11 Comments
Aug 24, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ’ง๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒ๐ŸŒ

Thank you, Alexander, for bringing the importance of the water dilemma.

I hope we the peoples can learn to be (happy) preppers in time. One of the 'must learn skills', is to be proactively prepared, which, by the way, I think can be a very costly $$$ lesson. The average person has about 3000lbs of belongings. In my case, I'm responsible for about 1000lbs., the size of a horse. Can you imagine toting that around?

Survivalism is a social movement of individuals or groups who proactively prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, as well as disruptions to social, political, or economic order. Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism - note under Contents 1.8 - 2020

I have already been very frugal with water for a long time, and somewhat prepared for fire

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Survivalism in Zeeland is likely mainly about avoiding drowning when the dikes break. There is a website where each Dutchmen can check for his or her house if they can flee upstairs or not. I found that my house is so low (and the see so nearby) that even fleeing to the first floor (for Americans that is the second floor) is not an option. That's how far I got with my survivalism, not sure where to go to now that the first floor is not an option...

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Aug 29, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

๐ŸŒŠ ๐Ÿšค

A getaway boat. I have seen plenty of houses with (older Reddingsboot) in their gardens.

My mother always thought that living in a Houseboat is fun and a good idea, there must be a 'Just in Case' foresight mixed in her mind. She loved living on the water. Watching all different boats go by. And 'Rock' side to side on their waves. (Within reason) โ›ต

Quote from New York Times:

There are about 10,000 houseboats in the Netherlands, Mr. Bakker said, with about a quarter of those on Amsterdam's canals. Waiting for a new spot โ€” without buying a boat that ensures one โ€” can take years. Many houseboat owners use private financing, he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/realestate/in-amsterdam-floating-homes-that-only-look-like-ships.htm

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

Iโ€™m stunned that one can cross the Loire River by foot. Dumbfounded. Simply mindboggling.

Itโ€™s so disappointing and disturbing that so many people continue to deny weโ€™re living in a worldwide climate crisis.

Are you back to your familiar daily routines pre-pilgrimage? Have you returned to see your little furrend?

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Indeed it is. And yes, I am in The Netherlands now (Luna is here too :-)

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

โ€œIf you see me, cry."

An ominous lament and warning from long ago. The signs of the global water crisis are everywhere and demand global attention and urgent response. Your words โ€˜water means lifeโ€™ are undeniable.

A brilliant piece that heralds what lies ahead if leaders worldwide do not recognize the imminent effects of a world without essential water.

Your history and experience with water, both too much and not enough, make your voice worth listening to and heeding the call to action.

Youโ€™ve expertly written a valuable piece combining your Camino Francรฉs observations as well as the extreme conditions almost every country is experiencing. Well done!

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Thanks Lizzie!

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Aug 24, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

And the carbon graph is shocking!

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Aug 25, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

Thank you for your most important work, Alexander! To your point, California and other western U.S. have declared "mega-drought," and basically, they have no remedial plans. Telling resident not to water lawns is absurd at this point. Lake Mead's water level is so low that skeletons and sunken boats are surfacing. Again, thank you.

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Yes, this is a long-term structural change and although every bit helps, not watering you lawn is not more relevant than taking shorter showers to avoid climate change. This summer of massive drought on the Northern Hemisphere should be a wake up call for all world leaders, but its been quiet as usual, very quiet.

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Aug 29, 2022Liked by Alexander Verbeek ๐ŸŒ

Exactly. And I didn't mean to say that changing grass lawns over to native plants that do not require water is useless, or that timed showers don't do anything at all. Collectively, those things can add up to positive changes. My point was more to the one that you've more explicitly expressed: leaders seem to be sleeping through yet another, and even louder wake-up call. It's disappointing, to say the least. Again, thank you.

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