Dear Friends,
LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM:
(00:54) Debating the debates, with Charles Goldman;
(20:03) Making water from air, with Oliver Njamfa;
(38:12) Sorting out the recent COVID surge, with Charles Goldman;
(53:41) Light pollution – when plants don’t want to “see the light,” with Kathy Byrnes.
Before we talk about water, one thing I learned years ago after being arrested for protesting the big banks defrauding homeowners was that when prison staff make you pose for a mug shot, they don’t want you to smile. The other thing I learned was that they can’t make you NOT smile. Here’s my smiley orange-jumper shot from a decade or so ago.
Donald Trump must have figured this out, too. Anyone who’s seen his recent mug shot (who hasn’t!) would presume that Trump invested no small amount of time and effort in prepping for his now-famous pose.
No orange jumper needed, apparently, as plenty of orange skin color already provided the appropriate hue. Here’s Trump, looking as scowly as I look merry.
Alright, enough of that.
Water. We can’t live without it. Yet its cleanliness and availability are increasingly compromised.
The Raccoon River — Des Moines’ primary water source — is one of the ten most polluted rivers in the country.
The Colorado River is running dry.
Globally, 771 million people (10% of humanity) lack access to clean water, and women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours carrying water every day!
Meanwhile, aquifers are being drained faster than they can naturally replenish. A detailed NY Times analysis found that “The US is taking water out of the ground more quickly than nature is replenishing it. ‘There’s almost no way to convey how important it is,’ Don Cline, the associate director for water resources at the United States Geological Survey, told The Times. Already, there are consequences. In parts of Kansas, the shortage of water has reduced the amount of corn that an average acre can produce.”
Oliver Njamfa and Ed discuss making water from air.
Anyone else think this might not end well?
The best solutions to our global water crisis involve conservation and addressing the overpopulation problem. But given how dire our situation has become, we must also embrace sustainable technological solutions (note my emphasis on “sustainable”).
My guest during the second segment of this week’s program is Oliver Njamfa. He’s originally from Cameroon and has lived most of his life in France. Recently, he and his family visited Des Moines. We discussed the work of his non-profit, Aquavera, which extracts water from air.
Making water from air! Smarter people probably already knew about this. For me, my conversation with Oliver was an excellent primer. What most impressed me was how small extraction systems for one’s home or office produce up to 12 gallons of potable water a day.
Oliver and his family took a tour of Birds & Bees Urban Farm. From left: Florence, Arthur, Linda, Harvey, and Oliver.
I was also impressed that larger systems, producing 1,000 gallons of water per day, are benefiting entire villages in five African countries served by Aquavera.
Sad to say, as bad as Iowa’s water is, perhaps Oliver’s water-from-air systems might find a market here as well, since Governor Kim Reynolds isn’t inclined to take our impaired waterways seriously.
It was nice, too, to meet Oliver’s family and give them a tour of Birds & Bees Urban Farm — another small-scale effort working to make a difference as the world struggles with not only water shortages but food shortages as well.
Speaking of our urban farm, if you’re a regular listener to our radio show or podcast, you’ll know that the last segment of each week’s program focuses on food and farming. This week, Kathy and I discuss the impact light pollution can have on plants and animals.
Kathy and I would love to give you a tour, too, at our annual Harvest Party, Saturday, September 30, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. We’ll treat you to some farm-fresh hors d’oeuvres, beverages, a book reading of The Terra Cotta Camel by David Heddendorf, and bluegrass music by The Girls Next Door. Please join us!
Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action!
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Please support the local businesses and non-profits who make this program possible. Click on their logos on the Fallon Forum website and in our weekly email, and visit Bold Iowa, and Birds & Bees Urban Farm. Thanks to Des Moines Irish Session for providing our bumper music, and thank you for supporting the civil alternative to the shock jocks!
Ed Fallon