Changing climate, local problems

The fact is that climate change is a global problem and nations do not do well when confronted with a global problem. While I can not tell you that one specific event is directly caused by global warming (that "global" word again), it is interesting to note that an increasing number of areas are having abnormally wet or dry periods.

Most recently, I read in Seed Magazine that millions of people in Chinese are facing a severe shortage of drinking water.

BEIJING (AFP)—Nearly 10 million people across southern and southwestern China are suffering from drinking water shortages due to a fierce drought.

A lack of rainfall has affected water supplies for 9.8 million people and 9.1 million head of livestock, the Beijing Morning Post said.

Both figures had doubled since early March, it said.

While that is relatively far away, I would call attention to the fact that this is one of the driest years on record in California. Locally, the City of Santa Cruz has already enacted water use restriction to begin on May 1.

Where this will end, I do not know. All I know is that Bob Dylan was right.