Keepers of the Spring : Reclaiming Our Water In An Age Of Globalization

Water has long been the object of political ambition and conflict. Recent history is full of leaders who tried to harness water to realize national dreams. Yet the people who most need water-farmers, rural villages, impoverished communities-are too often left, paradoxically, with desiccated fields, unfulfilled promises, and refugee status. It doesn't have to be this way, according to Fred Pearce. A veteran science news correspondent, Pearce has for over fifteen years chronicled the development of large-scale water projects like China's vast Three Gorges dam and India's Sardar Sarovar. But, as he and numerous other authors have pointed out, far from solving our water problems, these industrial scale projects, and others now in the planning, are bringing us to the brink of a global water crisis. Pearce decided there had to be a better way. To find it, he traveled the globe in search of alternatives to mega-engineering projects. In Keepers of the Spring, he brings back intriguing stories from people like Yannis Mitsis, an ethnic Greek Cypriot, who is the last in his line to know the ways and whereabouts of a network of underground tunnels that have for centuries delivered to farming communities the water they need to survive on an arid landscape. He recounts the inspiring experiences of small-scale water stewards like Kenyan Jane Ngei, who reclaimed for her people a land abandoned by her government as a wasteland. And he tells of many others who are developing new techniques and rediscovering ancient ones to capture water for themselves. In so doing, Pearce documents that these "keepers" are not merely isolated examples, but collectively constitute an entire alternative tradition of working with natural flows rather than trying to reengineer nature to provide water for human needs. The solution to our water problems, he finds, may not lie in new technologies-though they will play a role-but in recovering ancient traditions, using water more efficiently, and better understanding local hydrology. Are these approaches adequate to serve the world's growing populations? The answer remains unclear. But we ignore them at our own peril. Annotation Water Has Long Been The Object Of Political Ambition And Conflict. Recent History Is Full Of Leaders Who Tried To Harness Water To Realize National Dreams. Yet The People Who Most Need Water--farmers, Rural Villages, Impoverished Communities--are Too Often Left, Paradoxically, With Desiccated Fields, Unfulfilled Promises, And Refugee Status. It Doesn't Have To Be This Way, According To Fred Pearce. A Veteran Science News Correspondent, Pearce Has For Over Fifteen Years Chronicled The Development Of Large-scale Water Projects Like China's Vast Three Gorges Dam And India's Sardar Sarovar. But, As He And Numerous Other Authors Have Pointed Out, Far From Solving Our Water Problems, These Industrial Scale Projects, And Others Now In The Planning, Are Bringing Us To The Brink Of A Global Water Crisis. Pearce Decided There Had To Be A Better Way. To Find It, He Traveled The Globe In Search Of Alternatives To Mega-engineering Projects. In Keepers Of The Spring, He Brings Back Intriguing Stories From People Like Yannis Mitsis, An Ethnic Greek Cypriot, Who Is The Last In His Line To Know The Ways And Whereabouts Of A Network Of Underground Tunnels That Have For Centuries Delivered To Farming Communities The Water They Need To Survive On An Arid Landscape. He Recounts The Inspiring Experiences Of Small-scale Water Stewards Like Kenyan Jane Ngei, Who Reclaimed For Her People A Land Abandoned By Her Government As A Wasteland. And He Tells Of Many Others Who Are Developing New Techniques And Rediscovering Ancient Ones To Capture Water For Themselves. The Solution To Our Water Problems, He Finds, May Not Lie In New Technologies But In Recovering Ancient Traditions, Using Water Moreefficiently, And Better Understanding Local Hydrology. Are These Approaches Adequate To Serve The World's Growing Populations? The Answer Remains Unclear. But We Ignore Them At Our Own Peril. Annotation The Solution To Our Water Problems, According To Pearce, May Not Lie In New Technologies-though They Will Play A Role-but In Recovering Ancient Traditions, Using Water More Efficiently, And Better Understanding Local Hydrology. Are These Approaches Adequate To Serve The World's Growing Populations? The Answer Remains Unclear. But We Ignore Them At Our Own Peril. Riding The Water Cycle -- Introduction -- Megawater -- Hydraulic Civilizations -- Replumbing The Planet -- Egypt's Source Of Everlasting Prosperity? -- Killing The Nigerian Floodplains -- A New Force Of Nature -- Libya's Great Man-made River -- A Second Front In The Green Revolution -- The Devil's Water -- A Salty Hell -- The Keepers -- The Last Of A Dying Breed? -- Hidden Wonders Of The Ancient World -- Common Monuments To Human Perseverance -- America's Lost Hydraulic Civilizations -- How To Catch The Rain -- The People's Green Revolution -- Trickles And Floods -- Making Water From Thin Air -- Restoring African Hydrology -- Reviving The Wetlands -- Conclusion -- Battle For The New Agenda. Fred Pearce. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [249]-252) And Index. Water has long been the object of political ambition and conflict. Recent history is full of leaders who tried to harness water to realize national dreams. Yet the people who most need water-farmers, rural villages, impoverished communities are too often left, paradoxically, with desiccated fields, unfulfilled promises, and refugee status. It doesn't have to be this way, according to Fred Pearce. A veteran science news correspondent, Pearce has for over fifteen years chronicled the development of large-scale water projects like China's vast Three Gorges dam and India's Sardar Sarovar. But, as he and numerous other authors have pointed out, far from solving our water problems, these industrial scale projects, and others now in the planning, are bringing us to the brink of a global water crisis. Pearce decided there had to be a better way. To find it, he traveled the globe in search of alternatives to mega-engineering projects. In Keepers of the Spring, he brings back intriguing stories from people like Yannis Mitsis, an ethnic Greek Cypriot, who is the last in his line to know the ways and whereabouts of a network of underground tunnels that have for centuries delivered to farming communities the water they need to survive on an arid landscape. He recounts the inspiring experiences of small-scale water stewards like Kenyan Jane Ngei, who reclaimed for her people a land abandoned by her government as a wasteland. And he tells of many others who are developing new techniques and rediscovering ancient ones to capture water for themselves. The solution to our water problems, he finds, may not lie in new technologies but in recovering ancient traditions, using water more efficiently, and better understanding local hydrology. Are these approaches adequate to serve the world's growing populations? The answer remains unclear. But we ignore them at our own peril About Island Press......Page 3 Title Page......Page 6 Copyrights Page......Page 7 Table of Contents......Page 10 Part I: Riding the Water Cycle......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 Ch. 1: Megawater......Page 22 Ch. 2: Hydraulic Civilizations......Page 36 Part II: Replumbing the Planet......Page 50 Ch. 3: Egypt's Source of Everlasting Prosperity?......Page 52 Ch. 4: Killing the Nigerian Floodplains......Page 66 Ch. 5: A New Force of Nature......Page 76 Ch. 6: Libya's Great Man-Made River......Page 86 Ch. 7: A Second Front in the Green Revolution......Page 94 Ch. 8: The Devil's Water......Page 100 Ch. 9: A Salty Hell......Page 120 Part III: The Keepers......Page 134 Ch. 10: The Last of a Dying Breed?......Page 136 Ch. 11: Hidden Wonders of the Ancient World......Page 142 Ch. 12: Common Monuments to Human Perseverance......Page 150 Ch. 13: America's Lost Hydraulic Civilizations......Page 162 Ch. 14: How to Catch the Rain......Page 172 Ch. 15:The People's Green Revolution......Page 184 Ch.16: Trickles and Floods......Page 192 Ch. 17: Making Water from Thin Air......Page 206 Ch. 18: Restoring African Hydrology......Page 218 Ch. 19: Reviving the Wetlands......Page 232 Conclusion......Page 242 Ch. 20: Battle for the New Agenda......Page 244 Further Readings......Page 260 Acknowledgments......Page 264 Index......Page 266 Annotation "In Keepers of the Spring veteran science news correspondent Fred Pearce travels the world to bring back stories from people who have drawn on ancient tradition and modern technology to deliver to their communities the water they need to survive. These "keepers" are sustaining an entire alternative tradition of working with natural flows rather than trying to reengineer nature to provide water for human needs."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved