Summary: <p>Is the privatisation of water resources working for, or against us? And are we, as individuals, being brainwashed into thinking we can make a difference?</p> <p>Join Stuart and William for another insightful and thought-provoking conversation, this time centred around the topic of water security. This conversation was prompted by the following question, sent in by listener Diane from Southampton, Hampshire, England:</p> <p>“During the summer of 2022, some water companies in the UK issued a hosepipe ban. Is it reasonable to pass the responsibility of sustaining water supplies during a drought to the general public, when 100’s if not thousands of leaks occur from the water companies pipes. Like the massive one that flooded Islington in North London, and the one on Oxford Ring Road (that a local councillor was spotted swimming in to make the point) in August 2022? </p> <p>It seems to some that it's unfair to prevent domestic gardeners watering their plants and lawns, when the leaks remain. Gardening is therapeutic to many, so imagine how it must feel to be prevented from watering the garden how you may wish, and watch to plants you’ve been nurturing die in front of your eyes.</p> <p>I also saw the source of the River Thames dried up and moved 5 miles downstream during the summer drought in 2022. Is this because the water companies are extracting too much water, or is it a sign of global warming? </p> <p>You may feel it's impossible for any company to maintain the infrastructure we rely on, as it's been built and added too bit by bit, and we now possibly have too much to manage? Maybe this is all a symptom of our society not being sustainable? Maybe you think many leaks occurred because the ground was just so dry, and the leaks aren’t as widespread as the media say it is?”</p> <p>Your co-hosts go on to discuss different ways of regulating water usage, including growing plants that can cope with the drier climate. They ask whether we need to stop trying to impose our will on the land, and instead grow plants that don't require us to keep pumping water in to keep them alive. They also examine the idea of making our water supply more localised, rather than creating large bodies of water as reservoirs and then needing to pump that water for miles and miles. </p> <p>Are our values still very much Victorian in the United Kingdom, with many of us simply flushing away what we don't want and not thinking about it again, passing the issue on to someone else?</p> <p>During this episode Stuart and William discuss the upcoming Environmental Debate Live & Unscripted event, this podcasts format expanded and made more experiential, then set in front of a live audience, and arranged to take place next on May 27th at the former Bothy Vineyard in Oxfordshire 3.30pm to 9pm. To secure your tickets for this event, use the following link:<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/environmental-debate-live-unscripted-tickets-514832145807"> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/environmental-debate-live-unscripted-tickets-514832145807</a></p> <p>What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com, or record us a message in your own voice by going to<a href="https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message"> https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message</a></p> <p>This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. <br>Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view"> https://podfollow.com/the-peoples-countryside-environmental-debate-podcast/view</a> , support our work through Patreon<a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside"> https://www.patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside</a> or just 'follow' to avoid missing any public posts. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link:<a href="https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside"> https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside</a></p> --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepeoplescountryside/message
