More Precious than Gold

      There is now a population in the earth planet of about 7 billion people.  The United Nations predicts by 2020 there will be 10 billion people living on the earth.  There is one reality that has nothing to do with politics. That reality is that there will be more and more fighting over water.

     There are already fierce battles over water in Palestine. The west coast has been wrestling with a drought and their limited supply of water. The African desserts are suffering for lack of water.  Water is essential for all life.  Not just water, but water that is drinkable. Polluted or contaminated water is not good for humans or plants.

      This issue of water will not get any better regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans are in political power.  There are at least two major issues before the state of North Carolina that involve the question of water.  One is the coal ash spill on the Dan River and the existence of coal ash storage places near a number of other water ways. Those sites have been found to be leaking as well. The other issue is the issue of Fracking.  The history of Fracking in other states is not without problems. The testimony concerning Fracking seems to depend on whether or not you think we need the energy or you have an economic interest in doing it.

     The long history of Progress Energy, Duke Power, Carolina Power and Light, whatever you name it with the state government has been very beneficial to the power companies.  The state regulators under Democratic leadership were very cosy with the power companies. When the regulators cited the power companies for violations in their storage ponds, there was little support for enforcing those fines.  The spill in the Dan River has motivated a few people to sound tough, but Duke Power continues to claim that they will have to raise rates to pay for all the clean ups.

      One of the things that makes me very frightened about what I am told by spokesmen for the various energy people is that their track record is not very good.  BP claimed they did not need to put the safety device on the Gulf well. Duke Power tells us that their ponds are safe and one spills. Hog Farmers say that the hog waste ponds are good, but there are spills. Japanese atomic energy people claimed that their power plant could withstand everything. Then the tsunami washed it away.

      Tornadoes, Hurricanes, earthquakes, a lot of the natural disasters can be rebuilt, but when we have contaminated our water,  depleted our water supplies,  or changed the landscape so that the water does not perk, then we are going to be in serious, serious trouble.  Water is going to be more precious than gold and we better begin to put protection of water ahead of a lot of other concerns.