by Jeneen Interlandi

April 28,2008

RIVERS RUNNING DRY :

A water crisis is impending .

"...Environmentalists have long warned about the crisis in non-renewable resources such as oil. Water of course is the ultimate renewable resource-it falls from the sky-and therefore has been of less concern> But where and when the rain falls,and what happens to it after it hits the ground , are crucial in determining the health and prosperity of human societies,says Jeffrey Sachs,Director of the Columbia Unioversity's Earth Institute and special adviser on environmental policy to an impressive number of foreign leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,various governments,even rock stars ( Bono is friend).

In his new book," Common Wealth : Economics for a Crowded Planet",Sachs describes the worldwide water shortage as " one of our most dauting challenges". A six year drought in Australia has virtually wiped out that country's rice crop,contributing to food riots in countries from Haiti to Indonesia this monmth. " much of the world is already in water crisis," Sachs says " and this crisis will continue to grow."

Economists and Geologists have idientified one culprit in the water management problem,a mind-set they call " Stationarity"-the belief that natural systems fluctuate within a narrow ,predictable range,even over long periods.

" Stationarity" is dead says Chris Milly,author of a recent Science paper on the issue-done by population growth,climate changes and economic development.

Governmments,industries and individuals will collaborate or suffer the consequences.However our responsibility is diveided, we can no longer take our most renewable resource for granted.