In the near future, the world we live in is going to be deprived of clean water. Species will no longer be able to drink water as an aftermath of pollution. What we, as citizens, really need is to be environment friendly. We should think of how the world would be like without such necessities. Just imagine. Could we really like in a place like that? In my opinion, I do not think we could undergo such changes. Jonathan Waterman tells his experience with unclean water in the essay “End of the river?” He demonstrates that the Colorado River, just like any other, is a “ticking bomb” if we do not change our ways.
Jonathan Waterman and his friend, Pete McBride, paddled down a narrow stream in the El Rio Colorado River, on what they thought was a 1,450 mile trip. As the trip progressed, Waterman describes how he could not “breathe.” Waterman and McBride discovered a green pond; a pond consumed of fertilizers. They believed the water was polluted enough to allow illness to occur. Waterman demonstrates that Colorado River has been “engineered to death.” The canals and dams solace all their waters to every farm, industry and city, while other species in the desert are hungry and thirsty. At the end of the trip, they find “wet paradise.” The water turned clear, and was ongoing as far as they could see. Waterman states that as “As the stream narrowed, we could feel it gathering momentum, as if it would once more meet the sea” and after that great feeling, he could finally “breathe” again.
Not only are disturbing pollutions happening to places like the Colorado River, the pollutions are happening everywhere. The video I chose to relate to “End of the River?” is about the Mississippi River which runs through “the heart of America.” The beautiful scenery is also one of the most productive farmlands. The fertilizers, that farmers are using, turn the waters green and destroy the ecosystem. A woman states, “It’s not natural to be swimming in the water and not see living organisms.” The video describes that in a world of such a constantly growing population, the food chain is going to double. Not only are we overusing fertilizer and energy, our water is going to be depleted in the next couple of generations; therefore, farmers are doing everything they can to change their ways and traditions to better the earth. I believe these two different stories give an eye-opening wake up call to humans that something must be done if we are to survive.
The Mississippi River is extremely important to the United States because of its ability to sustain huge plots of farmland. Food production is never enough as population also increases. To increase food production, farmers have been using fertilizers that are harming the Mississippi River ecosystem. Like the post quoted, "It's not natural to be swimming in the water and not see living organisms." The water is becoming so filthy that it can no longer sustain life. I also noticed in the video of a child playing in the water and had polluted muck all over his back. I found this to be quite revolting since people used to rely on the Mississippi as a freshwater resource.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great Job tying in "End of the River" to your video. It blows my mind that we have let something like this get that far. If the comment “It’s not natural to be swimming in the water and not see living organisms.” doesn't make you that I don't know what will. Your view of this subject matches mine. You did a great Job on this post.
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