Water-Related Podcasts
Will Water Become The Next Oil?
Wisconsin Public Radio, 6/4/06
Marjorie Ryerson, Dr. Peter Gleick and Dr. Azzam Alwash were interviewed by host Jean Feraca on her National Public Radio show, "Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders," in 2006. Ryerson is the executive director for Water Music; Gleick is the executive director of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, CA; and Alwash is the Iraqi-born engineer and environmental activist who is working to restore the marshlands at the base of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq through his organization, The Eden Again Project. Please listen to the show at: http://h2opodcast.com.
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers spring from the highlands of eastern Turkey, and run through Syria, Iran and Iraq before joining together to form the Shat-Al-Arab River, which eventually empties into the Persian Gulf. Bordering all three rivers was a huge marshland used that used to support the Ma'dan people, who lived entirely off this rich environment largely as their ancestors had done over 5,000 years ago. Over the last few decades, the marshland area has been dramatically damaged and reduced. Dr. Azzam Alwash has dedicated his life to reversing that change and allowing the former residents to return.
Among its other goals, the Pacific Institute, of which Peter Gleick is the executive director, works to improve efficiency and to ensure basic access to water. It addresses issues related to the global water crisis, water privatization, water and conflict, and climate change, among other critical water issues.
Other Links
The Watershed Institute
This non-profit uses a multi-disciplined team approach. The Watershed Institute was first conceived in 1996 by a group of state and federal government employees as an unofficial method to address many natural-resource issues. In 2004 the group formed a non-profit corporation. It's web page says: "We are a seasoned interdisciplinary team with experience and expertise in natural-resource assessments and monitoring, habitat assessments, stream enhancement and restoration design, streambank stabilization and construction, wetland design and construction, and water law. We have the knowledge, resources, and abilities to solve any natural resource problem or need. We also control funding of projects. Please contact us if you have a project for consideration."