All Over the World Water Reservoirs are Not Filling Up

Researchers at the Un.of Texas did a global satellite search of water reservoirs. The populations have increased and the temperatures have risen there is more demand than ever before for water. Since this was not an on the ground survey there are not precise numbers. There is a consensus among researchers the problem is worldwide. 

Water is the classic example of "The Tragedy of the Commons." The Tragedy of the Commons is thought to go back to ancient times. It is widely believed prehistoric people lived in groups or clans. This was necessary for defense and maybe for a social life. Whether hunting and gathering or later domesticating animals like goats or cattle, it was only logical all animals share the same grazing ground. The human instinct has always been to take as much as possible if there is no cost. So, take more animals when hunting and own more cattle when more has the same cost as fewer. The result, of course, is hunting grounds with an inadequate supply of wild animals and numbers of cattle and goats too large for the grazing area. The resulting hunger was the tragedy. 

This is still playing out with no lessons learned from ancient times. If there is no rationing, there is a shortage. Western economists since the 1700's have advocated market pricing to ration goods. Higher prices usually reduce consumption and the more money usually motivates those producing the goods to make more of them. The qualifier "usually" acknowledges markets and their prices do not always work as predicted. 

The twin problems of a hotter climate and increasing population is making alarming problems for water. A few years ago, governments all over the world began preparing by making reservoirs to hold water over dry periods. The Tragedy of the Commons came to the fore, many countries holding back the flow of water with their reservoirs meant less water downstream. The planned amount of stored water has not come to pass because everyone tried to take all they could. 

Religious groups around the world have ignored the Tragedy of the Commons. Their focus has been on increasing their numbers by exhorting their women to have more children. Orthodox Jews are doing this in Israel. Muslims in other countries. Catholics in the U.S. I even heard the President of Luterans Missouri Synod express his approve the denomination has a higher birth rate than some others. That there is a shortage of water, or air, or anything else is not something to worry about. What counts is the number of babies born in religion X, Y or Z. 

So far as I can tell, the conservative branches of all religions are the last groups to recognize the Tragedy of the Commons. They are the enemies of human survival on earth.