist god . But i found myself uttering a little invitation to the rain every morning "come you are most welcome"..... Cheers Simeon

[Alan Durant]

Thanks Simon, I think bad as it is your draught must have been much worse. A friend of mine who lives in the Blue Mountains was telling me about the conflict over water abstraction from the Muurry Darling, (is that right?),  system.  I'm sure water shortages wil become more of an issue world wide and rapidly.

I remember hitch hiking across Australia in 1976 and lake Eyre was full. I was thinking all this "red land" business was an exaggeration until somebody tole me it was a onecs in a blue moon event.

I don't believe in any gods but I might have a go at whistleing up a wind. Worth a try.

 

Best  Alan

[Pamela Joy King]

I wish we had a more global mindset because then we could at least count on fellow earthlings to help those who are without water or have dwindling water supplies.  Eventually we will all be in the same boat.  The changing environment will force many people to leave their homes and that is very sad.  I will pray to the Gods-that-be for rain for you's.  I know that there is no such favouritism but it just feels like I am helping by doing a rain dance or two for you's.  In our area, we have water but the glaciers are melting at a steady pace and yet water is still very much wasted. I predict that the fight for water might get serious in the next decade.  I hope by the time you receive this that you have had a good steady rainy period. 

[Alan Durant]

Thanks for the dance Pamela. As luck would have it we got rain, unfortunately no everyone is so lucky.

 

Best  alan

[Stranger]

it is a great communal joy when folks dance in the rain with me and at least one can say that more do these last days... but surely not enough appreciate what we have whilst we have it and still fewer yet want to share equally with all ... most either laugh and scurry for shelter or even open their mouths to emit the sounds of closed minds...  and that is why mankind will die out, the minds are no longer open , but even closed against one another in intolerance of our own kind, our own brothesr and sisters, because bankers want to control the world completely with procedural capitalism, and are nearly finished doing so without any opposition from the masses wh completely outnumber them by billions ...