Fresh Water Scarcity Is Most Explosive Global Crisis, Says Author Steven Solomon

Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) April 26, 2012

Sharon Kleyne, founder of Bio Logic Aqua Research and host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water syndicated radio talk show, considers Steven Solomon’s 2010 book about threats to the global fresh water supply as a wake-up call to everyone. Mrs. Kleyne recently interviewed Mr. Solomon for a second time to learn if any progress has been made to resolve the crisis. There has not.

Steven Solomon is an investigative reporter specializing in environmental issues. He is author of the book Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilization (Harper, 2010). The interview with Sharon Kleyne took place on April 23, 2012 (the day after Earth Day).

Sharon Kleyne observed that the global water crisis tends to be masked and not of immediate concern in much of the developed world – despite the fact that in China’s numerous mega-cities, and in rapidly growing population centers in the American Southwest, fresh water disaster is immanent.

Mr. Solomon observed that the recent “Arab Spring” revolts began in response to spiking food prices caused by fresh water scarcity. According to Solomon, population grown worldwide is outstripping agricultural production and the limiting factor is available fresh water.

Solomon also cited the problems if increasing desertification as part of global climate change, noting that a portion of this is natural and cyclical and not man-caused. According to Mr. Solomon, the Sahara used to be grassy savannah with swamps and hippopotamuses. As the desert expanded, people migrated to the largest remaining fertile strip; the Nile Valley where the Egyptian civilization emerged.

According to Mr. Solomon, Adam Smith, the famous Scottish economist (1723 to 1790), in his book The Wealth of Nations (published in 1776), observed that water is critical to all human activities, including life itself and is therefore highly undervalued. With fresh water becoming increasingly scarce in 2012, the price is expected to rise accordingly.

Sharon Kleyne then reiterated her belief that one legitimate role of government is to provide the infrastructure and financing to assure that nobody becomes ill or dies due to lack of abundant and sanitary fresh water. Steven Solomon agreed.

Solomon and Kleyne had a lengthy discussion of the impact of fresh water scarcity in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Tibet, China, India, Pakistan, the Netherlands and the United States.

Steven Solomon noted that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently elevated water security to a top priority position in evaluating national security.

Steven Solomon’s website is http://www.thewaterblog.wordpress.com. His next book will be on the Mississippi River and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water is broadcast live on Mondays, 10 a.m., PST/PDT. The syndicated talk show is heard on Voice America/World Talk Radio, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes. The Sharon Kleyne Hour is sponsored by Bio Logic Aqua Research. Go to http://www.SharonKleyneHour.com for written summaries and on-demand replays.

Fresh Water Scarcity Is Most Explosive Global Crisis, Says Author Steven Solomon