Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Drought Tales: Saudi Arabia and the Salton Sea, Plus Wells Fargo Sued
California's water authority votes today on how much we'll have to cut back, and it's going to be a lot more than we've cut so far. As the drought drags on, we look at the demise of Saudi Arabia's farming industry as a cautionary tale.
By Madeleine Brand • • 39m ListenOn the same day California's water authority votes on how much we'll have to cut back, we look at the cautionary tale found in Saudi Arabia's farming sector. Then, why the Salton Sea is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, and what's being done about it. And finally, we hear from L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer on his new lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank, plus a primer on the bank's history of misbehavior.
Photo: The impact of drought at the Salton Sea (Gentle)
In this episode
3 storiesSaudi Arabia's Water Woes, a Cautionary Tale
California's water authority is voting today on how much we'll have to cut back. And it's going to be a lot more than we've cut so far. New figures show that in March, residents in the state cut back by just 3.5 percent, far lower than the Governor's mandated 25 percent. Agriculture, meanwhile, is a different story.
Read the story13 minThe Salton Sea's Impending Disaster
Saudi Arabia, of course, isn't the only place where engineering brought water to the desert. Here in California, we accidentally created the state's largest lake back in 1905 after the Colorado River broke through a dam. The Salton Sea covers 380 square miles of otherwise parched land in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys.
Read the story15 minWells Fargo Bank Sued by L.A.
California-based Wells Fargo Bank with its folksy stage-coach logo is being accused of highway robbery. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer filed a lawsuit accusing the bank of employing shady, high-pressure sales tactics - such as opening bogus bank accounts - to juice its sales.
Read the story9 min
