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Don`t rush to create rain
2007-10-02 09:52:10
By Editor
A devastating drought which hit the country last year brought about a crippling power shortage and the country, rather than recover, is still feeling the after effects of the tragedy, especially those related to the cost of living.
When it became clear that the hydro-power dams had become virtually dry, the authorities made frantic attempts to seek a cure for the drought, which seemed as totally `unwilling` to go away.
One of the emergency plans was to seek the assistance of the government of Thailand to create artificial rain that would fill up the country`s dams. As fate would have it, the Thai government was toppled, and it took time to resurrect the plan.
Finally, it has been announced that Thai experts are expected to create rainfall in Mbeya and Iringa Regions in March next year. It was revealed that the government and a delegation from Thailand had completed all the preliminary preparations for the task.
More interesting was the fact that the experiment was going to be undertaken in regions that normally have abundant rainfall, save for last year`s drought, and that the rainmaking would be undertaken in March, a period which is usually the peak of the wet season.
This information raises a lot of questions. We do not wish to contest the intention of the authorities in adopting this option.
We are tempted to believe that the intentions are both noble and stem from nothing other than forestall another destructive dry spell.
Question number one is why do we rush to apply the technology, without first sending our own experts to various countries where the system is said to have worked, after which they would assess the pros and cons of the initiative?
Two: Aren`t we aware that at least one African country, which is still suffering from prolonged dry spells which have continued for a number of years, attempted to apply this very method without succeeding?
Three: Because the venture involves the risk of disturbing weather patterns, the cost of which shall be felt by a significant section of the population, why not opt to move slowly and deliberate for a number of years before employing this miracle making technology?
Four: Already, some local experts have cautioned that the chemicals to be applied may affect biodiversity and make soil unproductive, besides being water pollutants.
They have also cautioned that the chemicals are most likely to affect the natural hydrological circle in the atmosphere.
By asking all these questions, we don`t intend to question the fact that those who are advocating the creation of artificial rain are not convinced of its overwhelming advantages.
What we are saying is that the rush threatens those good intentions in case something goes seriously wrong.
As it goes: If anything can go wrong, then it will.
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