July 28, 2009

The Not-So Fertile Crescent

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Last week came news that the Colorado River may go dry. Could the Fertile Crescent be next?

Akio Kitoh of Japan’s Meteorological Research Institute thinks so—he forecasts that the Crescent will disappear in this century.

Several factors have contributed to the depletion of the once-lush Mesopotamian marshes, where the Euphrates and Tigres rivers converge. Dams constrict water flow, drought grips the area, and Iraqis are increasingly draining the water for agricultural purposes.

There have been efforts to make the area fertile once again. But if conditions don’t change dramatically, the cradle of civilization may eventually be no more.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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