clouds.jpg Large parts of the UK are underwater again as rivers burst their banks. Even a reservoir is in fear of breaking, threatening to send water flowing down a valley, deluging villages and a power station.
It has the feel of a Hollywood movie, but this is no entertainment. It is the result of a month’s rainfall in just 24 hours. But really, is this true? Or is there more to blame for this disastrous state of affairs?

FLOOD PLAINS

The obvious reason for the problem is global warming. Climate change is affecting the weather, and this provides for the extreme variations we are suffering. But again, this is not necessarily so.
Global warming is, at worse, responsible for the rise in frequency of bad weather, not the degree of the weather we are facing. Huge floods have hit the UK before, so global warming is not an excuse for not being prepared.
Rather, the central reason for these disasters is our foolishness on deciding to build on natural flood plains. Believe it or not, these will flood, and if precautions are taken to stop it, all it does is divert the deluge elsewhere.

OUR MIGHTY EGO

Why don’t we learn this important lesson? I think it lies in our ego when dealing with nature. Indeed, our ego has displayed itself in this matter from the beginning of history. Consider Mesopotamia.
Human engineering skills that led to cities began with the problem of keeping the Tigris and Euphrates rivers at bay. Civilization, you see, began in natural flood plains. And from the birth of civilization, we have felt a need to try to slap nature in the face.
Our weapon has been our ingenuity in devising engineering projects to beat her. But the same problem also birthed many of the early myths, with the power of nature laughing in our face. At it seems we haven’t learnt yet.

© Anthony North, June 2007

Click Tony On for my current affairs blog.
While you’re here, why not have a look around? Check out the pages.
Environment Page