Scholarship applications for graduating seniors require an essay answering the question, "Why is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of clean water crucial to our nation's environment, public health, economy, and overall quality of life?"
Applicants give permission to publish, and the essays will be published in the next few newsletters.
Essay by Aaron Madrid:
John Locke wrote much about human rights, specifically the basic right to life, liberty, and property. These ideals are embedded into the foundation of our country; they have become life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as found in the Declaration of Independence. This essential right to life can only be achievable through safe and clean water for the people of this country, and without it, the country could face widespread sickness, panic and economic turmoil.
Everyone drinks water on a daily basis; it is essential for life. Therefore, if the water supply becomes contaminated then widespread sickness would set in. This situation was the reality for the residents of Flint, Michigan in 2014 when the city switched their water source to the Flint River. Because the water was contaminated with lead and bacteria due to old pipes and corrosion, over 99,000 people were exposed to lead. Lead poisoning can cause symptoms ranging from abdominal pain to infertility; even though this crisis was resolved in 2018 the people are still suffering the consequences of having contaminated water. This is why it is critical for our water supply to be clean for all residents; unsafe water threatens everyone’s basic right to life. Currently wildfires devastate areas of the country, destroying people’s homes and taking lives. These fires spread so quickly because of the dry conditions caused by the lack of water and moisture. The environmental impact of not having water is one that ravages the nation and displaces families, again stripping people of their right to life.
If the nation’s water supply was interrupted the panic that would follow would be catastrophic. Without water, people would begin to feel afraid and worried for the future; this fear causes people, by nature, to act out in desperation. People would turn on one another in order to hold on to whatever water can be found. Even if the shortage is brief and not devastating to people’s lives, the initial fear that would set in would cause panic unprecedented in the modern age. This similar panic was witnessed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic; people flooded the stores because they were afraid of the uncertainty of the future. Water is essential for all life on earth so even a brief absence to our accustomed ease of availability to water would terrify and ensure panic in cities across the nation. The vitality of having an uninterrupted water supply can not be understated; it is essential for the nation to maintain civility. Water supplies do not just affect the average consumer’s ability to have drinking water but also the production of crops.
The agricultural market contributed 136.1 billion dollars to the nation’s GDP (gross domestic product) which is roughly 0.6% of the total GDP. This is a very large market with exports going across the world; water is key to the growth and survival of this market. Drought and national shortages on water could decrease production and in turn profits; this downturn would negatively impact the economy. Food shortages, caused by water scarcity, would likely cause cost push inflation and higher prices for many consumer products across the nation. More unease in the economy can cause more panic especially in investors seeking opportunities; this fear causes the stock market to fall. It is the right of everyone to have an opportunity to improve their lives and seek happiness; these opportunities are curtailed by high levels of inflation. Having secure and safe water helps enable opportunity because it can help to ensure the large agricultural market to stay alive and thrive which brings stability to the economy.
Water is as crucial to the nation as its founding ideals. Having the availability of safe water helps ensure these rights. The people’s right to life is guarded by eliminating concern from contaminated drinking water. Economic stability allows opportunities to better one’s life. Water shortages damage the environment and make forests more susceptible to fires, cause agricultural loss, and can induce panic into communities desperate for drinking water.
