Review of the book. Let Their Be Water: Israel’s Solution For A Water-Starved World.
A Model for a World in Crisis
Sixty percent of Israel is desert, and the rest is semiarid. Since its founding in 1948, the country’s population has grown more than tenfold, one of the world’s fastest growth rates in the post-World War 11 era. Israel started poor but now has one of the world’s most rapidly growing economies. Middle-class life is the norm in Israel. It’s annual rainfall-not generous to begin with-has dropped by more than half. Yet, despite its challenging climate and unforgiving landscape, Israel not only doesn’t have a water crisis, it has a water surplus. It even exports water to some of its neighbors.
Let There Be Water, Page 6
The Water Belongs to All of the People
No decision made by the Zionist pioneers and the young State of Israel has had a greater impact on Israel’s water culture than the decision to make water the common property of all. Unlike in the US, where water is a personal property right, in Israel all water ownership and usage is controlled by the government acting in the interest of the people as a whole. Available water is then allocated according to what is seen as the best use.
Israel’s water system may be the most successful example of socialism in practice anywhere in the world today.
Let There Be Water. P. 16-19
Revolution(s) On The Farm
The author goes on to document the beginning of “Drip Irrigation in Israel. “One day in the middle thirties, I happened to pass near the fence of Abraham Lobzowski’s house and saw there a tree some ten meters high, much taller than any other tree along this fence.” -Simcha Blass
As a result, Netafim a large drip irrigation manufacture was born and expanded all over the world. Other inventions including developing seeds for salty water, breeding plants to grow with less water and finding new sources of water were encouraged with government subsides.
Seth M Siegel and his process for researching for his book.
Author Seth M Siegel interviewed more than 220 interviews of people for the book with a list of their names He has 36 pages of “notes”. Also, a Selected Bibliography of Books, Journals, Extended Articles, PH.D Theses and Reports, Papers, and Presentations. This is the most researched book I have ever seen!
The Time to Act Is Now
With a global water crisis looming, the Israeli inclination toward taking bold steps may be the most important contribution of its water philosophy to an increasingly water-starved world. Knowing that hazards often lurk over the horizon, getting ahead of a crisis is a core part of Israel’ governance. This mind-set also permeates the world of water in Israel. As a results, since at least the 1930s, the country has been getting ahead of water issues before they could become crises.
“If there is an important lesson for others from the Israel experience, says Abraham Tenne, a senior official at the Israel Water Authority and an authority on both desalination and wastewater treatment, it is to not wait until all the answers are in We figure things out well enough to start and go into each project knowing that it won’t be perfect. It doesn’t have to be because we know tht we can fix it along the way.”
The mentality of waiting until everything is perfect,, Tenne says, creates long delays. “Worse, he says, frequently nothing gets started. The need for water is growing and natural water resources are being depleted with potentially terrible environmental consequences. Not taking action is also a kind of taking action. It is opting for the status quo.”
With a water crisis at hand, the time to act is now. Israel has shown how.
Page 250
My personal view of what Israel has done, is that it was easy for their form of government to do it. Much harder for the U.S. Country to accomplish, with our form of government, but we can learn!
I highly recommend the book!
Let There Be Water. Israel’s Solution For A Water-Starved World.
Check out the Reviews: One of them: “Let There Be Water will change the way you think about Israel. Don’t miss it.” ―Lloyd Goldman, American Associates Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President
Check out reviews at Good Reads
In Conclusion:
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
A Prayer of Blessing
May God’s richest blessings be yours today. May His grace abound toward you, may His love, cascade over you, and may the rivers of His goodness flow abundantly through you.
May He bless you with health in your body, joy in your soul, and peace in your heart. May He grant you strength for your daily tasks, wisdom in your decisions, favor in your labors, and provisions for your daily needs. May God’s great outstretched hand of protection be over you and each family member. May He keep you throughout the day and bring you home safely from every journey.
Above all, may He bless you with His presence, keep your faith strong, cause your hope to remain steadfast, and keep your heart forever faithful.
His Footsteps My Pathway, Roy Lessin. January 25th devotion.
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