The Future

You might expect that people would always be keen to do whatever was necessary to protect a sacred river. Notso. Many Hindus do not believe they are polluting the River Ganges with industrial and human waste. Rather, they believe that the river is so sacred that it is impossible to pollute. Changing this belief is critical to shaping the future of one of the world’s most contaminated waterways.

- Gordon Grimwade

Facing the Challenges

While pollution and climate change have caused conditions that have challenged governments around the world, few have encountered the extensive challenges facing leaders of the countries that border the Ganges River. For several centuries, London’s Thames River served as a transport route, not only for humans, but also for raw sewerage, debris from ships, and even the occasional dead body. The Mekong River in Southeast Asia is being dammed and diverted to an extent that worries many environmentalists.

While pollution often gets out of control before a government acts, it is important to remember that, when action finally is taken, the damage can be repaired. The lesson to be learned is that Mother Nature can sometimes do with a helping hand.

‘Mission Impossible’?