VENEZUELA: Chavez Prepares To Seed Clouds For Rain.

MERCOPRESS/
“I’ll be on one of the aircraft and any cloud I come across, I’ll attack her with lightning so we can have rain”, said Hugo Chavez. Weather forecasts predict at least three more dry months before the rainy season returns to the Caracas area.

Drought Threatens Ukraine's Winter Wheat.

BLOOMBERG/
“Sowing conditions are bad, the soil and the air is dry,” said the head of agriculture. As much as 65 percent of the land scheduled to be sown is too dry.
Bad weather damaged Ukrainian crops in 2006 and 2007, prompting the government to impose restrictions on exports. Winter crops are planted in September and reaped the following summer. Winter wheat accounts for most of Ukraine’s winter grain and makes up about half of the total annual harvest.
“The situation is very much like we had in 2005 and is even worse in some areas.”

Our Continuing Extreme Texas Drought.

THE ECONOMIST.COM.

The 24 month long "extreme" stage drought in Central and South Texas gets some international coverage.

An ECO Account: CO2,Trees,You And Me.

A Nova program on PBS that I saw recently reports that every adult...exhales about 500 pounds...of CO2 every year. Also it takes seven trees to synthesize oxygen from that 500 pounds of CO2.

I can help the planet...by planting trees. I sorta knew that...but never really acted on that fact...until a few years ago.

How many trees have you planted in your life...to offset your CO2?

I currently have...a four tree deficit.

In May 1986, I was cajoled by a ex-girlfriend in San Francisco into sponsoring a tree planted by the SF Friends of the Urban Forest. That was my first tree.

Somewhere in The City, hopefully, that tree, Number 456, is thriving...in the prime of middle age. I think about 456 sometimes when I glance at a certificate from the SF group.

Now, I'm nurturing two baby trees...through an extreme 23-month-long drought here in Central Texas...a Chinese Pistache...and a Monterrey Oak. I planted them three years ago. Plus...I maintain an old Chinese Tallow that was fully grown when I bought my house in 1984. It just refuses to die, despite a tree-killing frost years ago.

Happily, all my trees are thriving.

But this current drought is a serious tree-killing menace to our environment.

During my daily morning trots, I've seen seemingly healthy, leafy green tree limbs...suddenly come crashing down. They were dying from thirst.

It's sad...and a little frightening.

These miraculous oxygen-making machines are withering before our eyes!

I have learned that trees...like pets...are a big responsibility. You can't just leave it up to nature for moisture.

When I first planted my saplings, I began a regular watering routine...that I still continue to this day.

It's automatic...and some would say...inconvenient...but it is effective....because it is such a easy routine.

Every day, I use my shower water (aka gray water)to nurture the trees.

After drying off and dressing, I scoop out the 5 gallons or less of water from the plugged shower/tub...and haul them outside...to alternately water the three trees.

I won't kid you. Lugging five gallons is heavy work...equal to about 30 pounds.
But my right bicep has sprouted a nice bulge!

This daily ritual has also helped me cut down my shower time...and, consequently, the amount of water I use and haul.

So, it makes good conservation sense, too.

Saving precious water...during an extreme, historic drought.

Also...savings that will show up on your water bill!