The movie, set in the 1930s, describes efforts of ruthless business interests in the person of John Huston to corner the water supply to Southern California. Private eye Jack Nicholson discovers and struggles to defeat the scheme. The conclusion is ambiguous, but implies the bad guys prevail.

The film was inspired in part by an early 20th century commercial cabal which tried to get a stranglehold on Southern California water. That group failed, thanks to public opposition mobilized by the new Progressive political movement.

One consequence was dramatic decentralization of the Southern California government. The City and County of Los Angeles are relatively weak entities because local communities decades ago were determined to maintain independence vital to their water security.

Fast forward to 2008 and the United States Senate, which has just approved the proposed Great Lakes Compact. This legislation would establish firm regional control over water allocation from the Lakes.

The Great Lakes represent a fresh water resource of unequalled scale. At a time of growing demand for fresh water, not only in the Midwest of the United States, but around the globe, they face rapidly increasing demand. Additionally, the Lakes have become plagued with fresh challenges, even as popular awareness and concern over environmental pollution grow.

Ocean going vessels have introduced a wide range of exotic water life forms, some of which are a threat. For example, the quagga mussel and zebra mussel clog drain pipes and drastically alter the food chain, especially along shorelines. The Asian carp, a recent immigrant, is a voracious carnivore that can grow to enormous size, threatens other fish and animals, and has been known to attack humans.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 1000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email