Environmental History

Muslims and Water Conservation

World Water Day is March 22, according to the United Nations. With water becoming scarcer and scarcer, it is essential that it is not wasted. The Muslim community is taking this message to heart with discussions of water conservation. Citing the Qur’an, it is easy to see how and why the Muslim community values water to such a high degree. There are many times in the Qur’an when it is told specifically not to waste water. To get a more in depth look at this, and why the Muslim community is getting so involved with World Water Day, read the full article here.

Photo Credit: http://www.muslimcharity.org.uk/news/world-water-day-2014-be-part-of-the-cycle-of-change/

Balinese Water Temples

Balinese Water Temples have been an integral part of the agricultural rice paddy systems in Bali for over 1,000 years. Water is distributed from the Supreme Water Temple of Bali throughout the land. This distribution cycle involves neighbors meeting in a democratic subak to discuss the synchronization of their planting. This synchronized planting motivated farmers living upstream to allow farmers living downstream to have more water. Cooperation was key, as this synchronization minimized the growing period, which stopped the spread of pests. When the Green Revolution came to Bali, the country tried to plant as much as they could. The results were catastrophic. At first, yields were high and everyone was doing well. Then, due to a lack of synchronization, pests began to devour all of the crops. The religious ceremonies and meetings at the water temples that kept everyone together were no longer being followed. Since then, the Balinese people have reverted to their time tested ways and are flourishing once again. To read more about this, click here.

A documentary explaining all of this in depth is available here at Amazon.com

For an informative YouTube video hosted by Stephen Lansing, check out the feature below.

 

Video Credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ozS8BKUFI