Iran: The Environmental Side

One would think based off American media that all that Iran consists of is nuclear weapons. While that is the leading issue from an American point of view, Iran has a much larger domestic problem, one potentially detrimental to its society. I read an article from the San Francisco Chronicle about the intense dryness that effect Iran. While it's commonly known that this area of the world is full of deserts, the facts the article offers in regards to the impact these conditions are having on society are eye opening. As would be expected, lakes and rivers are drying up, but along with are the aquifers that supply drinking water to the majority of the countries population. This is obviously a problem. Couple this with the fact that just 16% of the land in the country remains arable fro crops, and you have a country that imports the majority of its drinking water and food. This is never a recipe for success, even for a country rich in oil. The effects of these dry conditions start at a very young age, as 35% of the countries children suffer from asthma or related allergies. So what does this all have to do with America? Why would a US newspaper be writing about environmental problems in Iran, when the real issues we continually hear about is nuclear weapons? The answer is, as the article states, the US has more expertise in this issue than nearly any other country in the world. The truth to that may be questioned, but the country certainly has the researchers and the money to develop a plan to help fix these serious environmental issues in Iran. Imagine what a bargaining chip that would be if the US could help fix such a problem. This is why such an article is being written, and that's why I, as an American, feel this is an extremely interesting topic to blog about. It's first time on this blog we've taken environmental hazard mitigation, and turned it into a political bargaining chip. This bargaining chip just happens to be in play for one of the largest world issues we've heard about over the past year. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/brinkley/article/Iran-U-S-could-team-up-on-environmental-issues-4986197.php