Drought conditions here and there.

Out walking with Granddaughter Number Two yesterday, I took a photo of the stepping stones in Uppermill, stepping stones that provide a crossing point from the canal towpath to the park and playing field. The stones were almost completely out of the water, the River Tame is so low at that point. It’s more usual to see the stones disappearing until a rushing torrent. 

The river doesn’t look quite so low as it goes through Delph but it is significantly lower than usual. And in other places around the millponds still seem quite full.

When my daughter called in on her way home from work she told us that she had seen a water tanker pumping water INTO one of the local small reservoirs. What was that all about?

And this morning she and Granddaughter Number Two took a walk round  Dovestone Reservoir, a local beauty spot. The water level there is significantly lower than usual. It seems that our drought is continuing for the time being. But so far nobody has instructed us to stop water the gardens.

In other parts of the world the drought is not the consequence of unusual weather but strictly man-made:

“Gaza faces 'man-made drought', UNICEF claims

Gaza is facing a man-made drought as its water systems collapse, the UN’s children agency has said.

“Children will begin to die of thirst … Just 40% of drinking water production facilities remain functional,” Unicef spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva, according to Reuters.

It comes a day after Unicef said more than 5,000 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in the Gaza Strip in May.

The agency said according to data from Unicef-supported nutrition centres in the Gaza Strip, this represents a nearly 50% increase on April, and a 150% increase from February when the ceasefire was in effect and aid was entering Gaza.”

Here’s a post from Jeremy Corbyn, reminding us again of the situation in Gaza:

“Today, more starving Palestinians were lured into “aid distribution sites”.

They went in hope that they might find a bag of flour.

They were gunned down and murdered instead. 

What utter inhumanity. End all arms sales to Israel, now.”

Meanwhile we get on with things, hoping that the world can put itself to rights eventually.

Life goes on stay safe and well, everyone!