Agriculture Quote by Barbara Kingsolver
““If it crosses your mind that water running through hundreds of miles of open ditch in a desert will evaporate and end up full of concentrated salts and muck, then let me just tell you, that kind of negative thinking will never get you elected to public office in the state of Arizona. When this giant new tap turned on, developers drew up plans to roll pink stucco subdivisions across the desert in all directions. The rest of us were supposed to rejoice as the new flow rushed into our pipes, even as the city warned us this water was kind of special. They said it was okay to drink but don't put it in an aquarium because it would kill the fish. Drink it we did, then, filled our coffee makers too, and mixed our children's juice concentrate with fluid that would gag a guppy. Oh, America the Beautiful, where are our standards? ””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Water and Development, Barbara Kingsolver, 21st century
Unsustainable water projects can cause ecological harm despite promises of progress.
In simple terms: Progress can damage ecosystems.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize sustainable planning.
Themes
environment
development
responsibility
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
activist
When to use this quote
- city expansion
- agricultural irrigation
- public policy
- climate change
Key Concepts
ecology
urban planning
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the hidden costs of development?
- How can communities protect water quality?
A Different Perspective
Economic growth often overlooks long‑term environmental costs.
