01-09 The Middle East

Thinking of deserts and oil? Well that’s the Middle East. The map gives a pretty good picture of all the nations in the area. And, they are all focused on climate change.
All desert areas around the world are considered arid areas, and some are simply uninhabitable. Unfortunately, the problems for desert societies everywhere are going to get worse.
If 20 percent of the world’s geography today is desert, assume that percentage is going to rise over time. Already the Sahara is encroaching on the geography of Nigeria. This means population shifts and political tensions.
And what do we get in deserts that are going to get worse. Well, there are dust storms. And what do we have in terms of habitation that will be in decline. Well it is native societies that rely on cattle grazing. Cattle can’t eat sand.
The big Middle East story today is the large dam under construction in Ethiopia which is going to reduce flows of water down the Nile to Egypt. We want to keep our eye on this development. It is drought and water shortages that have sent old societies into decline. Egypt is in danger.
And, though I lack religious faith, I am familiar with the bible stories of Christ being baptized in the River Jordon. Well the photo shows a child being baptized in what is today a bloody sewer.
So interesting that the Sea of Galilee where Christ supposedly walked on water, is in decline. But those amazing Israelites have a “biblical” solution. They are going to send desalinated water to refurbish the lake and its feed into the Jordan River.
The photo shows one of the many desalination plants in the Middle East. The major instillations are in Saudi Arabia and Israel. But they are being built all through the affluent oil rich nations.
The only bright spot in the Middle East is Israel. Their advances in sewage treatment, desalination and agriculture are providing leadership to all societies living in deserts and desert-like nations.
Well, the US is not only using Israel desalination technology, but over a hundred of their largest corporations have joint research and development facilities in Israel.
There is only one way to face the future and a warming climate. Innovate, innovate, innovate.