James Workman: Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought

In conversation with Adan Ortega
Thursday, June 17, 2010
01:03:00
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Episode Summary
Workman, a skilled storyteller, uncovers the universal politics of water and draws wisdom from tragedy in the Kalahari desert-opening our eyes to the ongoing struggle to secure water for life on earth.

Participant(s) Bio
James Workman began his award-winning career as a journalist in Washington, D.C., writing for the New Republic, Washington Monthly, Utne Reader, Washington Business Journal, Foreign Service, and Orion, among other publications. In the Clinton Administration he served as a special assistant and natural resources speechwriter to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, with whom he reintroduced wolves, restored fire to its vital and natural role in western forests, and blew up obsolete dams to replenish dying rivers. For seven years in Africa and Asia, he helped prepare and launch the landmark Report of the World Commission on Dams, led investigative research safaris, lectured at universities, and advised on water policy in the developing world. Based on his experience with the Kalahari Bushmen, he is pioneering new platforms for trading the human right to water. He lives in San Francisco.

http://www.heartofdryness.com/

Adán Ortega, Jr. is co-founder of Water Conservation Partners Inc., helping property developers and water planners make water available for projects through state of the art water conservation. He handles strategic communications planning and government affairs for clients at AOA, his public affairs firm. Adán was Vice President for External Affairs of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ('99-05) where he created the long-running Bewaterwise.com and California Friendly water conservation advertising and branding campaigns. He was Chief Deputy Secretary of State under California Secretary of State Bill Jones during the late 1990s and Assistant General Manager of West and Central Basin Municipal Water Districts from 1994-1997. Adán is a member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, the Stewardship Council of Roots of Change, the Board of Directors of Mujeres de La Tierra, and is on the advisory board of Sustainable Conservation.


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