Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse. No more can it be dismissed as science fiction; we are already feeling the effects.
Desmond TutuRead
If surface water can be compared with interest income, and non-renewable groundwater with capital, then much of the West was living mainly on interest income. California was milking interest and capital in about equal proportion. The plains states, however, were devouring capital as a gang of spendthrift heirs might squander a great capitalist's fortune.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote compares water resources to financial income, highlighting unsustainable practices in resource management.
In this quote, Marc Reisner draws a parallel between the depletion of water resources in the American West and financial management. He suggests that while some areas manage their resources like prudent investors, others are recklessly consuming their finite resources as if they were infinite. This serves as a critique of the unsustainable practices that jeopardize the environment and future resources.
Themes
WaterResourcesSustainabilityEnvironmentCapital
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about sustainable development, one could use this quote to underline the importance of responsible resource management.
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