China Quote by Lester R. Brown
“The problem with water, though, is that the shortfalls don't show up until the very end. You can go on pumping unsustainably until the day you run out. Then all you have is the recharge flow, which comes from precipitation. This is not decades away, this is years away. We're already seeing huge shortages in China, where the Yellow River runs dry for part of each year. The Yellow River is the cradle of Chinese civilization. It first failed to reach the sea in 1972, and since 1985 it's run dry for part of each year. For 1997 it was dry for 226 days.”
About This Quote
Water scarcity becomes evident only after depletion, stressing urgent need for sustainable management before crises hit.
In simple terms: Water shortages appear too late.
Key Takeaway
Act now to conserve water.
Themes
environment
sustainability
resource management
Mood
urgent
concerned
Type
environmental
warning
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- agricultural policy
- public awareness
Key Concepts
hydrology
climate change
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies can prevent water crises?
- How can individuals reduce water waste?
A Different Perspective
Solutions require political will.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
