Water shortages and wineries...

[eeeeeeow]

As I type, I am listening to a report on NPR re: the shortage of useable water in the Paso Robles area. In this report, a vineyard manager is quoted as saying, "If it wasn't for wine grapes, we wouldn't have an agriculture. It is not financially possible." But it's because of wine grapes we DO NOT have an agriculture and now, no water.

We need to write our county and state officials and demand a moratorium on new vineyard development before it destroys our lives. Sound dramatic? Well it is. People in Paso Robles are now limited to eating off of paper plates and struggling to store water to bath in. These vineyards have tapped the water tables to a point where it impedes on our quality of life.

I've said it before; We have gone from an agriculture that benefits all to a monoculture that benefits corporations and a very few individuals. We need to write to our elected officials and be mindful when the next elections come around. We need to assess the damage this has done to our environment.

[The A Team]

Would you consider starting a petition on MoveOn.org/SignOn.org? In my experience it could be a good place to start.... there may be a large number of people who are fed up with the grape monoculture and associated the water grab that is happening.

As I type, I am listening to a report on NPR re: the shortage of useable water in the Paso Robles area. In this report, a vineyard manager is quoted as saying, "If it wasn't for wine grapes, we wouldn't have an agriculture. It is not financially possible." But it's because of wine grapes we DO NOT have an agriculture and now, no water.

We need to write our county and state officials and demand a moratorium on new vineyard development before it destroys our lives. Sound dramatic? Well it is. People in Paso Robles are now limited to eating off of paper plates and struggling to store water to bath in. These vineyards have tapped the water tables to a point where it impedes on our quality of life.

I've said it before; We have gone from an agriculture that benefits all to a monoculture that benefits corporations and a very few individuals. We need to write to our elected officials and be mindful when the next elections come around. We need to assess the damage this has done to our environment.

[Barry]

Here's a link to the The California Report segment that was broadcast on KQED-FM that is referred to below:

https://www.californiareport.org/arc...201310300850/a

As I type, I am listening to a report on NPR re: the shortage of useable water in the Paso Robles area. In this report, a vineyard manager is quoted as saying, "If it wasn't for wine grapes, we wouldn't have an agriculture. It is not financially possible." But it's because of wine grapes we DO NOT have an agriculture and now, no water.

We need to write our county and state officials and demand a moratorium on new vineyard development before it destroys our lives. Sound dramatic? Well it is. People in Paso Robles are now limited to eating off of paper plates and struggling to store water to bath in. These vineyards have tapped the water tables to a point where it impedes on our quality of life.

I've said it before; We have gone from an agriculture that benefits all to a monoculture that benefits corporations and a very few individuals. We need to write to our elected officials and be mindful when the next elections come around. We need to assess the damage this has done to our environment.