IMAGINE MAGAZINE FALL 2016 Peace and the Environment | Page 11

Natural Resources

Peace , Prosperity and Water

By Phil Roark

Astronauts circling the earth in spacecraft have marveled at the abundant beauty of our blue planet . Water covers 71 percent on the earth and 98 percent of water is found in our oceans and seas . Water vapor in swirling clouds is equally visible from space and constantly in motion bringing fresh water to our lakes , rivers , and aquifers which make up the remaining two percent of the total water . Every species on earth is completely dependent on water .

We humans are a terrestrial species living on land surrounded by seas . The stately saguaro cactus , the elusive trout in our mountain streams , toads that spend a year dormant in desert sands , and the myriad marine creatures of the salt rich oceans all depend on water . But it is this precious two percent of fresh water that provides life for all terrestrial species including we humans . We depend on a doctor recommend eight glasses of water a day for proper health . Even our search for life beyond earth is predicated on first confirming the existence of water .
Here in Sedona , our little corner of the planet , we are far from a watery blue . We live in a semi desert . Red is our dominant color emanating from our ubiquitous and stately rock formations . Red is nicely complimented by
Photo : Wib Middleton
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